SE Valley Times

On a recent sunny morning, Arizona State University students participated in an outdoor session of adventure coaching. This activity was part of a new initiative by the Student Success Center at ASU, aimed at supporting students through group activities rather than traditional one-on-one sessions. The session, led by Steve Sassaman, an assistant clinical professor and expert in outdoor education, involved tossing colorful balls to each other as a metaphor for juggling college life.

“Sometimes things come out of nowhere,” Sassaman told the group. “You’re juggling a lot, and sometimes we need to ask for clarification.”

Adventure coaching is designed to blend outdoor activities with supportive peer interactions. It emerged from a redesign of the Student Success Center two years ago when Ina Seok, the center's director, noted a decrease in traditional peer-coaching appointments and an increase in student loneliness.

“So we really centered our redesign around social connection,” Seok said. “One of the best parts of peer-to-peer support is this idea of creating a social space for students to feel less lonely and to feel that they belong at ASU and to feel that they matter.”

The center's redesign was informed by empathy mapping and student interviews to understand their needs better. The result was new coaching methods beyond one-on-one appointments, which remain available but are not preferred by all students.

Katie Collins, a program manager at the center, proposed the outdoors-based coaching method and secured funding for its pilot implementation. She emphasized breaking down barriers in conversations through such activities.

This year’s adventure coaching sessions occur occasionally alongside weekly art coaching sessions. Both are open to any campus-immersion student at ASU. Online students have separate support services available.

The program has also influenced how peer coaches interact with students by focusing on listening first before asking exploratory questions.

“We encourage students to know that they sometimes have the answers within them,” Seok explained.

During adventure coaching sessions like one held last fall at Garden Commons on the Polytechnic campus, students learn practical skills such as using campus resources while engaging in team-building activities.

Sara McCartan leads art coaching sessions focusing on mindfulness or wellness through collaborative drawing projects. These activities help build rapport among participants.

“Mostly it’s a focus on mindfulness or wellness,” McCartan said about her approach during art sessions.

Participating in these group activities can reveal hidden strengths among students who might initially appear shy but eventually take leadership roles within these settings.

Zyon Sanchez-Perez, a third-year finance and data analytics major who serves as both a peer coach and participant in adventure coaching sessions, finds fulfillment in helping peers navigate their challenges.

“They come in; they’re stressed... And I say, ‘OK. We’ll take it one question at a time,’” he recounted about his experiences assisting fellow students.