OUTDOOR EDUCATIONOUTDOOR EDUCATION

LEARNING ABOUT THE LEARNING ABOUT THE OUTDOORSOUTDOORS

OUTDOOR AND OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS EDUCATION ADVENTUROUS EDUCATION AS PART OF PHYSICAL AS PART OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION – THIS EDUCATION – THIS INVOLVES HIGH RISK AND INVOLVES HIGH RISK AND SAFETY.SAFETY.

WHAT IS OUTDOOR WHAT IS OUTDOOR EDUCATION?EDUCATION?

• LEARNING ABOUT THE OUTDOORS LEARNING ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AND THEREFORE PART OF THE PE AND THEREFORE PART OF THE PE PROGRAMME.PROGRAMME.

• MAIN DIFFERENCE FROM PE IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE FROM PE IS THE ELEMENT OF RISK AND ELEMENT OF RISK AND UNPREDICTABILITY.UNPREDICTABILITY.

• SEMI NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – SEMI NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – ARTIFICIAL FACILITIESARTIFICIAL FACILITIES

ARTIFICIALARTIFICIAL

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – MOUNTAINS, RIVERS ETC.

WHAT ELSE?WHAT ELSE?

• HAS SAME BENEFITS AS PE – HEALTH AND SKILL LEARNING HAS SAME BENEFITS AS PE – HEALTH AND SKILL LEARNING ETC.ETC.

• WHAT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH OUTDOOR EDUCATION?WHAT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH OUTDOOR EDUCATION?• REAL RISK AND PERCEIVED RISKREAL RISK AND PERCEIVED RISK• WHEN PARTICIPATIN IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS WE NEED TO WHEN PARTICIPATIN IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS WE NEED TO

KNOW?KNOW?• WHOWHO• WHEREWHERE• HOWHOW• BENEFITSBENEFITS• WHENWHEN• LIST EXAMPLES FOR THE ABOVELIST EXAMPLES FOR THE ABOVE• WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSTRAINTS AS TO WHERTHER A WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSTRAINTS AS TO WHERTHER A

PE DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO PURSUE OUTDOOR PE DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO PURSUE OUTDOOR EDUCATION?EDUCATION?

EXTRA INFOEXTRA INFO

• At Key Stage 3, in this school, we pursue At Key Stage 3, in this school, we pursue adventurous activities as one of the adventurous activities as one of the activities- this can be done in different ways. activities- this can be done in different ways. It can be described as learning in and about It can be described as learning in and about the outdoors – it is all those activities the outdoors – it is all those activities concerned with living, moving and learning in concerned with living, moving and learning in the outdoors. Outdoor recreation on the the outdoors. Outdoor recreation on the other hand takes place during leisure time other hand takes place during leisure time and can result in the in the informal and can result in the in the informal acquisition of valuable lessons and life skills acquisition of valuable lessons and life skills as a consequence of the experience. Outdoor as a consequence of the experience. Outdoor education is taught structured programme or education is taught structured programme or lesson. Because it is part of the PE lesson. Because it is part of the PE programme it to has the same major aims to :programme it to has the same major aims to :

MAIN AIMSMAIN AIMS

• Physical health and skill learningPhysical health and skill learning• Preparation for active leisurePreparation for active leisure• Personal and social developmentPersonal and social development• Enhancement of quality of life.Enhancement of quality of life.• • SELF – by giving yourself a challenge and SELF – by giving yourself a challenge and

overcoming that challenge. A good example of this is overcoming that challenge. A good example of this is climbing a rock faceclimbing a rock face

• OTHERS – to gain group experiences, share decisions OTHERS – to gain group experiences, share decisions and work together as a team. Canadian canoeing and work together as a team. Canadian canoeing demonstrates this well.demonstrates this well.

• THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – through direct THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – through direct contact with it.contact with it.

BE AWAREBE AWARE

In outdoor education the In outdoor education the emphasis is on holistic emphasis is on holistic

experiences and relationships experiences and relationships rather than specific skills.rather than specific skills.

RESTRICTIONSRESTRICTIONS

• There are many reasons as to why outdoor pursuits are There are many reasons as to why outdoor pursuits are scarce with the curriculum, it many schools it is only an scarce with the curriculum, it many schools it is only an extra-curricular activity. Activities are very expensive in extra-curricular activity. Activities are very expensive in terms of transport and equipment needed, and many terms of transport and equipment needed, and many safety precautions must be considered, especially in the safety precautions must be considered, especially in the light of recent tragedies. Obviously, time and environment light of recent tragedies. Obviously, time and environment are other major issues. The Education Reform Act 1988 are other major issues. The Education Reform Act 1988 increased the problems schools experienced in offering increased the problems schools experienced in offering these activities. Local Education Authorities may no longer these activities. Local Education Authorities may no longer have access to sufficient funds to provide for the relevant have access to sufficient funds to provide for the relevant training. Also, the law regarding charging pupils for out of training. Also, the law regarding charging pupils for out of school activities may cause schools to limit or abandon school activities may cause schools to limit or abandon such activities, as voluntary contributions may not be such activities, as voluntary contributions may not be sufficient. This could mean that only the wealthier schools sufficient. This could mean that only the wealthier schools are able to participate, so these activities would retain are able to participate, so these activities would retain their elite image. In order to combat these problems their elite image. In order to combat these problems schools are now developing orienteering courses and schools are now developing orienteering courses and having climbing walls built.having climbing walls built.

AND MORE………AND MORE………

• The concept of adventure plays an important part in The concept of adventure plays an important part in outdoor education. In 1984 Mortlock introduced the outdoor education. In 1984 Mortlock introduced the concept of the ‘adventure alternative’, believing that concept of the ‘adventure alternative’, believing that we have an instinct for seeking adventure and that we have an instinct for seeking adventure and that outdoor education is one way of fulfilling this drive. outdoor education is one way of fulfilling this drive. Outdoor activities have an advantage over more Outdoor activities have an advantage over more conventional games in that the decisions have to be conventional games in that the decisions have to be made are much more real. These activities always made are much more real. These activities always contain an element of risk because of the contain an element of risk because of the unpredictability of the natural environment means unpredictability of the natural environment means that there are many uncontrollable ( and sometimes that there are many uncontrollable ( and sometimes life-threatening) factors that need to be taken into life-threatening) factors that need to be taken into consideration.consideration.

AND MORE…………AND MORE…………

• RISK AND ADVENTURERISK AND ADVENTURE• There has been considerable growth in both traditional and new There has been considerable growth in both traditional and new

activities including jet skiing, snow boarding, mountain biking etc. activities including jet skiing, snow boarding, mountain biking etc. The reasons for growth can be explained by :The reasons for growth can be explained by :

• Increasingly sedentary lives, which makes some people seek a Increasingly sedentary lives, which makes some people seek a more active and exciting leisure timemore active and exciting leisure time

• Increased leisure time and standards of living, which makes these Increased leisure time and standards of living, which makes these activities more accessibleactivities more accessible

• The development of new and exciting technology sportsThe development of new and exciting technology sports• The appreciation of the natural environment particularly as a The appreciation of the natural environment particularly as a

release from urban pressures.release from urban pressures.• According to Mortlock, there are four broad stages of adventure:According to Mortlock, there are four broad stages of adventure:• PlayPlay• AdventureAdventure• Frontier adventureFrontier adventure• MisadventureMisadventure

THE OUTWARD BOUND THE OUTWARD BOUND TRUSTTRUST

• 50 YEARS AGO – Kurt Hahn, a progressive 50 YEARS AGO – Kurt Hahn, a progressive educationalist, and Lawrence Holt, a educationalist, and Lawrence Holt, a wealthy industrialist, founded the Outward wealthy industrialist, founded the Outward Bound Trust. It was the first organisation in Bound Trust. It was the first organisation in the world dedicated to personal the world dedicated to personal development using the natural development using the natural environment. Outward Bound works in environment. Outward Bound works in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and provides a variety of Award Scheme and provides a variety of courses such as physical expeditions, skill courses such as physical expeditions, skill courses and a city challenge course in urban courses and a city challenge course in urban areas.areas.