Added: 01/09/2006 |
Outdoor Education Excursions As An Integral Part Of The National Education ProgramThe nature of outdoor education excursions is often misunderstood. It should be mentioned that the participants are not expected to acquire skills in climbing or canoeing. The aim of outdoor education excursions is to develop a relationship with nature and also to learn to work alongside others. Thus, the domains of self, other people, and the world of nature are understood as the main principles of outdoor education. However, in addition to the main points emphasized in the outdoor education programs, there exist a number of specific aims, such as the promotion of Christianity, enhancing teamwork, teaching outdoor survival skills, protection of natural environments, and more.
Today, outdoor education occurs in nearly all countries of the world. Depending on the cultural heritage and traditions observed by community, it may be implemented in different forms. Thus, in some countries, outdoor education is identified with environmental education, while in other countries, these two notions are treated as distinct. Outdoor education is recognized as an important element of education programs in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, and New Zealand.
In the late XX century, the Outward Bound movement started its work in the United Kingdom with the aim of fostering outdoor education nationwide. The center of the movement activities was at Aberdovey in Whales. In the second half of the XX century it spread to more than 40 countries worldwide, which has resulted in introduction of such programs as the National Outdoor Leadership School and Project Adventure, as well as further development of such fields as adventure recreation, adventure therapy, and adventure tourism.
In the years following the World War II, many of the Outward Bound principles were changed. Local authorities started establishing their own centers for outdoor education. In the 1890s there already existed a number of such centers, and there was a rapidly growing private sector with similar aims. However, the recent years have witnessed the decline of many of outdoor education centers. The concern was expressed about the quality and number of outdoor education excursions with the emphasis on their improvement.
In 2005, the Committee on Education initiated the program ?Education Outside The Classroom,? calling on the UK government to do more for promotion and protection of outdoor education. The government?s response was the issue of manifest for outdoor education with the set of compulsory items for students.
The United States is known for the extensive organized outdoor education excursions and camping programs. With the spread of the Outward Bound movement in the 1960s, the outdoor education showed signs of significant growth through the development of the National Outdoor Leadership School, Project Adventure, and the Association for Experimental Education.
A number of wilderness orientation programs were established within US colleges and universities. Several trends of the outdoor education include environment, climate change, risk aversion, physical fitness, and risk management.
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