Outdoor Education Australia
News
The date listed is the date the news was posted.
[8 February 2008]
The Guardian newspaper reported recently on research research which compared records of visits to dozens of national parks, state parks and other public land across the US, Japan and Spain combined with analysis of US licence applications to hunt deer, fish and shoot ducks, as well as surveys on the popularity of outdoor pursuits such as camping and hiking. The researchers said: "All major lines of evidence point to a general and fundamental shift away from people's participation in nature-based recreation. The cultural shift away from nature recreation appears to extend outside of the US, to at least Japan, and the decline appears to have begun 1981-1991. The root cause may be videophilia [a preference for indoor media activities]."
They say the findings could represent a general shift away from interest in nature, and that "if this is the case, it is of enormous importance". The report authors say contact with the environment produces more eco-friendly behaviour and people must be exposed to nature as children if they are to care about it as adults. With fewer adults spending time in the great outdoors, children are less likely to experience it.
They conclude: "Declining nature participation has crucial implications for conservation efforts. We think it probable that any major decline in the value placed on natural areas and experiences will greatly reduce the value people place on biodiversity conservation. Accordingly, it becomes less likely that attempts to raise public awareness of the current biodiversity crisis [will succeed]."
Clearly this research points to the critical importance of outdoor education and the role we as educators can play in connecting young people with the natural environment. We know that the educational benefits of outdoor experiences can be invaluable on a range of levels, and it seems that the long term health of the planet may be helped if we rebuild the connection with nature through outdoor experience.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/05/conservation
[22 October 2007]
The Standards Australia committee responsible for the Draft Australian Standard for Artificial Climbing Structures has provided an extended timeline for feedback on the draft . Feedback is now required by 14 December 2007.
Draft Australian Standard for Artificial Climbing Structures
Please visit https://committees.standards.org.au/COMMITTEES/SF-047/P0701/SF-047-P0701.DOC to download guidance and an appropriate comment form. Once comments are complete, email your form to carol.foster@standards.org.au
The Outdoor Council of Australia is represented on the committee and has provided the following correspondence relating to the draft. OCA Background Letter (pdf)
[19 October 2007]
Abstracts are invited for the 4th International Outdoor Education Research Conference (April 15-18, 2009). The conference will build on the three previous International Outdoor Education Research Conferences where the focus has been on engaging with a greater variety of theoretical and critical approaches to outdoor education research than have traditionally been associated with the field. This conference offers researchers and scholars an opportunity to present and discuss their work in a truly international forum. More
[10 October 2007]
Queensland outdoor educator, Andy Fellows, a delegate at the recent National Outdoor Education Conference, has been hailed as a hero after he and two others successfully resuscitated a 59 year old man who collapsed in a local shopping mall. More
[9 October 2007]
Martime NZ has recently released a report into an incident where a student was trapped in a 'sieve' during a rafting trip before being rescued. More
[29 August 2007]
The Fourth International Outdoor Education Research Conference will be hosted by the School of Outdoor Education and Environment at La Trobe University and held at the Beechworth campus in north-eastern Victoria. The conference will build on the three previous conferences held at Buckinghamshire-Chilterns University (UK) in 2002, La Trobe University (Australia) in 2004, and the University of Central Lancashire (UK) in 2006, and continue to promote and foster an international community of researchers whose work critically examines outdoor education theory and practice. More
[24 July 2007]
Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors
After more than two years of development by the VOEA the Department of Education has recently launched the Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors - an online resource for government schools to support all excursions which require school council approval. That means everything from an overnight music camp to a trip to Canberra to abseiling in the Grampians. (The Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors replace the Guidelines for Outdoor and Adventure Activities.)
The address for the new site is www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/edoutdoors
[22 June 2007]
Congratulations Peter Blunt!
What makes a ‘good’ outdoor educator? Indeed, what makes an ‘excellent’ outdoor educator?
Regardless of how we define it, most of us aspire to be good, if not excellent, when we educate outdoors. Peter Blunt, from Lake Ginninderra College (ACT), has recently been recognised at a prestigious award ceremony for his excellence in teaching and specifically for his contributions to the outdoor educating of students at the college.
The annual Quality Schooling Awards Ceremony highlights examples of exemplary teachers and schools that have made notable contributions to schooling in Australia. The awards are sponsored by Teaching Australia and the Australian Government. This year’s ceremony highlighted the achievements of some 40 individuals and 24 schools and was held on the 21st of March at Parliament House. This year, Peter Blunt was one of those teachers.
Excerpt from the Ceremony handbook: Highly Commended Teacher: Peter Blunt, Lake Gininderra College, ACT (for his work in Outdoor Education)
“Peter Blunt is a recognised leader in outdoor education, providing an outstanding contribution to quality outdoor adventure activities for students.
Peter, in his role as outdoor education and ‘adventure-plus’ coordinator at Lake Ginninderra College, has raised the quality and safety of outdoor education for students. He has provided extensive leadership in professional development programmes, established ACT-wide risk management standards and built innovative links with tertiary institutions, vocational bodies and community organisations.
The courses Peter has developed have been accredited to count towards university entrance scores as well as contribute to nationally recognised vocational qualifications.
Peter’s enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism have had a significant impact on students and colleagues and benefited schools and community groups nationally and internationally. Students undertaking his courses are extended academically and challenged physically within a learning programme they enjoy. Enrolments in his courses have increased by 20 per cent over the past eight years.” Teaching Australia (2007), Australian Government National Awards for Quality Schooling Awards Ceremony handbook, Australian Government: Canberra, p.3.
[11 April 2007]
Interactive Atlas of Indigenous Australia is a new online map resource creating a novel way to explore relationships between different elements of Indigenous history and culture. The Interactive Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia website, will allow users to overlay different maps showing many aspects of Indigenous life.
[30 March 2007]
Training Packages Unwrapped presents the units of the NTIS Training Packages in an easy-to-use format, along with a few teaching resources such as moodle frameworks, tiddlyWiki's and wikiversity ready text.
[22 March 2007]
ABC Radio National EdPod. EdPod presents a mix of education stories, from early childhood to the end of secondary school. It's a jargon-free look at the experience of educators, researchers, parents and students. EdPod examines new education ideas, and asks whether things could or should be done differently. From the classroom to the staff room and on to the home - EdPod brings you the latest ideas about learning.
[14 March 2007]
Film Australia Digital Learning has launched a free, national educational online resource, www.filmaust.com.au/learning utilising its extraordinary 60 years of documentary archives.
The Digital Resource Finder is a quick and easy-to-use search engine for teachers and educators that features over 400 free Australian video clips to view or download, combined with dedicated curriculum-based notes and class activities.
[12 March 2007]
The 2nd "Risk Management in Tourism" Seminar, hosted by the Centre for the Tourism Research, University of Canberra was held in November, 2006. The theme of the seminar was "Snowsport injury prevention". Presentations highlighted recent Australian research on snowsport safety, snowsport injuries, injury prevention approaches and risk management. Discussions were also held to explore future research projects that will contribute to snowsport injury prevention research and practice. More
[10 March 2007]
Call that a knife? The new Swiss Army knife contains 85 devices, weighs 2lb and costs nearly £500. But can you actually use it for anything? The Guardian reports. More
[23 February 2007]
From e-learning to m-learning. In the Summer 2006 issue of EQ Australia, Heather Watson compels all educators to consider the potential of assisted learning using mobile devices over more formal learning delivery methods. More
[22 February 2007]
Adventurer Andrew McAuley reflected on his sea kayaking journey before he set out to 'cross the ditch' in an interview on ABC radio. More