Outdoor learning

News just in....the English Outdoor Council have put forward a compelling case for change in Outdoor Learning.
This document has been distributed to politicians on the 21st May, 2010.

For full document - download

The council recognises that change in outdoor learning is needed as there is hard evidence on the value of the outdoors and a challenge to deliver fair access for all.

The ENGLISH OUTDOOR COUNCIL members include:

• Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres
• British Activity Holiday Association Ltd
• Christian Camping International
• Institute for Outdoor Learning
• National Association of Field Study Officers
• National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
• Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel
• Outdoor Industries Association, Young Explorers' Trust

If you are a Ski Party Leader, the following quotes makes for some good reading and will help support your proposed trips.

OFSTED
OFSTED published a thematic report on learning outside the classroom in October 2008. Among its key findings was:

"When planned and implemented well, learning outside the classroom contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils' personal, social and emotional development."

QCDA
The council put forward that outdoor learning makes a powerful contribution to curriculum aims.
QCDA has published a set of aims for the curriculum. These are that it should enable all young people to become:

• successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve,

• confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives,

• responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The 2009 Department of Health publication “Be Active, Be Healthy” (5) estimates the annual cost to the NHS of physical inactivity at between £1 and £1.8 billion. It recognizes the importance of the outdoors:

“Natural environments offer important settings for health-enhancing physical activity.” “Contact with nature has been shown to improve people’s physical and mental health.”

Learning outdoors, offers for many their first real contact with the natural environment. Arguably the single most important lesson for the future is an understanding and respect for our environment and an awareness of our responsibility to behave towards it in a sustainable way. There is no better way of developing such understanding and respect than first hand experience. This is particularly so for those who live in towns and cities.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
It has been recognised that the Scottish Liberal Democrats have proposed that

“Every child will be entitled to two weeks of outdoor activity during their time at secondary school, allowing them to learn new skills and better understand their environment.”

In short, there is a clear economic argument that there should be a publicly funded entitlement to a progressive range of learning experiences outside the classroom, including at least one residential experience. However, it is recognized that the current economic climate is not one in which new spending commitments are likely.