Wellness and outdoor education

Wellness Wellness & Outdoor & Outdoor Education:Education:

Essential Learning for Essential Learning for Student Well BeingStudent Well Being

Outdoor Education Outdoor Education & The New World & The New World

(Montage)(Montage)Some Images & Possibilities Some Images & Possibilities

for Outdoor Education – for Outdoor Education – 4 min. video4 min. video

Some Ideas for Some Ideas for Outdoor Education Outdoor Education Responses to VELSResponses to VELS

A grand experiment is underway…

Never have Never have allall of the world's "growth of the world's "growth technologies" been fully available to a technologies" been fully available to a single culturesingle culture

““What I find so encouraging…is that all of us—all of What I find so encouraging…is that all of us—all of us teachers and students of enlightenment—are us teachers and students of enlightenment—are at this time in history involved in a truly grand at this time in history involved in a truly grand experiment. Never have experiment. Never have allall of the world's "growth of the world's "growth technologies" been fully available to a single technologies" been fully available to a single culture: we have access not only to all of the culture: we have access not only to all of the forms of Western psychotherapy and human forms of Western psychotherapy and human potential techniques, we have access to virtually potential techniques, we have access to virtually all of the world's great wisdom traditions as well. all of the world's great wisdom traditions as well. And we are all now engaged in this "simple yet And we are all now engaged in this "simple yet complex" experiment in how best to balance all of complex" experiment in how best to balance all of these approaches”these approaches”

A Paradoxical AgeA Paradoxical AgeLife expectancyLife expectancy continues to rise but so do rates of continues to rise but so do rates of

psychological disturbance, esp. depression and anxiety (due the volume of psychological disturbance, esp. depression and anxiety (due the volume of antidepressants being taken, traces have can be found in our public water antidepressants being taken, traces have can be found in our public water supply). supply).

Some countries face increasing Some countries face increasing malnutritionmalnutrition, other countries face , other countries face

increasing increasing obesityobesity, whilst other countries face both trends. , whilst other countries face both trends. Social roles have become more fluid, yet work has become more Social roles have become more fluid, yet work has become more

specialized. specialized. We have more We have more technological efficiencytechnological efficiency and know-how than and know-how than

ever, yet we find ourselves working harder than ever. ever, yet we find ourselves working harder than ever. We have access to We have access to more information than evermore information than ever, but are , but are

bewildered by the spiraling array of unsolved problems bewildered by the spiraling array of unsolved problems ((Since 1970, humans have created more stored information than in the Since 1970, humans have created more stored information than in the previous 5000 years.)previous 5000 years.)

Obesity Trends in AustraliaObesity Trends in Australia

Since 1980, there has been 2.5 fold increase in Since 1980, there has been 2.5 fold increase in the rates of obesity in Australia. (Cameron et al, the rates of obesity in Australia. (Cameron et al, 2003)2003)

A quarter of Australian children are overweight A quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese. This has doubled in the last 10 years.or obese. This has doubled in the last 10 years.

Almost 70% of Americans of overweight, with Almost 70% of Americans of overweight, with Australians close behindAustralians close behind

We are eating fewer calories than we were 20-We are eating fewer calories than we were 20-30 years ago, but we are doing even less 30 years ago, but we are doing even less exerciseexercise

Consumption of Natural Consumption of Natural ResourcesResources

Our consumption is Our consumption is outstripping the planet’s outstripping the planet’s creation of natural creation of natural resources by 20%.resources by 20%.

(Ref: WWF, 2004)(Ref: WWF, 2004)

Consumption per Person in Consumption per Person in USAUSA

““Americans waste or cause to Americans waste or cause to be wasted nearly 1 million be wasted nearly 1 million pounds of materials per pounds of materials per person per year.”person per year.”

(Ref: Hawken et al, 1999)(Ref: Hawken et al, 1999)

Population Growth & Energy Population Growth & Energy UsageUsage

Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

If we are not leaving a If we are not leaving a positive ecological footprint positive ecological footprint through outdoor education, through outdoor education, where do we hope a reverse where do we hope a reverse in human ecological impact in human ecological impact is going to come from?is going to come from?

Levels of Change/GrowthLevels of Change/Growth

SelfSelf

SocialSocial

Ecological ImpactEcological Impact

Wei-Jan Wei-Jan Chinese for Opportunity Chinese for Opportunity

Through DangerThrough Danger

3 interwoven purposes: 3 interwoven purposes: Equip students with capacities to:Equip students with capacities to:

ManageManage them themselvesselves & & relationshipsrelationshipsUnderstandUnderstand the the worldworldAct effectivelyAct effectively in that in that worldworld

Victorian Essential Learning StandardsVictorian Essential Learning StandardsA Whole School Planning FrameworkA Whole School Planning Framework

Effective Program Effective Program CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1. Physically oriented1. Physically oriented

2. Use school context, but outside school 2. Use school context, but outside school locationlocation

3. Residential settings for long duration3. Residential settings for long duration

4. Conducted by therapists or trained leaders4. Conducted by therapists or trained leaders

5. Incorporate aims of adolescents, parents & 5. Incorporate aims of adolescents, parents & teachers and include them as targets in the teachers and include them as targets in the programprogram

Retrofitting the Suburbs for Retrofitting the Suburbs for SustainabilitySustainability

Food security based on gardeningFood security based on gardeningBetter health through a culture of home food Better health through a culture of home food consumptionconsumptionEconomy through home food production and Economy through home food production and food preservationfood preservationFirewood for sustainable and ethical energyFirewood for sustainable and ethical energyPassive solar design combined with Passive solar design combined with thermally efficient natural materialsthermally efficient natural materials

Retrofitting the Suburbs for Retrofitting the Suburbs for SustainabilitySustainability

GreenhousesGreenhouses Water harvestingWater harvesting Wastewater treatmentWastewater treatment Animals in productive garden ecosystemsAnimals in productive garden ecosystems Reclaiming the streetsReclaiming the streets Creative recyclingCreative recycling City farms and community gardensCity farms and community gardens New ways of tradingNew ways of trading New ways of sharing land New ways of sharing land

Where does OE fit in relation to the Where does OE fit in relation to the standards?standards?

How does OE respond to the challenge to How does OE respond to the challenge to integrate learning across discipline areas?integrate learning across discipline areas?

Where are there opportunities for teachers Where are there opportunities for teachers to work more collaboratively?to work more collaboratively?

Questions for Outdoor EducationQuestions for Outdoor Education

Will your OE program have an emphasis Will your OE program have an emphasis on one particular strand?on one particular strand?

How can discipline-based learning engage How can discipline-based learning engage with OE?with OE?

How will your school or cluster address the How will your school or cluster address the transition between the stages of learningtransition between the stages of learning

Questions for Outdoor EducationQuestions for Outdoor Education

UnlearningUnlearning

“The process that allows evolution to occur

naturally by removing mental constructions that no longer serve human

nature”

- Patrick Mooneywww.unlearning.org

Adaptation of Outdoor Adaptation of Outdoor Education to the New WorldEducation to the New World

• “Traditional” OE• “Non-traditional” OE

e.g., Much delinquency can be seen e.g., Much delinquency can be seen as a healthy, innate need to take as a healthy, innate need to take risks, experiment, and find out risks, experiment, and find out about one’s abilities and about one’s abilities and capabilities.capabilities.

Example: Parkour VideoExample: Parkour Video

Efficient, Creative Human-Efficient, Creative Human-Environment ExplorationEnvironment Exploration

Activities, Activities, Research, Theory Research, Theory

& Models of & Models of Outdoor EducationOutdoor Education

Example Interdisciplinary / Non-Example Interdisciplinary / Non-Traditional Outdoor EducationTraditional Outdoor Education

Physical EducationPhysical Education Permaculture Permaculture Farm StudyFarm Study Environmental RestorationEnvironmental Restoration MultimediaMultimedia Risk EducationRisk Education InternationalInternational Urban AdventureUrban Adventure Extreme SportExtreme Sport

Example Psychological Example Psychological Theory/ModelsTheory/Models

Attempts at Life ChangeAttempts at Life Change Community Building / Social CapitalCommunity Building / Social Capital Coping SkillsCoping Skills EcopsychologyEcopsychology ResilienceResilience Readiness for Change / Stages of ChangeReadiness for Change / Stages of Change Peak ExperiencePeak Experience

Example Psychological Example Psychological Tools & InstrumentsTools & Instruments

Personal & Community Sustainability AuditPersonal & Community Sustainability Audit 40 Developmental Assets40 Developmental Assets Life Effectiveness QuestionnaireLife Effectiveness Questionnaire Psychological ResiliencePsychological Resilience Psychological Well-BeingPsychological Well-Being Locus of ControlLocus of Control Depression & AnxietyDepression & Anxiety Ecological EngagementEcological Engagement Indigenous RediscoveryIndigenous Rediscovery

ChallengeChallenge + +

SupportSupport==

GrowthGrowth

Outdoor Education Outdoor Education ResearchResearch

Outdoor Education Research Outdoor Education Research SummarySummary

Research on 10,000 outdoor Research on 10,000 outdoor education students has education students has found 3 to 4 out of 5 improve found 3 to 4 out of 5 improve in personal & social skills.in personal & social skills.

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Psycho-therapy Class - Aff Self-conceptprograms

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All OE OE Adols Adv Thpy Camps

Future Evolution of Outdoor Future Evolution of Outdoor Education?Education?

A paradigm shift can stimulate new growth

The point is to react creatively before its too late

Adventure Education TheoryAdventure Education TheoryHattie, et al, 1997Hattie, et al, 1997

Immediacy of experienceImmediacy of experience Difficult goalsDifficult goals Supportive environmentSupportive environment FeedbackFeedback

Quality Adventure Education?Quality Adventure Education? Staff trained in Education and PsychologyStaff trained in Education and Psychology Longer ProgramsLonger Programs Unlock Readiness to ChangeUnlock Readiness to Change Immediacy of Experience Immediacy of Experience (action-consequence)(action-consequence)

Difficult, specific goalsDifficult, specific goals Supportive group environmentSupportive group environment ‘‘Dollops of Feedback’Dollops of Feedback’ Reevaluation of Coping ProcessesReevaluation of Coping Processes

Use the Use the Spectrum of ChoiceSpectrum of Choice

VoluntaryVoluntary Challenge Challenge by Choiceby Choice

Tough Love Tough Love (Impelling)(Impelling)

CompulsoryCompulsory

e.g., Scouts, e.g., Scouts, D of ED of E

e.g., Project e.g., Project AdventureAdventure

e.g., e.g., Outward Outward BoundBound

e.g., e.g., incarcerateincarcerate

d youthd youth

Simple Outdoor Simple Outdoor EducationEducation

A backpack, a bit of food, and a planA backpack, a bit of food, and a plan Students can conduct their own expeditionsStudents can conduct their own expeditions Simple gearSimple gear SoloSolo

Holistic Range of ChallengesHolistic Range of Challenges

EnvironmentalEnvironmental PhysicalPhysical SocialSocial EmotionalEmotionalTime

QualitativeQualitativevsvs

QuantitativeQuantitativevsvs

Mixed MethodMixed Method

CopyrightCopyrightvsvs

Public DomainPublic Domainvsvs

Open SourceOpen Source

Off-the-Shelf ToolsOff-the-Shelf Toolsvsvs

Home Grown ToolsHome Grown Tools

Researching PD EffectsResearching PD Effects

Many instruments were inadequate Many instruments were inadequate because:because:

Too narrow (e.g. Locus of Control)Too narrow (e.g. Locus of Control) Too broad (e.g. 16PF)Too broad (e.g. 16PF) Too longToo long Clinical or Assessment focusClinical or Assessment focus Lack of relevance to aims & effectsLack of relevance to aims & effects

Criteria for a New ToolCriteria for a New Tool

Scope vs. DepthScope vs. Depth Length vs. ComplexityLength vs. Complexity Relevance to Intervention AimsRelevance to Intervention Aims Assessment of CompetenceAssessment of Competence Sensitivity to ChangeSensitivity to Change Educational ValueEducational Value

Off-the-Shelf Theory/ModelsOff-the-Shelf Theory/Modelsvsvs

Home Grown Theory/ModelsHome Grown Theory/Models

Research vs Assessment vs Research vs Assessment vs Feedback ToolsFeedback Tools