The factors influencing contemporary societal relationships with outdoor environments, including:

Social responses to risk taking Perceived Vs Real risk Responses to risky behaviour – safety guidelines,

qualifications, instructor: participant ratios, legal action, media coverage, documentation, evaluation of activity

Long term social, environmental and management effects of risk-taking

Challenging Challenging and risky But relatively safe

Perceived Risk

No real challenge DANGEROUS!!!Generally safe

Real Risk

Chain of events: Media coverage – initial story reported Public response – sadness, dismay, outrage… Investigation – by police into circumstances Coroner’s inquest – into cause of injury or death Media coverage – results published for public Public response – call for action or inaction Criminal or civil proceedings – charges laid if

breeches in law Industry self-regulation – changes to industry

standards, ratios, certification, safety standards, documentation and evaluation of activity

Government legislation – changes to legislation to prevent incident happening again.

A school caving incident

Sadness, dismay, outrage…Example story..

Tim Holding – Lost on FeathertopWater Minister Tim Holding has told paramedics he got lost on Mount Feathertop after falling 100 metres down the mountain during his attempt to climb the peak.Mr Holding - who went missing on Sunday in freezing conditions - was reunited with his parents and partner at the Bright Oval after his dramatic air rescue this morning. He appeared tired and drawn after arriving at The Alfred hospital this afternoon but told the waiting media that he was “feeling better now”.The Alfred's Dr De Villiers Smit said Mr Holding was doing very well.  He was in the emergency department  and would be kept in hospital for observation overnight. Mr Holding, who has no major injuries, is being treated for slight dehydration and is on an intravenous drip. He does not have hypothermia.Dr Smith said Mr Holding was in good spirits and wanted to thank everyone for their support.Read the public responses (via blog) and highlight one that encapsulates the publics view about this rescue, to then share with the class

..By police into circumstances

Try to uncover what truly happened (without influence of media or other opinions)

…Into cause of injury or death

Read through Coroner’s inquest in text book and answer associated questions

Media coverage – results of coroners report published for public

Public response – call for action or inaction

Police re-involved - Criminal or civil proceedings – charges laid if breeches in law

Industry self-regulation – changes to industry standards, ratios, certification, safety standards, documentation and evaluation of activity

Government legislation – changes to legislation to prevent incident happening again.

Social effects: Cost of activities increases, cost of rescue, questioning the NEED to participate, questioning of leader and participant qualifications, review of industry standards. Reduction in the opportunity to participate in these activities.

Environmental effects: Access restrictions or closure of sites in fragile areas – use of zoning to decrease environmental impacts

Management effects: Regulations and permits brought in for both area and participant in parks owned and managed by the State and Federal Governments.

Example – Horse riding in the Alpine National Park and surrounds.

Brainstorm all the outdoor activities you wish we could take part in as a part of your OES VCE

studies..Individually place them on a continuum of least to most risky in your work booksWhich activities wouldn’t your mother allow you to do? Why?What is the value of risk in outdoor activities?How can it affect relationships with environments?

Increased safety might encourage more people to participate and increase negative pressure on environments, or increase positive appreciation of environments.

Legal responses and restrictions may reduce the number of participants and benefit environments that are ‘left alone’

Idolisation of adventurers may encourage unprepared people to enter environments and lead to negative effects (like erosion, clearing, damage to native vegetation, pollution, etc.)

Fear arising from negative portrayals of environments may lead to negative views and a reduction in care for such places

Others???...