The author believes that outdoor adventure education should encourage all learners regardless of attributes to discover their passions. They feel more focus is needed on including women in leadership roles and addressing lack of racial diversity through technology and urban settings. Risk management is important to ensure safety while still providing challenges that facilitate learning. Certification and real world experience are both valuable for outdoor leaders, but hands-on practice is also needed. The goal is to use nature-based education to help learners grow and connect to others and the environment in a sustainable way.

1.
My personal education philosophy for the field of outdoor adventure education is one
rooted in the belief that every learner, regardless of age, race, or gender, should be
encouraged to discover what it is that’s in their heart, what it is that moves them. In regards to
gender, I feel that women should be encouraged to pursue leadership roles and that all
participants should feel empowered. I feel that, as a field, there is not enough focus on racial
diversity and that we may be able to use technology as well as the urban setting to allow for
easier access to more demographics. If we use what resources we have and adapt to
changing technologies we may be able to reach more people.
I also believe that OAE can be used as a platform for social justice. One of the best
things about having a shared experience with a group of people is that it can make it easier to
talk about issues that may be affecting members of the group such as gender identity, racial
biases or the perpetuation of stereotypes. It also seems to make sense that these topics can
be covered in an adventure setting due to it’s natural flow towards empowerment.
There seem to be two main schools of thought when it comes to risk in the outdoors.
There are those that are sure that risk is necessary and that too many precautions are
causing for the watering down of activities and that we are doing the field and it’s participants
a disservice. Then there are those that are more apt to institute new safety measures for
reasons of obtaining more business etc. I believe that risk must be managed in a responsible
way. There will always be inherent risk involved with being outside; however, we should take
reasonable steps to ensure the safety of our participants to the best of our ability. Perceived
risk is very important in that it pushes students from their comfort zones into their learning
zones. By mitigating risks within our control we can be more sure that learning will take place
instead of panic and that the participant will get the most out of an experience.
One way I, or other organizations, can be sure that leaders have a base of knowledge
is through certifications. Just as I would not want to work for an unaccredited company,
companies are less and less likely to hire me without certain certifications. However, I also
strongly believe in real world experience as well. Just because you read Moby Dick doesn’t
mean you know how to go catch a whale. In the same sense, just because I read a first aid
book doesn’t mean I’m prepared to splint a leg without hands on experience doing it. Field
experience allows for practicing problem solving when it truly matters.
I hope to use adventure education and environmental education to allow learners to
use mother nature as an aide for self discovery, healing, building connections and all around
fun, responsibly. It is my desire that, by forging connections with nature, people will open their
eyes to the pain that we are causing both to the environment and fellow human beings. I
believe that I can plant a seed through the use of adventure education.