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Experiential Learning through Outdoor Education
Supporting curriculum with real life tasks.
Research was conducted in December 2004 by Paul Younger into the benefits, programs and philosophy of Outdoor Education. The research was presented to a panel of educators from schools across Cape York in April 2005. It was agreed that further investigation was needed into the feasibility of establishing a program to benefit Cape York students.
The program will include Weipa, Aurukun, Mapoon, Napranum, Lockhart River, Coen, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama schools. The sequential program will work with students from years 4 through to year 12.
The program will work on supporting classroom teachers with practical activities that assist You Can Do It outcomes (personal life skills development) and build on strategies that support the transition phase of the middle years. A Cape York Cultural Heritage curriculum will be developed with Jean little and practical applications will be developed to support the New Basics curriculum. Contempory environmental curriculum will be developed that would support such things as cultural significance of environments and their use, and cultural use of environments and their care. Students will study biodiversity of a unique environment that is the Wild Rivers of Cape York, rivers such as the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers.
Outdoor Education utilizes adventure activities and seeks to engage students in challenging social interactions that enable them to experience situations found in our communities. We then facilitate appropriate behaviours and develop tools and strategies within students so that they can continue to use these strategies and tools within real life situations within and beyond the school environment. Students will experience challenge ropes courses, bushwalking, abseiling & rock-climbing, aboriginal cultural knowledge and carry out opportunities to fulfill curriculum outcomes whilst on Outdoor Education programs. They will learn to respect themselves, others and the environment. They will also learn to take responsibility for their actions and understand consequences. They will develop confidence and build self esteem within activities outside their comfort zones.
Currently students attend Environmental education centres in the Cairns area. It is hoped that a similar facility would be supported and built on Cape York over a number of years. This would be supported by real projects within the manual arts curriculum. It is envisaged that the above outcomes and results can be realized and achieved for all Cape York students for generations to come.
Those interested in knowing or assisting with this project please contact :
Paul Younger or 0740 906411
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