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The journey or the destination. A comparison of outdoor education ideologies

Publication at Faculty of Physical Education and Sport |
2009

Abstract

Western (UK, USA, Australia & New Zealand) 'outdoor education' traditions are often linked to adventure and challenge education, inseparable from physically demanding activities in natural environments. The activity is often foremost with a 'destination' to be reached, historically linked to Sir Edmund Hillary's famous quote on reaching the top of Everest, ""we knocked the bugger off"".

In contrast the characteristic features of some of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia's (involving Frilustliv) 'education in nature' traditions are strongly connected to a 'journey'. In Czech, Turistika activities involve travelling involving playing games, active movement (travelling by bike, skis, canoe, or on foot), and outdoor and cultural activities (learning about nature; local history and sights; life of local people; mushroom and berry picking).

This paper provides a comparison of these outdoor education ideologies.