Learning in Outdoor Education (EDUH4052)
Engagement with natural environments in Australia forms a significant part of growing up for many Australians, whether in formal education; organised leisure activities; or unstructured experiences of leisure and sport. A growing number of overseas tourists also visit principally to experience Australia’s unique natural environments.
Outdoor education is an important aspect of the key learning area, "Personal Development, Health and Physical Education" in the NSW Debartment of Education syllabii for primary and secondary schools. Learning in Outdoor Education examines the nature and significance of learning that takes place in natural environments in Australia, with particular focus on how and what children and young people learn in outdoor education.
While the unit does aim to build knowledge and develop understanding of specific areas of natural significance in NSW, its principal focus is the nature of learning in outdoor education. Bushwalking-and-camping field trips immerse students in natural environments, and these experiences are complemented by a lecture program that maximises their learning and builds on specific knowledge gained 'in the field'.
Assessment tasks that are undertaken during – and as a result of – the two field trips form the core learning experiences of the unit, while additional activities are provided to further enrich students' learning and understanding of the topic.
Field trips
The first field trip is a two-day hike along rugged coastal terrain in the Royal National Park, the world's second oldest national park. The trip includes camping overnight, two in situ tutorials, and examining coastal ecology.
The second field trip is a three-day expedition to the beautiful Barrington River, which flows through Barrington Tops National Park in the mountains north of Sydney. Rainforest in the park is the southernmost link in a chain of remnant rainforests in central Eastern Australia protected by World Heritage listing. This field trip includes two nights' bunk accommodation in cabins, day hikes, kayaking and a number of in situ tutorials.