Camp vs Journey Based Outdoor Education

Journey based Outdoor Education or centre based Outdoor Education – which is best? Centres definitely have their place both as 'stand alone' programs and as part of a wider sequence, while journeys, perhaps a purer form of outdoor education, only give their best when supported by solid preparation at an earlier stage.

Perhaps the first question we should look at in relation to centre programs is not whether they are worthwhile (they are) but rather, how can a school get the best value from this experience? At their most basic level centres offer a range of activities which are designed to keep students busy and amused. Often a school chooses a centre for reasons not related to outcomes, such as teacher comfort, proximity to home, or even price – none of which has any bearing on the quality of the student's experience, but all of which are important.

The first step is defining what it is the school wants to achieve from camp. This may be as simple as providing younger pupils with their first taste of being away from home and developing a sense of independence. Whatever the desired outcomes, the chances of success are far higher if the school approaches activities at camp in the same way as it would back in the classroom. Too often the lesson plan is just to have fun, yet with effective facilitation there is the chance to achieve greater results. Ultimately, this is the distinction between outdoor recreation (fun) and outdoor education (learning).

While centres are often used at the Primary level, they are also frequently chosen for year 7 programs, typically at the start of the year, so as to help build relationships between students and the teaching staff. At higher year levels, centre based Outdoor Education works best when it focuses on particular aspects of curriculum, such as environmental education.

There does come a time, however, when students will require further extension in the outdoors. Young people rarely get the opportunity to live simply and by natural cycles – getting up when it is light, getting fresh air and exercise, eating good food and going to bed when it is dark. And since a journey involves travel, which in the Outdoor Education context means human powered, there is plenty of scope for dealing with the physical challenges imposed by the environment and the social challenges of being in a small group 24/7.

Urban based Outdoor Education applies much of the same skills (e.g. navigation, risk assessment, decision making and team work) to the built up environment in which we live. This type of journey tests the time worn constructs of Outdoor Education in that it does not involve the natural environment and it may well employ technology such as mobile phones and the internet where appropriate.
So, to return to the original question, centres or journey based programs – which is best? The answer is that the wise Outdoor Educator will use a mixture of both and choose the best aspects of each in developing their program.

Pete Griffiths
Pete is the Director of Schools at the Outdoor Education Group. He is the author of The Ever Varying Flood, a guidebook and history of the Franklin. Pete heads up a national team at OEG who develop new programs and venues that will shape outdoor education over the next decade.