About "Wilderness"
"Wilderness" is stereotypically understood as referring to
natural environments. But
wilderness means much more. It is really about places, spaces, and
states which humans identify as having
a quality of "wildness" which seems to be about having lack of orderly human
influence. So, wilderness is a term now also used in many ways, such
as "political wilderness", "urban wilderness", "emotional wilderness",
"intellectual wilderness", etc.
"Wilderness Education"
Wilderness education is a broad term which
can be used to refer to educational experiences which are conducted
in the wilderness (an outdoor expedition) and/or are about the wilderness
(e.g., an indoor class about the biosystem).
"Wilderness & Outdoor Education"
Outdoor education generally takes place outside of buildings. But, there is debate about the extent to which wilderness is important in outdoor
education programs. The pro-wilderness camp believes that wilderness
is fundamental and essential for outdoor education. In the
other camp, are arguments that do not emphasize wilderness as particularly
important or even needed for many of the goals of outdoor education programs
to be achieved.
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What's New?
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Fairfax
campground brings wireless to the wilderness
(David Cho, 26 December, 2004, Washington Post)
There is a growing trend towards parks in the USA
installing wireless internet access. Some argue that visitors will
be overly drawn to their glowing screens, others say it can increase
quality recreation time by allowing people to get work
done efficiently whilst in remote locations. The phenomenon is
driven by advancements in luxury mobile homes, with owners increasingly
requesting internet access.
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Old Nature, New Nature:
Environmental Activities for Growing People & Planets
(James Neill, 2004, 1st ed., Outdoor Education Research & Evaluation
Center)
This 12-page booklet is designed an inspirational and
practical primer for simple environmental activities which can be
applied in many settings and which focus on raising ecological and
environmental awareness and developing eco-sustainable behavior.
School from India wins Volvo adventure environmental award
(www.businesswire.com, 13 May, 2004)
Nature = woman? The
ecofeminist thang
(Samantha Callender, 1996) -
Green is good
for you: The mental
restoration we get from nature has implications for how we design
artificial environments
(Rebecca Clay, 34(2), 2001, American Psychological Association Monitor)
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Pupils really dig learning: Educating elementary kids in the garden
(Julia Oliver, Fayetteville Online Story, 12 April, 2004)
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The benefits of outdoor learning centers for gifted young students
(Gifted Child Today Magazine, Winter, 2003) -
Making
your school site an environmental smorgasbord
(Sam Carman, 1986, The Bradford papers, [.doc; 52kb]) -
Outdoor education & experience of
space
(Amelie Zielke, Strathclyde University, 2004) -
Do
we need nature? Winners of $20,000 Shell Economist Nature Essay
Competition, 2003 Announced (with downloadable essays)
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Nature as healer
(Tim Corcoran, Headwaters Outdoor School)
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Principles
of deep ecology
(The Satyana Institute)
The core
values of deep ecology
(Ecospace)
The
New Nature: Winners & Losers in Wild Australia
(Book Review, Sydney Morning Herald, Feb 15, 2003) -
Teachers
forage for lessons in the forest
(Sept 10, 2003), New York Teacher
Yosemite & the Invention of Wilderness
by James Gorman (Sept 2, 2003),
The New York Times
Psychological Benefits of Wilderness
by Garrett Duncan (1998),
Ecopsychology Online
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