The writer's interest in outdoor education is based on a college major in Physical Education, two years as director of a day camp in the Los Angeles area, and ten years of experience as a school administrator. During this time, interest developed in the possibilities of outdoor education as a means of providing many direct learning experiences not possible in the regular classroom. The writer thus becomes especially interested in the possibility of providing a program that would more nearly meet the needs of young people than is possible through traditional classroom procedures. Extending learning to the out-of-doors through a well-planned and directed outdoor education program seemed to offer many opportunities for enriching the school curriculum.
The more realistic schools become in their attempt to equip individuals for life, the more they realize the inadequacy of the traditional school environment. Many limitations imposed by tradition are being removed through revised procedures and methods of instruction. There remains certain limitations, however, of the school environment itself, such as lack of direct contact with nature and lack of opportunities for certain types of human relationships which are more nearly possible through group living.
Modern educators believe that many of these limitations may be removed by extending education to an out-of-door environment by making camping experiences a part of the regular school curriculum.
The conclusion was reached that one of the important reasons for the delay in acceptance of outdoor education as a part of the regular school program was due to the fact that administrators, who sooner or later must assume the responsibility for initiating new programs in education, need more information concerning methods of getting an outdoor education program started. Such administrative factors as financing, selecting a staff, planning a program, providing for health and safety, selecting a, camp site, and others, are real problems that must be faced by those who are contemplating the establishment of an outdoor education program.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-2377 |
| Date | 01 January 1958 |
| Creators | Lovvorn, William Edward |
| Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
| Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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