An introduction to expeditions in outdoor education. The concept, rationale and benefits.

1. Expedition: Its
place in outdoor
environmental
education
programs
OEEDU6002 Expeditioning - Week 1

2. What is an
expedition?

3. What is an
expedition?
Perceptions vary enormously...

4. Adventure?

5. Science?

6. Defining expeditions

7. Defining expeditions
Three foundations

8. Journey:
specific or ‘walk about’
6

9. Journey:
specific or ‘walk about’
• Physical exertion: stretch comfort zones
leading to growth compared to tiredness
limits learning and spiritual dimensions.
6

10. Journey:
specific or ‘walk about’
• Physical exertion: stretch comfort zones
leading to growth compared to tiredness
limits learning and spiritual dimensions.
• Metaphor for our life journeys: help us
understand ‘our story’
6

11. Some degree of
uncertainty

12. Some degree of
uncertainty
• Outcome not definite, decisions made and
behaviours occurring during expedition
influence outcome.

13. Some degree of
uncertainty
• Outcome not definite, decisions made and
behaviours occurring during expedition
influence outcome.
• How to cope with uncertainty: setting
considered realistic by learners, a physical or
psychological challenge is provided by the
setting, appropriate degree of risk exists,
diverse settings are integrated

14. Self
sufficiency
Related to cause and effect
relationships

15. Why an
expedition ?

16. • Changes in contemporary social culture:
- balance looking inwards for the source of their
values and look externally to sources such as
religion and community.

17. • Changes in contemporary social culture:
- balance looking inwards for the source of their
values and look externally to sources such as
religion and community.
• People searching for values:
- dialogue and choice

18. • Changes in contemporary social culture:
- balance looking inwards for the source of their
values and look externally to sources such as
religion and community.
• People searching for values:
- dialogue and choice
• Involves:
- individuals, groups and the environment in
dynamic and changing relationships

19. • Changes in contemporary social culture:
- balance looking inwards for the source of their
values and look externally to sources such as
religion and community.
• People searching for values:
- dialogue and choice
• Involves:
- individuals, groups and the environment in
dynamic and changing relationships
• Moral decay in society:
- needs value development, self and community

20. What are the outcomes?

21. Contrasting expedition with every day
life appears to encourage individual
reflection, experience leads to people
understanding their story.

22. Shift from people centred thinking to
land centred thinking, wilderness as
sacred place compared to playing
field.

23. Develop the ecological self: priorities
rediscovered: love, belonging, family,
community, sharing, love of nature

24. 4 themes
emerge from
expeditioning

25. 4 themes
emerge from
expeditioning
• natural environment

26. 4 themes
emerge from
expeditioning
• natural environment
• being true to oneself

27. 4 themes
emerge from
expeditioning
• natural environment
• being true to oneself
• relationships: dialogue
contribution

28. 4 themes
emerge from
expeditioning
• natural environment
• being true to oneself
• relationships: dialogue
contribution
• post expedition adjustment

29. Benefits of expeditions
16

30. Benefits of expeditions
16

31. • Enjoyment of nature
Benefits of expeditions
16

32. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
Benefits of expeditions
16

33. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
Benefits of expeditions
16

34. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
Benefits of expeditions
16

35. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
Benefits of expeditions
16

36. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
Benefits of expeditions
16

37. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
Benefits of expeditions
16

38. • Enjoyment of nature
• Spiritual renewal
• Metaphor for spiritual
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
• Group trust and
emotional safety
Benefits of expeditions
16

39. • Enjoyment of nature • Self concept,
• Spiritual renewal compassion, nature
• Metaphor for spiritual awareness and fitness
journey
• Facilitation to enhance
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
• Group trust and
emotional safety
Benefits of expeditions
16

40. • Enjoyment of nature • Self concept,
• Spiritual renewal compassion, nature
• Metaphor for spiritual awareness and fitness
journey • Relationships,
• Facilitation to enhance appreciation.
spiritual journey
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
• Group trust and
emotional safety
Benefits of expeditions
16

41. • Enjoyment of nature • Self concept,
• Spiritual renewal compassion, nature
• Metaphor for spiritual awareness and fitness
journey • Relationships,
• Facilitation to enhance appreciation.
spiritual journey • Emotional identity
• Attention, confidence and
contemplation
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
• Group trust and
emotional safety
Benefits of expeditions
16

42. • Enjoyment of nature • Self concept,
• Spiritual renewal compassion, nature
• Metaphor for spiritual awareness and fitness
journey • Relationships,
• Facilitation to enhance appreciation.
spiritual journey • Emotional identity
• Attention, confidence and • Leadership: influenced
contemplation positively
• Benefits are sequential
• Solitude
• Group trust and
emotional safety
Benefits of expeditions
16

43. • Enjoyment of nature • Self concept,
• Spiritual renewal compassion, nature
• Metaphor for spiritual awareness and fitness
journey • Relationships,
• Facilitation to enhance appreciation.
spiritual journey • Emotional identity
• Attention, confidence and • Leadership: influenced
contemplation positively
• Benefits are sequential • Complexities associated
• Solitude with expedition:
• Group trust and multilayered: self, others,
emotional safety environment
Benefits of expeditions
16

44. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
1 Set aside time for people to think,
talk and write about spirituality such
as journal writing, solos, meditation.
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

45. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
2 Focus debriefing sessions on the
spiritual nature of experiences as
these are often emotionally intense.
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

46. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
3 Take people out of their ‘normal
environments’
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

47. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
4 Create opportunities for people
to be significantly affected at an
emotional level, such as
exploring personal limits.
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

48. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
5 Encourage activities that help
people to explore their connections
to each other.
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

49. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
6 Take advantage of the environment by telling
participants about the history of the area
creating connections between their
experiences and the human and non-human
past of the environment. Knowledge of the
environment can increase human-nature
relationships.
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

50. Seven suggestions for
planning and
conducting expeditions
7 Encourage people to consider their
world view: i.e. individuals consider
their connections with their past
and with others (narrative
understanding).
Allison, Peter (2002). A study of youth expeditions. (unpublished)

51. Expedition Goals