Rethinking Outdoor, Experiential and Informal Education

This book seeks to bring together the two disciplines of informal and outdoor education, and challenges readers to think differently about outdoor and adventure education. It develops core ideas and thinking about informal education within outdoor settings, and explores how its principles and practice can enhance outdoor education.

A wide range of contributors look in detail at the concept of change in the outdoors, whilst also considering the ways in which this expanding field might exploit opportunities offered to young people and adults to engage in reflective informal education. It encourages outdoor educators to experience their immediate surroundings in new and innovative ways and grasp the challenge of promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

Offering a fresh perspective on shifting the outdoor education agenda from that of skills acquisition and ‘narrow learning’ to the social and political, as well as aesthetic and philosophical opportunities embodied within the outdoor experience, this book will be valuable reading for those studying or working in the field of outdoor education.

Tony Jeffs recently retired from the Department of Applied Social Sciences Durham University, UK, where he still teaches in a part-time capacity. He was founding editor of the journal Youth and Policy and is currently a member of the journal’s Editorial Board.

Jon Ord is Associate Professor at Plymouth Marjon University, UK.