The Evolution of Experiential Education

1. The Evolution of Experiential Education By: Gus Kaufmann ESS 777

2. Focus of Research • Where did the Experiential Education concept stem from? • How did Outdoor Education come into the equation? • Who are the important people that created these concepts? • What role did Physical Education play?

3. Definitions of Terms • Experiential Education – “Experiential education is a philosophy and methodology in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills and clarify values.” • http://www.aee.org/customer/pages.php?pageid=47

4. Definitions con’t • Adventure Education – Putting students into a unique or novel situation that allows for exploration of responsibility and decision making. • Outdoor Pursuits – Knowledge and skills associated with moving through the natural environment – non-motorized, non-mechanized, non-competitive • Steffen, 2007

5. Timeline of Events • 1941 – Outward Bound in Aberdovey, Wales • 1961 – Outward Bound Colorado • 1965 – National Outdoor Leadership School • 1971 – Project Adventure • 1976 – Association for Experiential Education • 1977 – Wilderness Education Association • 1993 – Association for Challenge Course Technology • 2003 – Professional Ropes Course Association

6. Kurt Hahn • A man of educational philosophy: • Six Declines of Modern Youth • Four Antidotes to the Declines of Modern Youth • Seven Laws of Salem • Ten Expeditionary Learning Principles

7. Kurt Hahn con’t • Founded: • Salem School in Germany • Gordonstoun School in Scotland • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award • OUTWARD BOUND

8. Outward Bound • Founded by Kurt Hahn and Lawrence Holt in Aberdovey, Wales – 1941 • Intended for the teaching of practical skills and coping mechanisms to young sailors to increase survival rates at sea

9. Outward Bound Colorado • Founded by Josh Miner – 1961 • Started the Outdoor Education Industry in the U.S. • Mission Statement • “To inspire character development and self-discovery in people of all ages and walks of life through challenge and adventure, and to impel them to achieve more than they ever thought possible, to show compassion for others and to actively engage in creating a better world” • http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/history.html

10. National Outdoor Leadership School(NOLS) • Founded by Paul Petzoldt – 1965 • Former Chief Instructor at Outward Bound • Saw the need for more qualified instructors • Started a school specifically designed to train people as outdoor leaders and educators • 100 students in 1965 – over 75,000 graduates in 2003

11. Project Adventure • Founded by Jerry Pieh – 1971 • Karl Rohnke built the course with a group of students • Focus was on 10th grade P.E. students • ***First time adventure education was brought to the mainstream education system***

12. Association for Experiential Education (AEE) • Founded by a group of educators that met in Boone, North Carolina – 1976 • Vision Statement • “The vision of the Association for Experiential Education is to contribute to making a more just and compassionate world by transforming education” • http://www.aee.org/customer/pages.php?pageid=24

13. Wilderness Education Association (WEA) • Founded by Paul Petzoldt, along with Dr. Frank Lupton, Robert Christie and Charles Gregory – 1977 • After a disagreement with NOLS, Petzoldt went on to found WEA • Designed to train leaders in judgment and decision making skills • Based on 18-point curriculum

14. Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) • Formally organized in 1993 • Intent was to set standards for the Challenge Course Industry • Most recent standards were published in 2004 • Standards for Practitioner Certification released in 2007 • Numbers over 1500 members

15. Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA) • Formally organized in 2003 • The only ANSI certified Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) in the ropes challenge course industry • Mission Statement • “develop user friendly standards, ropes challenge course documents, and to define, document and outline the construction/operational practices for the rope challenge course industry” • http://www.prcainfo.org/about_the_prca

16. REFERENCES • Association of Challenge Course Technology. Retrieved from http:www.acctinfo.org on October 20th, 2007. • Association for Experiential Education. Retrieved from http://www.aee.org/customer on October 20th, 2007. • Attarian, A. (2002, Winter). Trends in Outdoor Adventure Education. Journal of ExperientialEducation, 24(3), 141-150. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ebscohost database: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=6661263&site=ehost-live • Hahn, Kurt. (1960) Outward Bound. “Address by Dr. Kurt Hahn at the Annual Meeting of the Outward Bound Trust n 20th July, 1960” retrieved from KurtHahn.org on October 20th, 2007. • Neil, J. (2007, March 10). Four Antidotes to the Decline of Modern Youth-Kurt Hahn. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://wilderdom.com/fourantidotes.html. • Neil, J. (2004, August 30). Six Declines of Modern Youth-Kurt Hahn. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://wilderdom.com/sixdeclinesof modernyouth.html. • Neil, J. (2004, August 30). Seven Laws of Salem-Kurt Hahn. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://wilderdom.com/sevenlawsofsalem.html.

17. REFERENCES • Neil, J. (2005, March 9). Ten Expeditionary Learning Principles-Kurt Hahn. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://wilderdom.com/experiential/tenELOBprinciples.html. • Outward Bound Wilderness. (n.d.) History and Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.outwardboundwildernes.org/history.html on October 20, 2007 • Professional Ropes Course Association. Retrieved from www.prcainfo.org on October 20th, 2007. • Wagstaff, M., Ph.D. (n.d.). A History of Challenge Courses. In What is a Challenge Course. Retrieved October 21, 2007, from Association for Challenge Course Technology Web site: http://www.acctinfo.org/displaycommon.cfm • Wilderness Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.weainfo.org on October 20th, 2007. • Wood, H. NOLS History. Retrieved from http://www.nols.edu/about/history/nols_history.shtml on October 20th, 2007.