Outdoor Education Degree
An outdoor education degree ensures a strong connection between outdoor and classroom learning...
With so much emphasis on green schools and the environment, obtaining an outdoor education degree is an excellent choice. Young children that have a teacher with outdoor training have an advantage. Learning how to create opportunities to integrate reading, writing, science and math with the outdoors is a beneficial teaching skill.
Skilled professionals that know how to provide a strong connection between outdoor and classroom learning will impact children's thinking toward living things and the world around them. A teacher that can model attitudes and actions toward caring for the environment will create enthusiasm and a life long love of nature in his/her students.
Even young children can do their part towards restoring a damaged environment, helping with the garden and learning the names of a few native species. They can take small steps in order to encourage wildlife and learn the basics of recycling. Knowledge gained during outdoor education projects is later applied in the classroom in language arts, math, social studies, and science classes.
What will I learn while working towards an Outdoor Education Degree?
The importance of taking care of our environment is emphasized through courses such as:
- Leave No Trace (LNT)
- Wilderness Medicine
- Wilderness First Responder
- Wilderness First Aid
- Outdoor Leadership
Learning how to plan ahead, prepare, travel, camp, leave the environment as you find it, dispose of waste correctly and prevent fires are all part of obtaining an environmental education.
Outdoor Education and Young Children
An outdoor education degree should offer courses that will assist you in teaching children:
- how to appreciate their environment
- that natural and human system are all connected
- to develop an appreciation for the natural world that will encourage them to learn about and protect the environment
and teach you how to provide opportunities for your students to take responsible actions and explore the environmental impact of what they do.
A degree in outdoor education may also offer instruction in the following areas:
- Rock Climbing
- Mountaineering
- Kayaking
- Kayak Touring
- River Rescue
- Canoeing
Textbook or the real thing?
Check to see if the courses are actually taught in the field and are not just the textbook type. Also find out the average class sizes, the university's safety record with field instruction, and the qualifications of their instructors. Look for courses on leadership, to learn how to motivate students, as well as courses in group management and planning.
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