A Framework for Regenerative Outdoor Educational Experiencing: laying the groundwork for a regenerative outdoor educational practice

Abstract

This study aimed to provide a framework for a regenerative outdoor educational practice by exploring the question ¨what are the fundamental building blocks of a regenerative outdoor educational practice? ¨. The study is in commission of Homebound Journeys and is a response to the lacking of deep-rooted, land-connected guidance encountered in the field of Outdoor Education. It means to be of service to anyone with applicable interest, directing primarily toward educators, guides, outdoor leaders, and enterprises for designing regenerative outdoor educational programs and experiences. The qualitative research providing the results has been done by first defining the concept of regeneration as well as modern Outdoor Education, then reviewing regenerative practices within modern Outdoor Education as well as in Traditional Ecological Knowledge or Indigenous education, and finally the conduction of interviews with 7 interview subjects. The material has been gathered through 5 semi-structured interviews and one study-group conversation with 2 people. Rather than a finished framework for a regenerative outdoor educational practice, the result of this study reveals the base for such a framework. The result suggests 3 main layers: Fundamental attitude; Reciprocal experience; and Execution of the practice, that each comprise of a varying number of described components, and together make up the whole of a regenerative outdoor educational practice. This base as it is can serve as inspiring input to develop both existing and new outdoor educational practices in a holistic and regenerating direction. It further has the potential to be moulded into an easy-to-use format such as a booklet, in order to be made accessible as both inspirational material, practical handbook, and to stir evolving converstation amongst professionals in the field of Outdoor Education.