John Dewey and Education Outdoors

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Why be Concerned with Outdoor Education?

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 1-4

3. Just what is Outdoor Education?

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 5-11

4. Outdoor Education and Indoor Education

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 13-44

5. The Environmental Crisis and a Desire for Adventure

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 45-59

6. Moving Past the Confusion

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 61-82

7. Looking Ahead

   • John Quay, Jayson Seaman

   Pages 83-96

8. Back Matter

   Pages 97-103

   PDF

In this book we take the reader on a journey through the various curriculum reforms that have emerged in the USA around the idea of conducting education outdoors – through initiatives such as nature-study, camping education, adventure education, environmental education, experiential education and place based education. This is a historical journey with an underlying message for educators, one we are able to illuminate through the educational theories of John Dewey. Central to this message is a deeper understanding of human experience as both aesthetic and reflective, leading to a more coherent comprehension of not just outdoor education, but of education itself. Whether we knew it or not, all of us interested in the field of education have been waiting for this book. John Dewey and Education Outdoors is the tool we need to help understand and explain experiential education in general and outdoor education in particular. This is an expertly researched and written account of how and why outdoor education has developed, and been such a vital feature in exemplary educational practices. Because of this work I will no longer have to stumble through some inadequate explanation of the history and philosophy of outdoor education, I can now simply point to this book and suggest that everyone read it. —Dr. Dan Garvey, President Emeritus, Prescott College, Former President and Executive Director, Association for Experiential Education. John Dewey and Education Outdoors is a well-researched book that explores the tenets of Dewey within the contexts of progressive reforms in education. The authors provide detailed explanations of Dewey’s thoughts on education while exploring the historical intersections with outdoor education, camping, and environmental education. While situated within a historical perspective, this book provides insights relevant for today’s discussions on new educational reform possibilities, learning focused on the whole child that includesout-of-school time experiences such as camp, and the development of 21st century skills needed to navigate our global society. —Dr. Deb Bialeschki, Director of Research, American Camp Association.

• curriculum
• experiential education
• history
• outdoor education
• dewey

• The University of Melbourne, Australia

  John Quay

• University of New Hampshire, USA

  Jayson Seaman

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