Outdoor education

Speech by Robert Brown MSP on Thu 31st Jan 2008

As other members have done, I congratulate Elizabeth Smith on lodging her excellent and relevant motion, which is one of the best that we have had for a member's business debate for some time, and on making a very good speech. I, too, pay tribute to the people who support outdoor and extra-curricular activities in education and youth work.

The debate raises many key issues, including the nature and purpose of education, which Elizabeth Smith touched on; the most effective ways of including all children; how we inculcate a sense of place in children; and, as many members have mentioned, how we deal with our risk-averse society.

I was particularly struck by the Woodland Trust's observation in its briefing that

"just as green space is free at the point of delivery for health benefits, it is also available for education."

Against that background, I will touch on three issues. The first is the importance of protecting green space, which was often handed down to us by far-sighted forebears and philanthropists but which is often under threat from developers, from philistinic-if there is such a word-councillors or from public neglect. It is time we considered a modern common good law that would protect our heritage, set limits on what councils, as trustees of our parks, can do in our name and develop a more dynamic philosophy of the public interest in key natural assets.

The second issue is facilities. There is a place for unorganised play, but in our risk-averse society we must build, preserve and organise outdoor education facilities. We have the considerable assets that that are run by local authorities, the Scottish Youth Hostels Association, the Scottish Environmental and Outdoor Education Centres Association, the Scout Association and others. They can provide the resources and the expertise that can reassure parents and guarantee high standards. However, we must ensure that we know what exists, that we use the resources fully and that they contribute fully to our bank of social assets.

The third issue is play and communication. I read somewhere-I think that it was from I Can-that 50 per cent of children who start school cannot communicate properly. The play opportunities of outdoor education and other extra-curricular activities can make an incalculable contribution to overcoming such a restricted start in life. When I was the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People, I visited Denmark to see its education system; I visited a nature kindergarten some distance outside Copenhagen, which was attended by children with additional support needs and other children. The day on which we went was particularly cold and miserable and I must say that the children looked distinctly underwhelmed by the experience. However, the concept of nature kindergartens-the idea that being outdoors in all weathers is natural and beneficial-is widespread in the Nordic countries and is successful.

I ask the minister for a commitment from the Government on several fronts. First, I ask the Government to recognise and support the importance of first-class facilities and of the organisations that provide and run such facilities and provide expertise. Secondly, I seek a commitment to tackle barriers to outdoor learning, whether the barrier is the cost of courses, restraints of the curriculum, the need for expertise or the drawbacks of a risk-averse approach and the need for guidance. Young people need challenge and excitement and they need to experience risks and have the opportunity to show leadership. Thirdly, I ask the Government to ensure that all young people can access the opportunities. As Elizabeth Smith mentioned, we should see those opportunities as being universal, as schools are universal, even if we need targeted provision for some young people who have specific needs and challenges.

Connection to the world around, having a sense of place and having opportunities to explore, develop and learn are central to widening the life chances of many young people. Young people are our future-they are the people who will change our world. Extracurricular activities give huge opportunities for personal development, to build leadership qualities and resilience, to widen horizons and to learn new skills and taste new interests. They add to CVs and to informal learning, which complements more formal provision in the education system. I enthusiastically support Elizabeth Smith's excellent motion.

To read the debate in full please click on the link below.

Related Link:

Outdoor education.