By Lindsay Hill
The Backcountry Classroom
The society we live in today has pushed us to believe that intellect is measured strictly by numbers and test results. Experiential education is the step in a new direction, and can be extremely effective if presented in an appropriate manner. Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University, once said “Intelligence is the capacity to do something useful in the society in which we live. Intelligence is the ability to respond successfully to new situations and the capacity to learn from one’s past experiences.”
I knew that I would come away from the Immersion Semester with new thoughts and ideas about living in an outdoor environment as well as great tips and practical experience leading others to do the same in a backcountry setting. What I didn’t completely understand was that I would come away with a deeper passion to use the outdoors as a semi formal classroom. Over the past weeks, we all have learned a lot about structured teaching in a backcountry setting. When using the backcountry as a classroom, students are able to “learn by doing” as they participate, make choices and accept responsibility for their role in the learning process. (The Backcountry Classroom: 2nd Addition)
Students are often forced to sit in a classroom and stare at a white board while a teacher goes on for hours on end about his or her experiences and how they may have learned from them. They are expected to learn from lectures and retain information that does not apply to their lives in any way. Grades are always an incentive to try to learn the material, but are they learning it for themselves or someone else? Experiential learning allows students to see education in a unique manner that in a lot of cases can bring out a different outlook on learning and allow them to see how and why the presented material is beneficial and helpful for them to know.
As I sat semi sheltered from the wind on White Island during our solos, I was very inspired by the words of Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods. One way or another, I was constantly comparing his words to the path that I have chosen, and with each page turned, I found myself even more thankful that I have chosen Adventure Education as a career path for myself. On page 97 he wrote, “Immersion in the natural environment cuts to the chase, exposes one directly and immediately to the very elements from which humans evolved: earth, water, air, and other living kin, large and small.” I read that and immediately dug through my dry bag to pull out a pencil to underline it. He had essentially just described the value of Adventure Education without even being aware it. It’s true, being immersed in the wilderness teaches self reliance, confidence and determination, which are three crucial characteristics in having a successful and enjoyable lifestyle.
So as is expressed in The Backcountry Classroom, wilderness travel is rich in opportunities for personal growth. When students are faced with the harsh realities of backcountry living, they must engage in the struggle to meet the real challenges that confront them. With this development, they gain the knowledge and skills necessary to solve problems independently and as a team. When these experiences are debriefed and processed properly, they often encourage leaps of individual insight and growth. I believe Experiential/Adventure based education in an outdoor setting is extremely useful to people and students of all ages. It offers a promising alternative to learning with different methods and I feel that as more studies and research is done, we will soon be seeing nature being used more and more as a place of education rather than just recreational enjoyment.
“A well-rounded education would mean learning the basics to become part of a society that cherished nature while at the same time contributing to the well-being of mankind.” (Louv, Last Child in the Woods; pg 135)
