Curriculum in Outdoor and Environmental Education

Introduction

Curriculum is a polysemous term. It is often used to refer to the content knowledge that is to be learned, which is distinguished from the methods of teaching and learning; but it can also mean the whole course or program of learning. In outdoor education, discussion of curriculum is usually oriented around this broader notion which encompasses the whole program, its content, and methods.

Outdoor education programs have existed in institutional form for at least 50 years, in many parts of the world, including the British Isles, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand (Quay 2016). These programs are primarily oriented toward younger participants, mainly in schools, where some see it as a curriculum area with identifiable content, while others consider it a method alone, involving an experiential approach to learning.

While practically well established, theoretically outdoor education is an emerging field, ripe for research and for new conceptualizations that...