ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

- Ian Lewis, Project Officer, The Association for Outdoor Learning - for compiling and preparing this report.

- The Wrekin Trust and the Association for Outdoor Learning (AfOL, previously the National Association for Outdoor Education) for financial support in the production and distribution of this report. AfOL is also providing on going WWW site support.

- National Council for Voluntary Youth ServicesClipboard Magazine for permission to use article ‘Spiritual Development in Youth work’ (1998 Issue 2)

- Lucis Trust - World Goodwill, Newsletter article 1989 No 3 ‘Global Spirituality’ by Dr Ursula King

- Gaia Books “3rd Millennium - The Challenge and the Vision” Ervin Laszlo - quotation

Additional copies of this document can be obtained for a cost of £5 (which includes postage and packaging) from:

The Association for Outdoor Learning

12 St Andrews Churchyard

Penrith

Cumbria CA11 7YE

Mike Bartle Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education, DeMontfort University

Jane Beer Management Committee Member, Tangents

Mark Blundell Youth Worker, Rank Foundation

Rodney Browne Youth Worker, Brahma Kumaris

Rob Collister John Muir Trustee

Geoff Cooper Head of Centre, Low Bank Ground, Outdoor Education Centre

Liz Corrigan Administrator, Brahma Kumaris

David Cutler Director, The Divert Trust

Brian Davies Outdoor Educationalist, Kilvrough Manor Outdoor

Steve Deeming Warden, Religious Society of Friends, Swarthmoor Hall

Dominic Dibble Lucis Trust

Jim Dobson Director, YMCA National Training Centre, Lakeside

K Bertie Everard Chairman, Development Training Advisory Group

Maureen Goodman Programme Co-ordinator, Brahma Kumaris, London

Lynn Henshall UK Co-ordinator, Living Values Educational Programme

Sister Jayanti European Director, Brahma Kumaris

Pammy Johal Director, Backbone Programs

Ravi Khanna Youth Worker, Brahma Kumaris

John Knight Project Leader, Mobex North East

Steve Lenartowicz Youth Development Co-ordinator, Brathay Hall Trust

Ian Lewis Director, SPIRTO/ Project Officer, National Association for Outdoor Education

Chris Loynes Outdoor Educationalist, Adventure Education

Eric Maddern Director, Cae Mabon

Paul Maiteny Grubb Institute of Behavioural Studies

John McConnel Trainer/Former Prison Governor & Social Worker

Brian Melrose Arts Development Officer, Mobex North East

Francis Michener Development Trainer, The Challenge of Excellence

Colin Mortlock Chairman, Adventure & Environmental Awareness Group

Una Murray Development Worker, Tangents

Roger Orgill Chair, Foundation for Outdoor Adventure

Gopi Patel Youth Worker, Brahma Kumaris

David Picken John Muir Trust, The Environment Centre

Parul Shah Youth Worker, Young Jains and the Brahma Kumaris

Sunil Singh Youth Worker, Brahma Kumaris

John Smith Project Development Officer, The Sacred Land Project

Doug Stephenson Prison Education Co-ordinator, Brahma Kumaris

Brian Ware Trustee & Hon. Secretary, Foundation for Outdoor Adventure

Peter Williams Deputy Head Teacher, Hexham Middle School

Mark Yoxon Secretary, The Institute for Earth Education

Welcome to participants

On behalf of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Sister Maureen welcomed participants and requested a moment of silence together - a tradition of the Global Retreat Centre.

In relation to the response to the workshop invitations (some 80+ with an attendance of 44 + 1 baby), she said it really did appear to be a concept whose time had come in the vital process of renewing and developing our inner values.

Introductions and Ice Breaker Exercise

Brief introductions were made by the partnership consortiumThe Rank Foundation - Mark Blundell (Chris Dunning who had played a leading role in the planning process was unable to attend due to a training commitment elsewhere). John Muir Trust - David Picken (David also conducted the Ice Breaker exercise). Foundation for Outdoor Adventure - Roger Orgill (for details of the partnership bodies, please see Appendix i)

The Workshop Task - Roger Orgill

Participants were reminded of the key workshop objectives and the limited time available. These were to:-

 Consider the potential and contribution of adventure and work in the outdoor environment in young people’s cultural, moral and spiritual development.

 Identify individuals and organisations interested in participating in this initiative

 Plan a practical series of workshops for trainers to develop a ‘tool box’ for addressing values and spirituality

 Agree the steps necessary in the advancement of an appropriate youth event to mark our entry into the 21st century.

To assist in this overall task attention was drawn to the work of Colin Mortlock in his book the “Adventure Alternative” (1984) and the recent publication by Pat Keightley “Learning through First Hand Experience out of Doors” which contains a chapter on promoting pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development.

Good independent research however, is more difficult to find. The work by Michael Pafford in 1973 under the title “Inglorious Wordsworths” looked at ‘triggers’ in young peoples’ transcendence experiences in the outdoors. This work is unique and remains a very relevant and outstanding contribution. (A summary is included in Appendix iii).

3.1 A Global Picture : Sister Jayanti - European Director of The Brahma Kumaris

Sister Jayanti briefly outlined the background to the work of the Brahma Kumaris and the Living Values Educational programme which they support. She described the founder’s vision for a better world through the transformation and uplifting of human consciousness, and a return to spiritual values.

Referring to a recent UNESCO event in Paris, a point was strongly made by a 14 year old to the adult audience of some 200 people - that teachers should actually demonstrate values not simply talk about them. Sister Jayanti concluded that “we need more quiet time to our spiritual selves, valuing and identifying ourselves, and creating a vision of the world we would like to have.”

3.2 Living Values

and

Human Quality : Sister

Jayanti and Doug Stephenson - Brahma Kumaris. Based on the Appreciative Inquiry process, this session was conducted in small groups (for details of this session please see Appendix viii).

3.3 “A Wider Picture of Global Consciousness”: Dominic Dibble - Guest speaker from The Lucis Trust

Dominic spoke of the World Goodwill International movement founded in 1932 as a Lucis Trust Service activity seeking to serve humanity by establishing right human relationships throughout the world through the use of the power of goodwill (presentation reproduced in full in Appendix ix).

[Following the evening meal, a poster/display session allowed for a lively exchange and informal discussion between participants.]

3.4 Five Cameo Presentations - Chair: Geoff Cooper - Outdoor Educationalist

Introducing this session, Geoff spoke of the very strong active and experiential approaches to outdoor education through creative and performing arts, drama and writing. All involved developing awareness, developing and exploring feelings and represented a powerful means of approaching spiritual awareness as well as developing values.

Eric Maddern:

Director Cae Mabon N.Wales

Eric opened by saying - “that to be a human being alive now is an incredible blessing. It is a rare and precious thing in the universe and that realisation has, since the time it came to me, been the foundation of my own spirit reality”

Drawing on his four years experience of working with aboriginal communities of Central Australia, he mentioned three key factors which have considerably influenced his later work in Snowdonia.

 the aboriginal way of seeing the land. As there is no such thing as ‘outdoors’ - everything is outdoors; the land is the word used to describe the aborigine’s environment and land as a sacred being.

 tradition and the honouring of ancestors. A primary objective being to keep alive the spirit of ancestors and stories which also encapsulate language and the law.

 the maturation process and focus on rites of passage for young people and adults.

Over the past ten years, Eric said he had created a sacred space in North Wales on a small parcel of land surrounded by forest, mountains, lake and stream. Using various structures and dwellings created on the site and in harmony with the surroundings, Cae Mabon, he said, has become a place of inspiration.

As a storyteller, Eric draws on the richness of the Welsh and other cultures of the world in his innovative experiential work with both adults and young people alike.

Brain Melrose - Mobex North East

Based in Newcastle, the aim of Mobex NE said Brian is to provide training resources for groups working with young people in disadvantaged NE areas so as to enable their members to develop their full potential using challenging outdoor adventure and arts - leading to involvement in projects in their own communities as leaders or active participants.

Brian spoke of the Mobile Arts Project and his highly imaginative approach to the mobile adventure experience building and using native American tepees - occasionally using the same materials to create rafts for water crossing, Asian yurts and traditional coracles.

Running now for three years, he said the arts project offers young people, a chance to freely express themselves and be creative both in the outdoor setting and in their own communities. In concluding he said “the project aims to combat any previous negative experience of, for example, school-based art by providing a group focused approach and positive outcomes through giving meaning to your own work and respect for others and their work”.

Pammy Johal - Director ‘Backbone’

Backbone is a spirit driven organisation, its source is knowing the power that a mountain or wilderness experience can offer, said Pammy by way of introduction.

Backbone is an organisation that addresses the reason why so few black people in the Community have an opportunity to experience the outdoor environment. The project she said, endeavours to create a safe physiological experience for people from Asian, African and Caribbean Communities with particular regard to individual needs and cultural perspectives. Programmes, said Pammy allow individuals to celebrate and explore their values and stretch themselves physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. We strive, she said, to celebrate self worth believing in the powerful message which role modelling creates in the home, community and the work place.

Peter Williams - Deputy Head, Hexham Middle School

Peter spoke on behalf of a group of global educators working in the shared belief that “we are all wonderfully made, each and every one of us”. He said we enable children from different countries to live together for a week in each other’s country using as far as possible, Outdoor Education Centres. On return children undertake joint environmental task work. This venture includes every race, nationality, gender, age and ability.

The need for adults ‘to care’ for children is a recently and strongly articulated theme arising from the Living Values exercise.

Speaking of the latest joint work in China, which involves ‘Student Councils’ in both countries devising their own agendas, Peter asked the question - how often do we remember to ask children what they think about their world, their values? With our wisdom and their innocence, he concluded, we should endeavour to help children to weave their own ways, to dream and to find their own spirituality and in the process, find and nurture the spirit within us all.

Colin Mortlock - Outdoor Educator and Adventurer

Colin opened by stating that he was no longer the adventurer but his adventures of the past (mostly solo and extremely challenging) have led him to believe that everything in nature is alive in its own way, no matter how small or large. Not only is it alive but it seeks its own happiness and well being. As a human being, he said, I am no more or no less important than the blade of grass or the tiny flower. The arrogance of modern humanity he finds appalling and frightening. The baseline for work in the outdoors and indeed in all ways, should therefore acknowledge that we humans are not separate from nature, we are a part of it. These are facts he said, and there is no ethical justification for conveniently saying we are separate, especially when having a good time (for example) at the expense of nature.

In concluding, Colin referred to the ‘huge problem’ of the adventure experience. Whilst increasing self confidence, determination, team work and the like, little has been said or written about its Achilles Heelits weakness - that of self, selfishness or the ego. Ego can grow quickly through successive experiences and become a super ego.

Adventure has an enormous amount to offer but, he said, we need to bear in mind that the real spiritual aspect of living beyond the ego presents a further challenge.

Thanks:

In thanking speakers, Geoff said that Colin was talking about the negative aspect of ego. He said, I see no evidence of that negativity here but experience a group of people with a lot of self respect. If within outdoor education or whatever work we are engaged in with young people, he continued, the focus is really that of developing self respect with that sense of awe and wonder, then there will not be the same tendency to have ‘out of order’ egos. Humility and self respect go hand in hand and that is a great strength.

3.5. Outcomes and the Way Forward - Facilitator: Chris Loynes

Chris started this ‘commitment’ session by quoting Anita Roddick who found a gravestone in London stating - “A vision without a task is just a dream”.

The session aimed at focusing support for establishing eight ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops across the UK. With an emphasis on spiritual, cultural, social and moral values, the programme is seen as going some way to creating agendas for action.

Provisional Flip Chart Commitments and Area Groups:

Group: LONDON & SOUTH EAST

Idea / Theme: Integration of spirituality in the wider community.

How: Drawing out values, skills from within, not imposing from without, through well chosen activities.

Who: Southern Council

Group: IRELAND & N. IRELAND

Idea / Theme: ‘Adventure and Spirituality 99’ Week

How: Adventure and Spirituality 99’ Week - Corrymeela

Who: Mike Bartle

Group: NORTH WALES

Idea / Theme 1: Rites of Passage

How: Cae Mabon April 15-18th 1999

Who: Eric Madden

Idea/Theme 2: Event at Snowdonia Outdoor Centres

Who: Heads of Outdoor Centres Conference - Brian Davis, Chair

Earth Education International Event August 1999

Group: SOUTH WALES

Idea / Theme: Events for (1) Oxfordshire Teachers (2) S.Wales Centres staff at Kilvrough Manor Gower Centre

Who: Brian Davis

Group: SOUTH WEST

Idea / Theme Event in Somerset: Education and Youth & Community Workers

How: SW Association Residential Providers and Association for Outdoor Learning (SW) LocationSomerset

Who: Ian Lewis

Group: CUMBRIA

Idea / Theme: ‘Inward Journey’

How: Group Meeting - Pre-July 1999: event - 7 July 1999

Who: Steve Lenartowicz, Steve Deeming, Brian Ware, Jim Dobson

Group: NORTH EAST

Idea / Theme: Values and meaning in the context of experience teamwork, confidence-building, values (honesty, humility)

How: Initial Gathering - encouraging other organisations to join in Who: Outdoor instructors

Group: SCOTLAND

Theme: Residential event- Ford Castle, Melrose

How: Produce flier/letter; including young people as key players; Gathering of people who are already involved; increasing personal awareness and then going back and working with more people; local/regional workshops with other organisations to expand awareness workshop; newsletter for building a network

Who: ‘The Scottish Group’

ADDITIONAL NOTE:

The Way Forward - The Living Values - Right Living programme

At a meeting following the Oxford workshop, it was agreed to retain the partnership consortium as a programme steering and monitoring body.

Encouragement and support will be given to the setting up of the agreed regional leader training events in 1999. The level of co-ordination and underwriting will be dependent on the success of current grant aid applications. The task will be co-ordinated by the Association for Outdoor Learning (AfOL, formerly the National Association for Outdoor Education). It would also be ideally evaluated by an independent university department.

The nature, duration and venue of the training workshops will be entirely a matter for agreement by those already committed to the outline action programme in partnership with others responsive to such training needs. Guideline advice on objectives, content and approach will be provided by the steering group.

It is stressed that subject to a light handed steer, this programme and future development is seen as essentially a grass roots, practitioner initiative with the potential for innovation and delivery best suited to sectoral needs.

AfOL has set up a site for the programme on the World Wide Web [WWW] at: <http://www.outdoor-learning.org> As the programme progresses information may be taken from or added to this site. A news group facility is also available linked to this site.

Young People and Millennium Events:

It is felt appropriate that youth events will result from the training programme primarily through the stimulation and empowerment process. It will be necessary however to identify young people able to play a lead role and who can be assisted in the achievement of youth events as originally envisioned.

Thought might also be given to the way in which structured values-based outdoor learning experiences can also address the following specific key issues:-

National Curriculum (SMSC)

Combating exclusion and ‘at risk’.

The provision of ‘supporting factors’ in young peoples lives and community in which they can thrive

Transition to adult life

Inter-generational, cultural and community links

Sustainability

Human Rights and citizenship