This proposal came from a discussion between AEE and ICEL (at an AEE
conference I believe). Tony Saddington of ICEL and Chris Batten of the AEE
board met again at the Brathay Youth Conference in September and invited me
along as a representative of IOL. As a result, the IOL board has agreed to
act as a potential partner and to publicise the initiative - it was
mentioned in the last IOL newsletter. I am now using opportunities such as
outres to spread the word.
I do not know why the idea was not first discussed on the lists you
mention - perhaps because the people involved were not aware of them? Any
one forum is not a representative sample of the field. Outres is
specifically research-oriented, and intercom seems very limited. Any
attempt at working together has to start somewhere and it may be inevitable
that initiatives start in more than one place without knowing about what is
already happening elsewhere, and eventually start to connect up. What
finally emerges may look different - but I see nothing wrong with proposals.
What is now important is that people do not just criticise proposals which
do not start with them, but offer alternatives and build on what is already
there. What is already in place
may be working for those in the know, but it cannot be working for some
people or they would not look for other solutions. If we know of something
that works, let's make it inclusive.
Perhaps the next step would be to create a global experiential learning /
outdoor learning email group and to advertise it widely? If intercom or any
other existing group is an attempt to be that, then let's encourage it to do
its job, and to build connections. This would mean other lists (including
this one), refusing to compete with it, and directing appropriate traffic to
it.
Steve
>
>> ----------
>> From: Chris Loynes[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 10:43:44 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: International development of outdoor education
>>
>Hi Steve
>
>This seems to duplicate what we already have without champions or sponsors,
>etc. It feels like a powerful taking away of something already working. Why
>is this discussed by IOL. AEE, etc without, until now, conversation with
>outres, intercom, etc. This brings to light in me all the fears that Steve
>expressed.
>
>Chris Loynes
>
>
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