Welcome to Volume 1 Issue 5 of the e-mail companion to the 'Sitefinder: Adventure and Experiential Education Directory' Editor: Roger Greenaway roger@reviewing.co.uk Copyright 1998 Roger Greenaway, Reviewing Skills Training   THANK YOU for signing up for this free monthly newsletter. How to unsubscribe (and subscribe) is explained at the end. You are in control!   ''HOW and WHY are people are using outdoor adventure for learning, growth, development, empowerment, education, training, therapy, reflection or inspiration?'' Each issue points to resources about 'HOW' and 'WHY'.     'We can develop a first hand intelligence of nature from which real intelligence grows. This means breaking down the walls made by clocks, bells, rules, academic requirements and a tired indoor pedagogy. I am proposing a jailbreak that would put learners of all ages outdoors more often'. (David Orr, 1994)   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> MORE ARTICLES ONLINE   'How Outdoor Education Contributes to Sustainability' [The article starts with the above quote from David Orr.] Geoff Cooper, Low Bank Ground Outdoor Education Centre <http://www.outdoor-learning.org>   'Outdoor Education: from the roots, to the new branches' by Mark Lund (1997) <http://www.planet.eon.net/~lundm/outed.html> [URL may have changed]   'A Model Theory of Outdoor Programming Approaches' Ron Watters, Idaho State University Outdoor Program (1987) 4 models are described and discussed: club, instructional/school, guided/packaged and common adventure. <http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/model.htm>   Why Experiential Training? Why Outdoors? A few succinct paragraphs from 'Corporate Outdoor Training' http://www.cot.com.au/whyexp.htm [URL may have changed]   3 articles about reviewing in outdoor education and training: <http://reviewing.co.uk/articles/>   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> MINIMAL IMPACT CAMPING   'Treading Lightly' Matthew Thompson (Freelance Outdoors) Find the link to this 'country code plus' at: http://homepages.enterprise.net/mthompson [URL may have changed]   'Minimizing Impact and Random Acts of Kindness for the Environment' Ron Watters  (Idaho State University Outdoor Program) <http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/>   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> GENERO-CITY This section features 2 acts of generosity!       INNOVATIONS from 'The Biking Expedition' "We have made a decision to really open up give as much information as we can on-line and encourage other programs to check out our page and use what they like." writes Brent Bell. "Presently we are updating our website to include some new pages. Folks looking for employment will be able to get all our information and application on-line.  We also will have a video introduction to the page and music when you log on. If you do use one of our ideas, all we ask is that you be generous with others in the field with your innovations." Send feedback, comments, questions, quotes and queries to: <mailto:bikingx@conknet.com> <http://www.bikingx.com>       NEW RESEARCH AWARD from 'eXperientia' Simon Priest recently announced the formation of an annual award for the best research conducted in the fields of adventure programming and/or experiential learning. The award recipient will also get a US$1,000 bursary. <experien@tscnet.com> <http://www.tarrak.com>   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES   http://www.argonet.co.uk/edinburgh.scouts/games/index.html [URL may have changed] Games Galore. The Games Compendium is a collection of games suitable for Scouts and Guides. It is based on the Scouting Games FAQ with many suggestions from Scouters and Guide leaders.   http://www.usscouts.scouter.com/games/game_t.html [URL may have changed] Confidence and Team Building Games   The above 'activities' links come from a well organised links collection on Christian Itin's site. Categories include links for For Experiential Educators, Adventure-Based Practitioners, Adventure Therapists, Corporate Adventure Trainers and more. There is also a growing list of activities that visitors are adding to - another example of community-building and resource-building via the internet. <http://www.geocities.com/dr_adventure/links.html>   Following the tips about discussion lists in the last issue ...   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> 'MODERATED' DISCUSSION LISTS   Most of the outdoor discussion lists I have tried out are virtual 'free-for-alls' with little sign of anyone _facilitating_  the discussion. At it's best this anarchic approach to communication is brilliant, inspiring, challenging, useful etc. But it has it's problems too.   SMALL discussion lists can find it difficult to get going without facilitation. It's a novelty when a message arrives! And a rarity for a 'thread' to develop.   In BIG discussion lists (especially unfacilitated ones) you get lots of emails to delete in between the ones that make subscribing worthwhile. Also, discussion tends to be dominated by a few.   A 'moderated' list is half-way between a newsletter and a free-for-all forum. And there are plenty of popular 'moderated' lists on the internet. But do you know of any in the experiential education field? (Please write in and I'll list them!)   The moderated lists (in other fields) that I have subscribed to:     • are better than newsletters because there is a wider range of input     • are better organised than discussion lists     • and are even more responsive than either newsletters or discussion lists (I have received excellent answers to my questions in moderated lists)   If you are interested in setting up a moderated list, all you need is time and internet access. You can set up moderated lists for free at <http://www.topica.com> and at <http://groups.yahoo.com> (where you can also find a useful directory of mailing lists). And I'll help you on your way with a free announcement in this ezine. (This offer also applies to existing lists, bulletin boards etc.).   Just one word of caution from Whit Andrews: "the courts have held that virtual communities without moderators are not liable when a member posts libelous material, the equation changes dramatically when a moderator with the powers of an editor is present." Go to <http://www.internetworld.com> and search for the word "Regulation" for the article. Then take a risk and start one up!.   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> I N F O R M A T I O N . S O U R C E S   The Outdoor Network Calendar [no longer in business] An impressive calendar of forthcoming conferences and events. A place to check (and a place for your own special announcements!) Most info happens to be about events in the USA, but events from around the world are promoted here too. And I believe it's a free service. So is the Outdoor Noticeboard at: <http://reviewing.co.uk/outdoor/notices.htm>   Youth Work and Information Technology In the last issue I wrote that <http://www.youthwork.com> is 'an excellent gateway to UK resources'. It is living up to this reputation. I have just learned from the youthwork.com ezine that the National Youth Agency has a web page at <http://www.nya.org.uk> about IT for Youth Work Week - this week! (UK)   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> N E W . B O O K S . f o r . C H R I S T M A S . (UK)   'LEARNING THROUGH FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OUT OF DOORS' The contribution which outdoor education can make to children's learning as part of the national curriculum. by Pat Keighley, NAOE, £15 + p&p   'OUTDOORS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE' A leader's guide to outdoor activities, the environment and sustainability. by Geoff Cooper, Russell House Publishing, £14.95 + p&p   Details from the Adventure Education Bookshop: <mailto:institute@outdoor-learning.org> <http://www.outdoor-learning.org>