Key Note speaker Chris Loynes

Untying the knots: what can Outdoor Education contribute to the needs of the future

A central role of education is to support the development of the young adult citizen. Over the 20th century education has adapted its approach to encourage new forms of citizenship relevant to the rapidly changing culture. Outdoor Education was increasingly introduced in European country after country as one strand in this changing educational landscape. My career in the UK provides an insight into 50 years of these trends and my links with EOE a perspective into 30 years of changes in Europe.
Today, change has never been faster or more urgent and a new citizen, perhaps a flexible and transforming person, could be a part of the way forward. Education and Outdoor Education may face political choices as not all futures may be such liberal visions. I will use my experience of 50 years to reflect on what kind of citizen OE could support and the part this could play in influencing citizens for the future.

Speaker:

Chris Loynes, Professor of Human Nature Relations, University of Cumbria