Outdoor Education in Singapore they said! Let’s go exploring! Let’s see how Singapore includes Outdoor Education in such an urbanised country! This is how my journey to Singapore began. During the planning stage of our trip I did not know what to expect of Singapore or how Outdoor Education was going to be included. I was basically blind about Singapore until I was able to see for myself how Outdoor Education was included in schools and in everyday life.

Whilst over in Singapore we, Federation University group, had plenty of opportunities to explore the different environments and ways Outdoor Education is used. One thing that stood out to me is that there aren’t a lot of parks or forest areas for the Singaporeans to escape the city life and explore in. When we were exploring the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, we didn’t see a lot of people using the Reserve. We did go during the week and therefore most people would have been at work. We were wondering though, why aren’t more people using this area? It is so nice, so quiet, and so relaxing to be one with nature. Then I look at my life. I am inside on a Saturday, typing away at my laptop whilst the weather is beautiful outside. How can I judge people when I am not using the parks and walking tracks like I am telling people to do? In my spare time I don’t think hey let me just drive down the coast to get to the Otways to take a walk. I don’t even take a walk along the beautiful paths near my house, why would I drive somewhere first? This is from a girl that does love exploring and being outside, but I just don’t have the time in my life to do that all the time. Therefore how can we, Australians, judge the Singaporeans when we don’t know what their life schedule is.

One thing I believe in with Outdoor Education is getting them involved through the school setting. Outdoor Education is schools don’t just get the students out of the four wall classroom but it “provides opportunities to apply knowledge in real life situations and enhances the understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural outdoor environment” (McLeod and Allen – Craig, 2007, p.g 42). This is why in Australia we see more and more schools having year 9 programs involving Outdoor Education. When comparing this to Singapore, we were lucky enough to have been shown around Outward Bound Singapore and their facilities they have. We were given an insight into their programs and why Outward Bound Singapore was established. As their programs are aimed at adolescents in society I believe it is very similar to Australia’s Outdoor Education schools programs.

McLeod and Allen – Craig (2007) also talk about Australian school programs and how their programs for the students have specific target areas. These areas include: time management, social competence, achievement motivation, intellectual flexibility, task leadership, emotional control, active initiative and self-confidence (McLeod & Allen – Craig, 2007). Singapore’s Outward Bound program it is very similar. Their programs aim to develop resilience in their participants and for them to walk away with values such as responsibility, empathy and compassion. In both Australia and Singapore these areas aren’t just for being in the outdoors but is can be transferred into different parts of the participant’s life.

Therefore even though Australia and Singapore are miles away from each other, we still have the same intensions with adolescents. We still have programs set in place that are different than being inside a four walled classroom. Yes Singapore doesn’t have as many natural environments like Australia, but they still use their spaces well. They are able to run their programs to obtain the same outcomes, and they are lucky enough to be able to travel to other countries if they want to complete a longer expedition. At the beginning of my journey I didn’t know how Singapore incorporated Outdoor Education in their country, but now since experiencing it, I realise they just use their spaces extremely well.

References

McLeod, B., & Allen – Craig, S. (2007). What outcomes are we trying to achieve in our outdoor education programs? Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 11(2), 41 – 49.