Tag Archives: environment

Evaluation

Do what you love, love what you do!

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As I’ve been nearing the end of my degree at university, I’ve been questioning myself, in terms of my readiness for the teaching profession. Am I happy with the level of knowledge that I have? Will my students really gain the experiences and passion for the outdoors that I have?

Outdoor Education in Singapore didn’t appear as those it could ignite this passion for the environment. To me, it seemed to revolve only around recreation, which I used to think meant students would only enjoy the activity, and not gain a deeper connection with the outdoors.

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Evaluation

I am an outdoor educator…what do I do again?

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My recent adventure to Singapore has left me in a state of bewilderment. I am lost looking for the answer to the question that was raised in the comments of Joel Ward’s insightful post ‘The ferrari and the hawker centre‘ – what is the meaning of life?

Don’t be fooled though, I’m not in a depressive state where I am struggling to find the meaning of my own life. Rather I am experiencing a lack of direction in which to pursue my passion of teaching and learning in the outdoors.

With all the different views of outdoor education around the world, and after my recent experience in Singapore, I have found myself asking…what purpose do I serve as an outdoor educator?

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Reflections

Humans are small but connections are big

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In the dark of the morning it came.
I’ve never experienced anything quite the same.
Shaking the ground beneath us,
Creating quite a fuss.

The power of the storm I wish to discuss,
My already slim hours of sleep I had to adjust.
The timing quite correct,
A reminder that we need to respect,
Something that society so often rejects.

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Reflections

As time goes by…

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Isn’t it funny how easily my mind has changed.. Within the first couple of days of my visit to Singapore I was and still am, absolutely blown away with the amazing Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and the Super Trees.

It was so interesting to see all of Singapore’s finest and spectacular gardens on display. At this point in time of the trip, I felt that I was heavily involved in the ‘tourist’ mindset. I was asking myself… are all of these attractions just for show? Which is what Lexie has also talked about in her blog, that I found interesting to read her thoughts, similarly we shared some mutual ideas.

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Discoveries, Reflections

Two ears, one mouth

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“God gave us two ears & one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak.”

This is a quote I have heard and describes my time in Singapore travelling over the past two weeks. The world I have grown up in is different to what I have experienced here I Singapore. My upbringing, background and values impact on outlooks in life. Gaining an understanding of this different culture is imperative to the relationships I have built with Singaporeans whilst here.

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Reflections

Linked

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It is the various experiences on this trip that have made me realise my own progress and development in relation to my connections with nature as well as the idea that people’s connections may differ within the same environment depending on their relationship with that environment. 

I grew up in Kuwait. Nature to me was the desert; wide open expanses of sand and shrubs. I travelled to Australia for university four years ago and I was exposed to something new: bushland, greenery and water. It took me a while, years even, to develop my own personal connection with this new and contrastingly different environment and accept it as nature.

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Discoveries

Commuting with Nature

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The train takes off and I look around, the space is empty. Don’t get me wrong, the train is full, standing room only. People commuting but no one connecting. It feels as if the only common voice here is the automated announcements over the speakers. People on their phones, some headphones in, some eyes resting, some looking around. I feel the sounds our group makes are a welcome relief as the bubbling conversation & laughter fill up an otherwise silent carriage. We are connected with one another. I wonder about others.

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Reflections

You gotta fight! (dum dum) for your right! To Naaaaaature!

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Hola Internet!

The song in the title? Anyone? I only changed it a little from the original…

Museums are a terrific place to immerse you in art and culture. You walk around, see, maybe in some parts touch, feel, smell, and taste all that an exhibit has to offer. After chatting with Joel on our walk through the Green Corridor we both discussed how Singapore as a country is like a giant museum, and nature has only a few exhibits, remembering that Singapore is 98% urbanised. We have visited most of them, Central Catchment Reserve (CCRN), Labrador Nature Reserve, Pulau Ubin and now the Green Corridor. I think when we first arrived, we didn’t know what natural places would be like here. Would it be anything like the nature we have at home in Australia? Safe to say, many didn’t think it’d compare.

Continue reading You gotta fight! (dum dum) for your right! To Naaaaaature! →

Reflections

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues

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“I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongue” (Dr. Suess, 1998)

Eight days, eight days spent in a foreign environment surrounded by buildings, people, traffic and trees. Trees that look familiar yet are not the same. I tried to come into this trip with an open mind and see Singapore without any filters in place. However this proved to be difficult as I myself have a strong connection with what I believe to be a healthy natural environment. But who is to say that my views on nature are correct? Or that they transfer to the Singapore environment?

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First impressions, Thoughts and feelings

Tell me what you see…

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Ok guys, throw on your thinking caps and get ready to look between the lines. This post is all about your opinion. Im interested to see what the following image makes you think? What is it about in your eyes? How does it make you feel?

Headspace

I look forward to reading your comments below. And remember, there is no wrong answer..