EOE, Biegenstr. 40, 35037 Marburg/Germany, phone: +49-(0)6421-6853314, fax: +49-(0)6421-6853322, e-mail: kontakt@bsj-marburg.de website: www.eoe-network.org

Dear members,

This issue of the Newsletter shows the broad networking activity of European youth care organisations and Universities in the field of outdoor adventure education and experiential learning. Starting from the EU conference in Marburg/Germany "Building up European Networks of Knowledge Transfer" 2001, several project ideas have been transferred into well elaborated concepts. Two board members have been successful with their applications to the European Commission. You can find a short version of both projects in this Newsletter. The board

Contents:

-5th European conference 2003 in Poland
-Pan European Expedition 2003
-European Integrative Network of Outdoor Adventure Education
-Non-Formal Education through Outdoor Activities
-ENODEC
-COMPASS
-EOE Board News
-Call for donations
-Conference announcement
-Search for partners
-Obituary

5th European Conference 2003 in Poland

Sharing Diversity and Building up Networks

With financial support from the European Union EOE organises its 5th European conference from 4-8 October 2003 in Czarnocin / Poland.

Main aims of the conference are to
· give professionals from youth care organisations using methods of outdoor adventure education in their work with disadvantaged youth a forum to exchange best-practices and to make new contacts
· enhance particularly the contacts to East-European countries
· analyse different European concepts and perspectives
· discuss current issues such as gender, disabilities, sustainability after lectures
· present innovative approaches of outdoor adventure education in different working fields (youth and school work, environment, social exclusion) in workshops
· develop new networks and project ideas

The conference wants to attract 50-60 youth and social workers with interest in European exchange and networking particularly from East European countries. A provisional programme has been set up including keynotes, introductory sessions, workshops discussing best-practices, open space session and practical activities.

The conference will be granted by the Programme "Youth" of the European Commission, so that conference fees, travel costs and accommodation may be kept as low as possible.

For further details, please contact Carla Sack sack@bsj-marburg.de

Pan European Expedition 2003

Breaking Barriers 2003 - Accessible European adventures

From September, 24th - October, 1st 2003 Churchtown Activity Centre in Cornwall / England organises a European meeting for social workers and youngsters with disabilities from 5 different European countries (England, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia). Approximately 65 participants, including 50 youngsters, are expected for this Expedition which is funded by the European Commission.

Idea of this meeting is to expand the existing collaboration between youth care organisations in the field and to build up a European network "Adventure based pedagogy and disability". As a first step participants will get to know and approve methods of outdoor education and adventure-based activities for people with disabilities and enhance the European exchange e.g. concerning cultural and professional aspects.

The one-week-programme includes the following points:

· getting to know the participants and the specific national ways of living of people with disabilities in different European countries
· intercultural, practical workshops exchanging, improving and developping adventure-based activities
· exchange of professional knowledge
· preparation of a next meeting and a new application to the European Commission

For more information you may contact David Owens from Churchtown david_owens@tinyworld.co.uk

European Integrative Network of Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning

Youth care organisations from 4 different countries (England, Germany, Poland and Portugal) have submitted an application within the EU-Programme "Youth" for a 3-year Large Scale project. The project proposal has been short-listed by the European Commission and the partners expect their contract within the next weeks.

Main aims of this network are
· to establish a database of projects and organisations in Europe which use outdoor education in their work with handicapped young people
· to identify best practices
· to develop quality standards for the practical work
· to develop standards for the qualification of experts in the field
· to build up a European network of projects
· to establish transnational partnerships and collaborations

Each year it is planned to realise two meetings with experts in the field as well as one youth exchange with young handicapped people. A European congress will be organised and present the results of scientific research and work among other subjects. Furthermore a user`s guide will be produced including all relevant European organisations working in the field of "Programmes for handicapped people with methods of outdoor education". It is also an aim to develop a concept for a European certified two-years course in "Outdoor education with handicapped young people".
EOE will consult and accompany the project and support the realisation of its activities.

For further information you may contact Carla Sack sack@bsj-marburg.de.

Non-Formal Education through Outdoor Activities

This network links up Universities and youth care organisations from 13 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden). By co-ordination of Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College they have developped a Large Scale Project proposal which has been accepted by the European Commission.

Aim of the project is to bring together experts in the field of social development and change in order to create a non-formal educational framework which constitutes the main element of a European Training Centre of Excellence.

It is planned to
· identify best-practices in the field of non-formal education through outdoor adventure activities in the area of social integration of under-privileged youth
· create a panel of experts with the aim of selecting the most valuable experience in the field
· create a non-formal educational framework (NFEF) which will be structured as a social learning programme
· produce manuals and an e-learning for the delivery of the NFEF
· create a training centre of excellence which will provide high quality practical preparation of facilitators, instructors and social workers
· establish the foundation for a benchmarking system for outdoor adventure education in Europe and the guidelines for good practice in collaboration with National organisations.

For more details please contact Dorin Festeu dfeste01@bcuc.ac.uk

ENODEC
European Network for Outdoor Environmental Education - Towards Citizienship and Sustainable Environment

As a result of a successful co-operation between Universities and schools from Czech Republic, Germany, Scotland and Sweden in the last few years, this network has extended its partnerships and activities in order to disseminate outcomes and products. Now, partners from Denmark, Latvia, Poland and England support the new application to the EU within the Socrates / Comenius Programme for a 2-year project. EOE has agreed to partner the project and will be reponsible for dissemination and transfer of results.

Main aims of this project are to increase the awareness of sustainable environment through deepening the contacts with decision makers, interdisciplinary learning and teaching in an extended classroom and practicing individual and lifelong learning. The Network will serve as a platform for research and analysis of the present situation about Outdoor Environmental Education (OED).
It is planned to establish a website as a forum for discussion, publication and links to other networks with similar themes. It is also planned to produce a brochure in 6 different languages. Every year in each partner country will be held 2 seminars with the aim to present new methods and didactics and to train participants in good citizenship taking care of the rural and urban landscape. An OED conference will be held in Prague, April 2004.
For future collaboration the network plans to extend on an international level.
The preproposal of this project has been accepted by the European Commission.
For more details, please contact the co-ordinating University of Linköping, Kerstin Strand kerstin.strand@ostsam.e.se or Marina Ettling jan.ettling@telia.com

COMPASS

The COMPASS network unites representatives of Universities from Brasov/Romania, Oslo/Norway, Marburg/Germany, Ambleside/UK, Buckinghamshire /UK, Olomouc/Czech Republic.

Overall goals of this network are to discuss different approaches to the Outdoors, to create a European module in the field of outdoor adventure education and experiential learning and to bring the students abroad.

From February, 22nd-24th 2003 the second meeting of the COMPASS network took place in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The meeting carried out clarifications in organisational and content aspects.

The six partner institutions have signed the agreements (international contract) so that the future co-operation has been set on a legal basis. Furthermore, the application for a Intensive Program (IP) and a Curriculum Development (CD) has been submitted in time by the Marburg University. The final decision is expected in May 2003. Some universities could already initiate bilateral exchanges which shows that the Compass Structure is already used in the intended European-collaborative sense. A time schedule has been established for 2003 / 2004 including several CD and IP meetings in the partner countries.

In Olomouc, three lectures were given concerning themes such as: "The Czech experience in outdoor education", "Hero`s journey" and "Conditions and possibilities of nature experience". These lectures caused intensive discussions in which different understandings and mental traditions came to light. Fundamental consideration in the forum have been promoted and a common basis and reference points have been created.

For further information you may contact Martin Lindner from Marburg University martin.lindner@mailer.uni-marburg.de .

EOE Board News

A new board has been elected during the Annual General Meeting 2002 in Czarnocin, Poland:
Prof. Peter Becker (Chairman), G
Dr. Dorin Festeu, RO
Prof. Barbara Humberstone, UK
Bart Keus, (Vice-Chairman), NL
Chris Loynes, UK
Dr. Robbie Nicol, UK
Kirsti Pedersen, N
Jochem Schirp (Treasurer), G
Co-opted members of the board are:
Dr. Pete Higgins, UK
Prof. Günter Amesberger, A
Steve Bowles, FI
We are very glad to welcome a new co-opted member: Dr. Johan Hovelynck from Belgium.
The board is always keen on interested members who would like to support actively the work of the board.

EOE members have unanimously accepted the change of the constitution. §7 (3) reads now as follows: "The members of the executive committee are elected by the general meeting for a period of two years. Members of the executive committee should normally only be re-elected twice. The chairperson, the treasurer and the vice-chairman are elected by the members of the executive committee."

Last board meeting has taken place from 3rd - 6th June in Ambleside, England. The board has mainly prepared and organised the planned conferences in 2003 and 2004.

Call for donations

The Annual General Meeting 1998 in Edinburgh decided, not to take any membership fees, but to ask members for a donation. As the Institute does not have a regular financial support the money is needed to cover the costs of administrative work (Newsletter, postage, office supplies, Internet charge...). The following was suggested:
West Europe East Europe
Organisations 45,-€ 25,-€
Individuals 30,-€ 10,-€
Students 15,-€ 5,-€

Please send the money cash or as an eurocheque by post to the address of the Institute in Marburg. A receipt can be handed out. You may also transfer the money to the following bank account:
Europ. Inst. for Outdoor Adventure e.V.
Sparkasse Marburg-Biedenkopf
Code: 533 500 00
Account: 1000096110
Thank you!

Conference announcement

International Outdoor Education Research Conference
La Trobe University Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, July 6-9, 2004
"Connections and Disconnections: Examining the reality and rhetoric. International perspectives on outdoor education theory and practice."

Outdoor education often claims to foster relationships with self, others and the natural environment. But there are also disconnections; perhaps between outdoor experiences and everyday lives, home and remote settings, or between theory and practice. How can research contribute to understanding the tensions between such connections and disconnections?
This symposium aims to focus on the role of research in exploring how the field addresses its claims. It will ask: With what kinds of relationships and knowledge is outdoor education concerned? How important is the cultural and geographical context or the pedagogical process in developing such relationships? What is the role of broader social, cultural or education theory in understanding outdoor education? What are the connections between theory and practice and what are future directions for the field?
The conference builds on the International Conference held at Buckinghamshire-Chilterns University College (UK) in 2002 and aims to foster an international community of researchers whose work critically examines outdoor education theory and practice. By bringing together researchers and potential researchers it offers the opportunity to share research methods, findings andissues.
Conference Structure: The conference will be structured around paper or poster presentations and discussion forums. Special interest group meetings and excursions to local outdoor environments will also be included.
Regarding the call for papers or more details please contact Andrew Brookes a.brookes@latrobe.edu.au

Search for partners

I am looking for partners for outdoor experiential learning projects (friluftsliv) in Scandinavia (because Scandinavia has special and especially appropriate natural resources) for adults with learning disabilities.
For this purpose networks should be generated
· to find interested groups in Germany and other countries
· to organise planning meetings
· to find funding through sponsoring or EU or governmental subsidies
· to coordinate providers, facilities and resources in Scandinavia.

It is important to create a mutual platform for contents, goals and methods that considers individual, regional and / or national distinctions and differences and, at the same time, respects the Standard Rules of the United Nations. In this way aspects of European integration become accessible and individual development (empowerment) is made possible.
In other words: European cooperation supports personal development and life quality for people with learning disabilities by using the nature of Scandinavia as a field for experience and learning.
Curt von Toerne, Vitanas Heilpädagogisches Centrum Kladow
ph: +49-(0)30-3651001, fax: +49-(0)30-3653595, e-mail: c.toerne@vitanas.de,
Internet: www.vitanas.de

Obituary

We really regret the death of Pawel Jedrzejczyk who has lost his life on 1st January 2003 due to a tragic accident.
Pawel, by profession electrical engineer and specialised in engineering for sailing ships, founded "Frajda" with his wife Magda in 1993, an organisation for sporting holidays and outdoor adventure activities for children and youths. With huge efforts he restored an old farm house and built up a 120-beds pension in Czarnocin located close to the Baltic Sea.
Referring to his sailing passion and his close bond to nature he realised with this place one of his personal dreams. School classes and all youth groups could feel his dedication to his work during their stays.
As a member of EOE Pawel participated 2001 at the European conference in Marburg / Germany. He was very engaged on national and international level and imparted important co-operations with East European organisations in the field. EOE board chose Czarnocin as meeting place for its last board meeting November 2002 and got a fascinating impression of his efforts.
We will keep him in mind as an obliging and courtous person with impressing enthousiasm and idealism.

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