Education Outdoors Conference 2017
Outdoor Learning: A Natural Connection
Outdoor learning is a form of experiential education that focuses on guided, integrated learning in outdoor natural environments. It utilises the natural environment to impart personal and social knowledge, physical skills, and subject-specific knowledge across the full curriculum. Outdoor Learning has long been recognised for its diversity and ability to connect with many other areas. Join us to further unpack and strengthen these connections.
This year’s theme aims to highlight the benefits of children’s experience in natural environments, including health through increased physical activity; wellbeing through enhancing social and intra-personal qualities and educational attainment through developing ‘characters’ of resilience and confidence.
This year’s conference will not only showcase current Victorian “outdoor learning” programs, but will also provide national and international connections.

Sue Waite
Associate Professor (Reader) in Outdoor Learning in Plymouth Institute of Education at Plymouth University
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Dr Karen Malone
Professor of Sustainability, Acting Director, Centre for Educational Research, HDR Director and Leader of the sustainability research group at Western Sydney University
Dr Karen Malone is offering a keynote presentation on Saturday afternoon, titled: “Urban, childhood nature relations in the Anthropocene” Karen is an international researcher on environmental and outdoor education, sustainability learning, urban studies, sustainable cities, social sustainability, globalisation, international development, human rights, children’s geographies, new posthumanist pedagogies, placed-based participatory research, and theorising posthumanism and new materialism in the Anthropocene. Read More

Matt P. Stevenson
PhD Fellow at the Centre for Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE), University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sandy Robson
Kayak Adventurer & Outdoor Education Freelance Instructor
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Schedule, Presenters and Sponsors
This page contains all the schedule, Presenter and Sponsor information you will find in the conference APP. This information will be constantly updated on a daily basis between now and the 25th May. To download the free Conference APP go to your: iTunes Store or Google Play store