Outdoor Education Commons^™

Research Updates, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section contains the abstracts for the following research articles:

"The Relationship between Parental Attitudes toward Nature and the Amount of Time Children Spend in Outdoor Recreation"

"Introducing Generation Y to the Wilderness"

Book Reviews, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section reviewed several books. These books included:

The Nature Principle-- written by Richard Louv and Reviewed by Martin Ogle

Sharing Nature-- Nature Awareness Activities for All Ages, written by Joseph Cornell and Reviewed by Charles Yaple

Under Our Skin 2: Emergence-- by Open Eye Pictures and reviewed by Dorothy Kupcha Leland

In The News, Gretchen Reynolds

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section contains multiple brief news items related to conservation, environment, and outdoor education.

Resources, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section lists teaching resources of all types for those who work in outdoor education at the time of publication. Some highlighted items include:

Tick and Insect Repellents: Deciding on Their Use

How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature, by Scott D. Sampson

Taproot In & Outside The Classroom, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

As demonstrated in this issue of Taproot, human well-being is inextricably intertwined with the insect and arachnid (mites, scorpions, spiders and ticks) life of this planet. Perhaps environmental and outdoor educators too often focus lessons on (difficult to actually see in the wild) mega fauna while insect and arachnid creatures can be easily caught and observed (proper precautions taken of course).

We therefore offer the following (Insect Collecting 101) introduction courtesy of the University of Florida Department of Entomology. It can be accessed at: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/bug_club/ent-events/collecting101.shtml#where

Conference Calendar, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section provides a list of conferences in the field of outdoor education, including:

American Therapeutic Recreation Conference

National Association for Interpretation Conference

From The Editor, Charles Yaple

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

There was a time not long ago when children living in rural areas of the Northeast or upper Midwest could roam freely and not be concerned with bodily harm. Stay-at-home moms chased children outdoors telling them to “go play,” and choices were often left to the imagination of the child. Knowing to avoid poison ivy or oak, children could pick a spot most anywhere to lie in the grass or forest floor. Wading or swimming in the nearest creek or pond with buddies was pursued without second thought. Those days appear to be gone.

What Every Primary Care Clinician Should Know About The Diagnosis Of Lyme Disease, Elizabeth Maloney

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

A great deal of misunderstanding, even in the medical profession, exists concerning Lyme disease. Dr. Maloney’s article provides an in-depth discussion of the illness. It was written with physicians in mind but is not so heavily laden with medical terminology that the layperson will fail to understand its contents.

Lyme Testimonials, Taproot Editors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Most people (estimates suggest about 80%) who become infected with Lyme disease recover after a month or two of antibiotic treatment. However, there are many individuals who suffer long bouts of chronic Lyme disease. One only has to google “Lyme testimonials”…to find hundreds of stories, written and video format, regarding the devastating effects of Lyme disease. Some share how victims continue to suffer and others describe how certain treatments either improved or restored their health. It is important to note that a person is never totally cured, as victims of Lyme disease are always subject to relapse.

A Conversation With Christy Merrick, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

A Taproot: Journal of Outdoor Education interview with Christy Merrick, Director of the Natural Start Alliance that explores the mission of the Alliance and the North American Association’s special programs designed to connect young children to nature. Discusses role of parents, preschools, nature centers, zoos, and other community organizations.

Understanding Commonalities, Albert Schweitzer, And Aldo Leopold, Minnie Lauzon

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act has fostered nostalgia and reflection among environmentalists. Signed into legislation by Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964, the Wilderness Act presented a duality of purpose—to maintain a level of defense to 9 million acres of wild land while also creating an “enduring resource of wilderness.” This 50th anniversary necessitates another observance—the presentation of Albert Schweitzer’s Reverence for Life philosophy in his 1923 book titled The Philosophy of Civilization. Even a brief reading of Schweitzer’s seminal works will prove to be reminiscent of Aldo Leopold, who is often seen as the godfather of …

False Idyll, J.B. Mackinnon

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

A provocative essay awaits those who peruse prize-winning author J.B. MacKinnon's article, False Idyll. MacKinnon posits that many of us romanticize nature as a sacred place ( one of succor and comfort) overlooking that most places visited have been tamed by humans. The absence of real wildness (predators that can kill us) creates an "imaginary connection with nature" instead of a tangible one. We settle for occasional visits to such sanctuaries and "see little purpose in returning to a deeper and more risky engagement:' Thus "seeing only nurture in nature" reinforces the concept that we are apart and above it.

Research Updates: A Conversation With Alan E. Watson, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

A February 2015 conversation between Wilderness Institute Research Social Scientist Alan Watson and Taproot editor Charles Yaple reveals the evolution of wilderness social science research, current issues, and trends in the wilderness preservation movement.

Review Of Wilderness And The American Mind, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section reviewed the book "Wilderness and the American Mind, Fifth Edition", written by Roderick Nash and reviewed by Kendra Liddicoat.

Taproot In & Outside The Classroom, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The following Wilderness History lesson has been adapted from Wilderness.net a public wilderness information website formed in 1996 through a collaborative partnership between the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute – the federal government’s wilderness training and research arms, respectively – and the College of Forestry and Conservation’s Wilderness Institute at the University of Montana. Additional and extensive wilderness education lessons can be obtained by visiting their websites.

Contents, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors is a non-profit network of outdoor and environmental education centers, nature centers, conservation and recreation organizations, outdoor education and experiential education associations, institutions of higher learning, public and private schools, fish and wildlife agencies, and businesses that share the mission to support and further outdoor education and its goals.

From The Editor, Charles Yaple

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Last year, 2014, marked the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act whereby laws (vows) were created to make certain designated federal lands forever wild-places "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain:' While the wilderness preservation system that has evolved (109,511,038 acres, roughly 4.5% of the USA) can celebrate a golden anniversary, it is not clear whether it will ever expand again or even survive another 50 years. There are many forces that do not value the concept of designated wilderness areas and especially oppose …

Tracing Connections Between The Development Of Wilderness And Outdoor Education In The U.S., Jeff Rose And Dan Dustin

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

After a brief background on the purpose and formulation of both wilderness and the Wilderness Act of 1964 changing cultural, physical, and recreational demand; on wilderness lands are projected into the forthcoming decades. As the Wilderness Act passes its 50th anniversary, we place particular value on the ways in which wilderness, as both a place and a concept, support and enable many of the same values that are found in outdoor education. Tracing the history of wilderness aligns with many of the same histories of outdoor education, and we speculate that the future trajectories of these two institutions will likely …

The Role Of Wilderness Protection, Alan E. Watson

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

For example, an analysis of results of visitor studies at the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in 1969, 1991 and 2007 reveal some big differences in who is out there today, most notably the presence of a much older, more experienced and better educated user population, almost exclusively white and predominantly male. It is time to decide whether the best thing for wilderness and our society is to try to restore historic patterns of use ( to include younger people, the less wealthy and lower educated) in greater numbers, to try to identify new markets within growing underrepresented populations, or …

Spirit, Breath, And Air, Chloe Crawford

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Early settler views toward wilderness differed from Natives encountered in the New World. While Native Americans advocated balance and respect for their wilderness surroundings, European immigrants felt fear and repulsion toward it. However, their views on wilderness changed so much by the late 1800s that sanitariums were built in remote climates promoting outdoor air as a cure for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Just as the concept of wilderness emerged in opposition to civilization, fresh or pure air cannot be defined or appreciated until pollution takes hold. The success of climatic cures for respiratory disorders was pushed aside as western …

Review Of Romancing The Wild, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section reviewed the book "Romancing the Wild: Cultural Dimensions of Eco tourism," written by Robert Fletcher and reviewed by Jeff Rose, PhD.

Review Of Principles Of Sustainable Living, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section reviewed the book "Principles of Sustainable Living: A New Vision for Health, Happiness, and Prosperity," written by Richard Jurin and reviewed by Martin Ogle.

In The News, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section contains multiple brief news items related to conservation, environment, and outdoor education.

Resources, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section lists teaching resources of all types for those who work in outdoor education at the time of publication. Some highlighted items include "Outdoor Play for 1-3 Year Olds" and "How to Get Kids Offline, Outdoors, and Connecting with Nature."

Conference Calendar, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section provides a list of conferences in the field of outdoor education, including the "National Association for Interpretation Conference" and the "BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Conference."

Local Hero: The Journey To Malloryville Bog, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This article reports an interview with Robert M. Beck author of The Journey at Malloryville Bog. Like the book, it shares an illuminating and intimate chronicle of environmental challenge and success. It is Robert Beck’s personal narrative about the collective effort to protect his cherished home and ecologically unique adjacent bog from destruction. Beck’s account of glacier-formed eskers, kames, and kettles, of diverse woodlands, swamps, fens, and bog, of mining applications and recurring environmental reviews, of uncertainty and long struggle, and of diligence, awesome teamwork, and phenomenal land deals is highly instructive for those who might also become involved in …

A Call For Environmental Patriotism, Anne Marie Todd

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Environmental patriotism, the belief that the national environment defines a country’s greatness, is a significant strand in twentieth century American environmentalism. This article is adapted from Anne Marie Todd’s book, Communicating Environmental Patriotism: A Rhetorical History of the American Environmental Movement (Routledge, 2013) where the author is the first to explore the history of environmental patriotism in America through intriguing stories of environmental patriots and the rhetoric of their speeches and propaganda. The article and book offer a provoking critique of environmentalists’ communication strategies and suggests patriotism as a persuasive hook for new ways to make environmental issues a national …

The Perceived Significant Life Experience, Jennifer Wigglesworth And Paul Heintzman

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This quantitative study of a university outdoor education (OE) course as a significant life experience (SLE) builds upon previous qualitative research (Wigglesworth & Heintzman, 2013, in press). The study was retrospective in nature, and its theoretical framework emerged from SLE research in which participants are asked to recall experiences that have contributed to future decisions about environmental protection (Chawla, 1998). A life experience is significant if it changes a person in some way (i.e., perspective, behaviour, or belief); it constitutes a new or extraordinary experience; it provides something useful for the future; specific meaning is derived from or attributed to …

Growing Girls’ Leadership Through Outdoor Programming, Kallen E. Tsikalas And Karyn L. Martin

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Girl Scouting (GS) is fundamentally about developing girls as leaders—growing their courage, confidence, character, and ability to make the world a better place. It does this by providing them with opportunities to build leadership skills (outcomes) related to discovering, connecting, and taking action (GSUSA, 2008), and by engaging them in the processes of learning by doing, cooperative learning, and girl-led activities (James & Bastiani Archibald, 2009).

Contents, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors is a non-profit network of outdoor and environmental education centers, nature centers, conservation and recreation organizations, outdoor education and experiential education associations, institutions of higher learning, public and private schools, fish and wildlife agencies, and businesses that share the mission to support and further outdoor education and its goals.