27. Outdoor education, checklists, and staying safe in the outdoors, with Mike Horembala

Today we explore one of the many ways the CanLyme Educators’ Resource can be put into action. In this podcast, Sarah reaches Mike Horembala in the Foothills of Alberta. Mike, known to his students as “Mr. H’, is a Vice Principal and teacher with a passion for the outdoors. He developed a program within the Foothills School District called “Go Wild,” where students can learn about the outdoors while earning credits. Students participate in day trips and multi-day expeditions... hiking, canoeing, kayaking, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing amongst many other outdoor activities.

Mike describes outdoor education programs as an antidote to “Nature Deficit Disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv based on our disconnect from the natural world. Mike notes that not only do behaviour issues seen in the classroom often fall away when kids get outdoors, but those kids are likely to become leaders in the outdoor environment. He also sees outdoor adventure as a way to foster a sense of curiosity and independence. Balancing these incredible learning opportunities with rigorous safety protocols and processes is something Mike takes very seriously. In his classroom, the safety protocols themselves serve as valuable learning tools that students will retain as they become independent outdoor enthusiasts.

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