Outdoor education can be simply defined as experiential learning about outdoor environment for outdoor environment. Outdoor education can be simply defined as outdoor, for outdoor or about outdoor experimental learning. The term outdoor education is widely used to refer to a series of organized activities in different outdoor environments. It is difficult to achieve the only definition of outdoor education that can be recognized by everyone, because the interpretation of its definition will be different according to local culture, ideas and local conditions.
Outdoor education is generally regarded as equivalent to adventure education, adventure programming, outdoor study, outdoor school and adventure therapy. Adventure entertainment, adventure tourism, adventure learning, challenge education, experience education, environmental education, forest school and field education. It is also difficult to reach a consensus on these terms. However, outdoor education usually uses relevant elements in the above-mentioned related fields or needs to be familiar with the above-mentioned fields. The characteristics of outdoor education are that it focuses on the "outdoor" side of this education; However, adventure education will focus on "adventure", environmental education will focus on "environment" related fields, and wilderness education will make wilderness exploration a necessary part. "Humans are just visitors in front of nature."
Although there are different opinions about what outdoor education is, it is not only because of the universality of this subject, but also because of the differences in international cultural diversity and individual independent learning methods. However, regarding' outdoor education', there are still many common points accepted by most practitioners, as shown in the following figure:
"Education outside the classroom"
"Education outside the classroom" gives us a revelation that studying in school is not just about students sitting in the same classroom with teachers and books. "Education outside the classroom" includes biological exploration and insect research on campus, as well as observing the inventory control of shops near the school and visiting museums. This is a popular educational concept again, because such a cognitive way can benefit participants from various activities. The Education and Skills Committee of the British House of Commons reported that this kind of education brought history and art to the participants' personal lives, developed their social skills and significantly improved their understanding of geography and science. Extracurricular learning can effectively ensure that every child can develop the skills they need. In a classroom full of various devices, children choose passively in the classroom, and their right to choose independently outside the classroom is respected.
The goal of outdoor education
Some typical goals of outdoor education are to learn how to overcome adversity, improve personal and social development, and have a deeper relationship with the natural environment. Outdoor education mainly spans three dimensions: self, others and nature. Different educational programs have different emphases in these three dimensions. An outdoor education project can completely span these three dimensions, for example, focusing on one (or more) goals: teaching outdoor survival skills, improving problem-solving ability, reducing recidivism, enhancing team spirit, developing leadership skills, understanding the natural environment and promoting spirituality.