Are they prepared? Training opportunities and qualification requirements for teachers' of outdoor and adventure education

Abstract

Outdoor and adventure education within New Zealand secondary schools has a long and established history. The training pathways that outdoor and adventure education teachers' have taken has changed over the last 20-30 years and it is therefore important to understand the key components of what the teachers perceive is needed to determine whether current qualifications and training are at a suitable standard. This qualitative research is framed through establishing the many benefits of outdoor education, the legal obligations a school has, all within a society that is increasingly risk averse. For teachers and schools this research found that there needs to be an awareness of teacher isolation and the drawbacks for students of a strong vocational focused outdoor programme. For the outdoor industry this research found that there is a need for establishing lower level industry awards than is currently available and that the outdoor industry needs to adopt different assessment methods that encompasses previous experience and training pathways.