COEO

In order to ensure the proper place of outdoor education in society’s preparation for our future, COEO believes that it must take a more active role in promoting the multiple values of this approach to learning.

To this end, the organization has recently taken the following steps:

• Launching of a new web site and appointing a COEO Board member who will serve as web master
• Publication of an electronic newsletter approximately 12 times a year
• Revival of region-based workshops and events throughout the school year
• Greater presence in public media
• Advocacy with the provincial government and other concerned parties on behalf of endangered outdoor programs in Ontario

COEO urges the government to include outdoor education in province-wide curricula and to provide funding for this initiative. The organization encourages individual school boards to establish internal networks of educators interested in outdoor education, and further recommends that individual boards be given discretion as to what local facilities and programs would best meet provincial guidelines. It is felt that such initiatives will also positively impact outdoor education programs at the community college and university level.

For statements by the following leading Canadians as regards the value of outdoor and experiential education, click here. (Robert Bateman, Thomas Homer-Dixon, Margaret Somerville, David Suzuiki).

For COEO's submission to the Ontario Working Committee on Environmental Education, click here.

For the text of COEO's presentation to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board concerning its need to keep the MacSkimming and Bill Mason Outdoor Centres open, click here.