Outdoor Health and Lifestyles Research Seminar,
Telemark University College, Norway, 8 - 10 March 2011.
Background
In 2006 an Erasmus agreement was signed betweenTrinityUniversityCollegeandTelemark University College,Norway, to encourage student/staff exchange and closer institutional collaboration. Since then 12 Outdoor Education students have studied inNorwayand exchange visits have been undertaken by Dr Andy Williams (2006) and Assistant Professor Andre Horgen (2009). As a result of discussions during 2009 it was proposed to hold a research seminar inNorway, in 2011, focusing on outdoor education and health. FiveSHOEstaff attended the research seminar: Dr Andy Williams; Alison Connaughton; Nalda Wainwright; Dave Gardner and Peter Herbert.
Report
A warm welcome was received and staff from both institutions had the opportunity to present and share research interests over a period of three full and active days. A total of 15 research presentations were made across a broad range of inter-related subjects including outdoor education, exercise physiology, health, psychology and pedagogy (see below forTSDpresentations). At the conclusion of a highly successful seminar programme numerous opportunities were identified for further collaboration including working towards shared research projects, new curriculum exchange opportunities for students and staff, and the possibility of a future bilingual research publication focused on outdoor education and health. It was agreed thatSHOEwould host a return visit by staff fromTelemarkUniversityCollegein 2013 that would act as the focal point for new collaborative initiatives.
Andy Williams, University of Wales Trinity Saint David:
Taking a step back: learning without the facilitator on solo activities
Nalda Wainwright, University of Wales Trinity Saint David:
How teachers incorporate physicality into children's learning experiences within the new Foundation Phase Curriculum inWales
Dave Gardner, University of Wales Trinity Saint David:
Health, physical activity and diet.
Alison Connaughton, University of Wales Trinity Saint David:
The motivation and barriers to exercise in people with type II diabetes.
Peter Herbert, University of Wales Trinity Saint David:
Exercise and the elderly.
Voluntary Conservation Programme (2008-12)
The Centre is involved on an annual basis with local and community focused initiatives linked to conservation projects in and around the areas where it operates.
It seeks to raise the awareness of the importance of building sustainable practice into personal outdoor education practice and to give students the knowledge and experience of a diverse range of opportunities that are available to engage with local conservation projects.
Recent conservation programme projects have included:
Footpath restoration inGelliAurCountryPark;
Knotweed and river bank cleaning of tributaries of the River Towy;
Beach front cleaning on Cefn sedan beach;
River Teifi clean up with Llandysul Paddlers;
Llyn y Fan Fach mountain bothy clean up.
Students are also required to engage with the John Muir Award in their second year studies and to be knowledgeable about the Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) initiative of the Welsh Assembly Government.
