It’s no secret that Experiential Learning has costs associated with it. I’m consistently asked about the financial, people and time expenses involved and how I justify them.
I accept that it is naive to not ask the questions about the return on investment for the operational and logistical expenses such as wages, travel, vehicle hire, insurance, time away from home, equipment, National Park fees, accreditation, accommodation, food, equipment, fuel, professional development, all the activities costs and even maintenance …and there’s no doubt others.
Furthermore, what grinds my gears is the perception that the expenditure is to create ‘fun’, as if for some reason those asking the question have forgotten that they too can create fun in their lines of work... Either way, they’ve missed the point as I’ll explain later.
In thinking about what an investment in adventure based learning for young people might look like, I see it as a multi-layered return with a blend of both qualitative and quantitative outcomes. Where the experiences are directly and/or indirectly connected to physical, social, mental and/or emotional health benefits for the individual, the collective (the people they share the learning experience with) and the community (the people, groups, businesses linked to those experiencing the learning).
If we seek to break the investment down further, we are also paying for young people to:
Appreciate how to work with others and to be good team mates, to support others when plans don’t come together and share in each other’s achievements.
Learn to take care of their body and mind.
Respect, not only themselves, but other young people, staff and the broader community.
Have the chance to rethink what a classroom without walls can look like, where learning is in the world and where the experiences are real.
Understanding the value of leave no trace, exemplifying what a better world can look like, and the importance of being part of a healthy and sustainable world.
Learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't achieve what they'd hoped for, but still they go back time and time again giving it their best shot.
Source, maintain and utilise equipment relevant to each activity.
Learn to make and accomplish goals.
Weigh up and tackle real risks. To consider both the positive and negative consequences of each decision.
Learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to become an expert at something and that success does not happen overnight.
Be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
Have a greater awareness of the world around them, to care for local environments and look to leave places better than they found them.
Share in the vicarious benefits of witnessing others choosing to tackle challenges, overcoming barriers, feeling success and reaching their goals.
Experience moments when they become so tired they want to quit but don't.
Learn to be disciplined, focused and committed.
Have the opportunity to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, and to be proud of their experiences.
Get out on the trails instead of in front of a screen.
Believe in their value so that they can become confidently capable of utilising their individual strengths to achieve something extraordinary.
I could go on… (and I’d love to hear from you if you have your own observations to add to this list)
The point is that we don't pay for Experiential Learning.
We pay for the adventure it creates to provide young people with the opportunties to develop capabilities that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the tools to impact the lives of others.
We pay for young people to face up to the physical, mental, social or emotional mountain in front of them, because it is there as part of the adventure for a reason. And one day, that mountain in front of them will be so far behind them, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person they become in learning to get over it… That will stay with them forever. And that is the point of the mountain. You need to allow the time and space for the mountain to speak for itself.
We pay so that staff can be best equipped to keep each of the young people physically and psychologically safe, and so that the above opportunities can be created.
And then, if through these opportunities, young people find it ‘fun’... that’s a reflection of their engagement and participation, rather than the money spent.
From my experience... what Experiential Learning creates are opportunities that grow each young persons sense of agency, identity and direction, develops their capabilities, improves their understanding of meaning and purpose and increases their self confidence and value.
To me, this all sounds like a priceless investment.
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