Opinion - Fresh air is a great tool for development

I recently spoke at a European seminar at Brathay Hall in Cumbria, which provided a platform for robust debate about the rhyme and reason of outdoor experiential education. My contribution was to reflect on the academic research on the changing position of young people in Europe, political aspirations concerning civil society and employability, and the youth policy frameworks of the European Union and the Council of Europe. Though the latter makes considerable use of experiential learning methods in its training courses, I noted that the great outdoors is largely conspicuous by its absence in discussions of youth work and youth disadvantage. Where it does enter the debate, it is often misunderstood or considered to be some kind of secret society. What on earth, people ask, has this got to do with the learning of skills and personal development?