At the time of its publication in 1972, centres such as Brathay and Outward Bound had been around for 25 years, but it was only in the past 15 years that local authorities started to open their own outdoor centres and provision was still expanding. Drasdo looked at three approaches to outdoor education that were being explored at the time: field studies (Nature as a Visual Aid), physical challenge (Nature as a Greased Pole) and character building (Nature as a Personnel Selection Test).
In his essay, Drasdo railed against what he saw as creeping standardisation, institutionalisation and risk aversion. He went on to argue passionately for recognition of the importance of enabling young people to engage directly with nature, so they could experience the subversive but nurturing values of freedom and beauty.
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