H O RIZ O N S ONE HUNDRED ISSUES OF HORIZONS

In this celebration issue:

What’s next for the future of Horizons?

Youth voices in outdoor learning and climate advocacy

Portable comfort zones in outdoor learning

And brand new features

Horizons

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ISSUE CREDITS

DESIGN

Catherine Dunn

PANEL

PROOFREADING

Jack Reed

Thank you to the Horizons panel for their continued support and contributions.

Geoff Cooper

Suzie Dick

Di Collins

Sam Moore

Ian Healey

Daniel Towers

IMAGES

Colin Wood

Liam Scott

Jack Reed

Stuart Meese

Morgan Luddington

Front cover: main cover image has been sourced from www.pxhere.com.

Editorial images have been sourced from www.pxhere.com. Photographers retain copyright.

Institute For Outdoor Learning

The Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) champions safe activities and effective learning in the outdoors. We are a professional membership institute working towards an application for a Royal Charter.

Learn about IOL and how to become a member: www.outdoor-learning.org

HORIZONS OFFICE

IOL, Warwick Mill Business Centre, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 8RR. T: 01228 564580 F: 01228 564581 E: fiona@outdoor-learning.org

©2023 Catherine Dunn ISSN 2634-8799

AUTHOR

Mike King

Mike was appointed as a Trustee to IOL in Feb 2010 and is now Chair of the Trustee Board. He has been involved in the outdoors for the past 30 yrs and on this journey has overseen the development of Releasing Potential which is an education charity that comprises of an Independent Special School, Academic Institute and a Sailing Centre amongst its interests. Professionally Mike still enjoys teaching outdoor activities to children and training staff alongside his responsibilities for the charity.

Welcome to the 100th edition of Horizons, within this edition we will be looking at what we know now and what we might expect in the future. I am so grateful to all the editors, contributors and readers of this publication who have made this magazine such a success over the years. The late editorials, the discussions as to what should be included and the mad panic of whether the printer would get it out on time, have all been part of the rich journey that the various editorial teams have been on with producing such a quality magazine.

One Hundred is a significant milestone for several reasons; it underpins our financial system (100 pennies in the pound), it is the basis of our percentage system (100%), and it is the boiling point of the kettle you may have boiled to make the tea you are drinking whilst reading this latest issue of Horizons.

My youngest daughter is part of a generation brought up during the age of digital technology and so has been familiar with computers and the internet from an early age. As digital tools reshape our economy and the communities we live in, we all have to face the challenge of understanding the impact of this technology on our own lives. My eldest daughter pointed out to me ‘the obvious’ way in which I should send her photos through Instagram rather than copy them across to another platform, clearly demonstrating our different levels of engagement with this form of communication. I hope that the article in this issue will enable us to understand how we cross the generations to be able to communicate our purposes and engagement with the outdoors better.

The numerical symbol 100 is also very pleasing to see as it brings together two digits that on their own are of the same worth however in unison they have a higher value. This act of coming together has been very at much the forefront of my mind as IOL has been engaged with other organisations planning how we can serve each other’s interests.

The Institute was formed through people putting down their own ambitions for themselves and recognising the significance of a single point of collective unison for those working in the outdoors. A significant step forward was to produce a publication where sharing of practice, thought and reflections could provide encouragement and challenge to members.

The importance of belonging to a community is clear when we consider the mental health and wellbeing of our society at the moment. We can all feel lonely at some point in our life journey however the last few years have been extremely challenging for the outdoor community as we have had to consider how we might navigate our way through business, professional and personal situations in light of the restrictions.

This week my school, Releasing Potential Special School has been through the process of an Ofsted visit. These Inspections are intense as they examine ones practice, ethos and methodology. As the founder of the charity I have always felt that most of the time I understand what is happening where and when however during this intense examination of our practices there were times when I felt quite isolated from the outside world as the process questioned my identity. It was the relationships that I have with a brilliant staff team, and the support offered by friends that gave me strength during the process.

100 is the first number to have three digits which signifies an onward journey, more to come and pointing towards something greater. It is also a point at which to stop and reflect before we set our eyes on the future. As we approach the end of another calendar year it is often a time when boats are derigged, the winter maintenance list is drawn up and staff eye up the additional time off in lieu for all those extra weekends that they have worked through the summer. In the poem by the Welsh Poet W. H. Davies ‘Leisure’ he asks us the question; ‘what is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?’. A challenge I would set before all of us, as we travel from the summer, through autumn, into winter and onto spring is to take moments of time to reflect on where our journey has been and where we would like it to go next.

Please drink you tea responsibly as you read yet another fabulous edition of Horizons p

EDITOR

Catherine Dunn

I’d love to hear from you with ideas for articles or stories that you would like us to explore in the world of outdoor learning horizonseditor@outdoor-learning.org