OLMP | A Case study of leading, mentoring in Outdoor Education to gain Outdoor Leadership Qualifications.
Details:
12:30 – 1:20 pm
5th of December
Room: Sports Pavilion
Dan McNamara
This presentation will provide an overview of the Outdoor Leadership and Mentoring Program (OLMP), a self-supporting professional network of Outdoor Educators within the ACT to support pre- and in-service teachers gain the skills and qualifications required to lead adventure activities.
The OLMP has thrived for over fifteen years, weathering challenges and continually evolving to meet the needs of teachers and students, and qualification requirements. It is estimated that around 95% of the Outdoor Education teachers in in the ACT have received much of their qualifications through the OLMP.
Over the past 2 years, over 40 individuals have completed their Certificate III or IV in Outdoor Leadership through the OLMP. Additionally 60+ individuals have attained activity qualifications enabling them to lead groups in activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, caving, bushwalking, challenge ropes, cross country skiing, surfing and flat-water canoe and kayaking.
Whilst the end product of the OLMP is a nationally transferrable Outdoor Leadership qualification, its strength is the ever-present backbone of peer-mentoring and a culture of ongoing collaboration amongst Outdoor Educators across ACT Schools.
Within the presentation we will speculate that while not initially intended, an enabler of this mentoring culture is the context of the affective and empathetic connections amongst participants and with place that form the core of high-quality Outdoor Education pedagogy.
About the Presenter
Dan currently manages the Outdoor Education Department at Canberra Grammar School. This includes leading a sequential P-12 Outdoor Education program, DoE, Outdoor Pursuits and numerous school expeditions. He has previously led the ACT Education Directorate’s Excursions and Physical Activities policies, taught at Lake Ginninderra College, Trinity Grammar School and St Joseph’s College. Prior to teaching, Dan worked extensively in the Outdoor Education industry.
