In the stretch zone

Campbell, Liz (2008) In the stretch zone. Horizons, 41 . pp. 26-29.

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Abstract

This article shares the experience of stepping out of a ‘rut’ – out of ‘safe’, habitual modes and methods of practice. When Liz, Letty and their students stepped out of what they had become accustomed to within UK Outdoor Education circles and into a style of programme delivery in Prague that contrasted sharply with their experience, it had great impact, and gave them food for thought in terms of their own practice. They were struck, for example, by the value placed upon play for play’s sake, and the opportunities for creative expression that their Czech hosts created within their programming. It is ever so easy – as Liz admits – to ‘bottle out’ of taking these kinds of risks, for all sorts of rational, logistical and emotional reasons. Here however, we see some of the upsides that can accrue to both those we are responsible for and also to us as practitioners, and as such Liz, Ludêk and Letty’s story stands as a clarion call for us – sometimes at least – to take the ‘unsafe alternative’.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Horizons
Publisher:	Institute for Outdoor Learning
ISSN:	1462-0677
Departments:	Academic Departments > Science, Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies (SNROS) > Outdoor Studies
Additional Information:	By Liz Campbell, lecturer at the University of Cumbria, UK, with contributions from Ludêk Šebek, lecturer at Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic and Letty Sudds, research assistant at The University of Cumbria, UK.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	23 Mar 2018 13:35
Last Modified:	11 Jan 2024 20:31
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3708

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