Why Outdoor Education?

 

Outdoor adventure programs provide a powerful setting through which girls can cultivate a sense of value, strength, and wellness because they encourage girls to take healthy risks and overcome challenges, teach girls leadership and communication skills, instill an ethic of self and group care, and promote an active lifestyle.  Profound lessons learned in the outdoors can then be translated into girls’ daily lives, in school and in their home communities, setting them up for success as they grow into young women.  The experiential education model used in outdoor adventure programs compliments classroom learning by providing real-life situations from which to build leadership and creative problem-solving skills. Furthermore, outdoor adventure programs provide many of the physical and psychological benefits of traditional organized sports, including increased health and fitness, teamwork, and goal-setting.

A list of experiential education programs nationwide and miscellaneous resources dedicated to supporting and empowering girls. Thank you to Nina S. Roberts, Ph.D, and Laura Woodcock for compiling, designing and publishing this wonderful listing.

GirlVentures also recommends this list of online resources.