At the October 2016 National Conference Institute members considered the
next steps in delivering the IOL vision of ‘Outdoor learning as a
highly valued form of development, education and employment in UK
society’. Both the conference and an earlier meeting of the
Institute’s Steering Group agreed that Institute’s Executive
should work towards the establishment of a Chartered Body for Outdoor
Learning as key element of delivering the vision.
For individuals and organisations across outdoor learning, the challenges
brought about by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have given sharp focus to the
need for wider valuing of outdoor learning in UK society and stronger
public confidence in the professional status of our workforce. Now,
perhaps more than ever, a cohesive force for the outdoor community and its
influence on UK society is essential for our collective future.
Much has been done towards operating as a professional institute capable
of seeking a Royal Charter. This has not been a straightforward task with
a clear line of sight between beginning and end. We have been moving along
a winding road with many opinions, choices and decisions to be made in a
landscape that has revealed itself as we travelled through it.
Strengthening each one of three core strands have been underpinning
developments:
You will be able to read more about developments in the latest issue of
Horizons magazine
- Horizons 91, due out late October 2020.
To date the project has included the comments and support of members of
IOL as well as members of AHOEC, OEAP, SAPOE and others within outdoor
learning and we hope this will continue and further expand. Please look
out for UK wide briefings and consultations and share your views so we can
include them in future developments.