Membership - Spirituality in Outdoor LearningJudging by recent articles in Horizons and conversations with members, there appears to be growing interest in:
“… the exploration of…. inner or innate spiritual potential and its integration
and expression in everyday life.”
At this time of global crisis and turmoil, a sound relationship with oneself, others, the natural environment and the divine provides empowerment and resilience in the confusion of current events.
U Thant, Secretary General of the UN in the early 1970s defined ‘Spirituality’- not to be confused with religion - as:
“…….. a state of connectedness to life.
It is an experience of being, belonging and caring.
It is sensitivity and compassion, joy and hope.
It is the harmony between the innermost life and the outer life, or the life of the world and the life universal.”
If you would like to be part of an IOL Special Interest Group to explore Spirituality and Outdoor Learning, contact the Louise at IOL.
Roger Orgill
A Spirituality Special Interest Group.
IOL may establish a Special Interest Group for it's membership concerned with this subject. While this will provide a focus within the Institute ‘spirituality’ is not ‘yet another skill’ or faction. It is all-pervasive and could be reflected in a range of the Institutes’ work. The spiritual aspect of PSD is remarkably absent in western society yet...
“Spiritual development is a critical priority for the future of youth development in order to nature young people holistically within a global, pluralistic context”.
New Directions for Youth Development. (Spiritual Development)
In March 2010 the IOL Midlands Region in conjunction with the Wrekin Trust held an event “Spirituality in Outdoor Learning”: a workshop style approach to help practitioners get to grips with the “S” word."
To read an article (pdf) by Roger Orgill "A Spiritual Imperative" click here. The article is also a report from the Spirituality event mentioned above.
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