Engaging (Urban) Youth in Outdoor Education

Original date: January 13, 2015

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Presenter: Keith Williams

Description: Students are more disconnected from being outside than ever before which presents additional challenges to the outdoor educator. In addition, students are distracted by electronics and numerous pop culture diversions. Urban students are especially removed from the natural world so that the simple act of being outside in the woods becomes a big deal. To be effective, environmental and outdoor education must be relevant for its constituents. This session discusses theory and techniques for engaging even the toughest of students in the outdoors.

Keith Williams has an MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning. He has worked as an environmental biologist with the US Army, a firefighter paramedic apprentice with the Baltimore City Fire Department, a science teacher in Baltimore, a volunteer coordinator with Habitat for Humanity, and an outdoor education program manager before joining NorthBay 10 years ago. Keith started with NorthBay as a field educator and served as director of education for 7 years before becoming the Executive Director.  North Bay’s mission is to challenge urban students in middle schools to realize that their attitudes and actions have a lasting impact on their future, the environment and the people around them. At North Bay, they use Common Core and Next Generation Science standards, character development, and the outdoors as an integrating context for their programs.