On Sunday 19th August, 2012 our EDUH4052 class embarked on our first field trip to the Royal National Park, just south of Sydney. After an early start we arrived  and were split into three smaller groups which was great as it allowed you to get to know everyone in the group. We started our walk and stopped occasionally whilst Ian pointed out different kinds of plants along the way.

We were encouraged to walk a mile in another persons shoes which meant walking each part of the walk with a different person. This allowed us to get to know each other better and in some cases meet new people who we had never spoken to before. This another benefit of the outdoors as there are no distractions such as phones and computers and so you get a real chance to talk to people and find out a bit more about them and their lives back home. We walked along the coastal path which had some amazing views so we had lots of opportunities to stop for photos including a group photo!

We continued walking and eventually we found Marley Beach where we had planned to have our lunch break. As we looked down towards Marley beach someone spotted a whale so we all stopped to watch it whilst people tried to take photos. 

At this point if you looked back you could just catch a glance of the city rising up above the hills in the distance. It was strange to be in such a beautiful remote area but still be able to see the city, reminding us that we weren't really that far away!

We stopped on the beach and caught up with the other group who were passing us in the opposite direction. After we had eaten we decided to go and explore the sand dunes behind so we took our shoes off and went over to the dunes. We climbed to the top of one of the bigger ones and then ran down the side which was fun! It was amazing to see all the different environments so close to each other. At some points the scenery was very coastal, sometime bushland and then it seemed as if we were in a desert!! 

Once we reached the end of the beach we put our shoes back on and and carried on walking. Once we had reached a very beautiful spot, Ian sent us off by ourselves to spend some time alone with our thoughts. We then recorded a video of how we were feeling at the time.

When I sat by myself and took the time to reflect on where I was and what I was doing it made me realise how lucky I am to be here. It is a beautiful part of the world and to have the opportunity to go out and explore new places is amazing! It was so nice to be away from all the business of everyday life and to have the time just to sit and think about nothing.

We have been looking at how exercise boosts brain activity in human brains. As we were walking through the National Park about how this is such a great discovery as I really enjoy exercise and so if it boosting my brain power then even better! Of course there are different kinds of exercise, and being outdoors made me realise how much I enjoy it and I should try and get outside as much as I can. Dr. John Medina wrote a book called Brain Rules, and in it he says "Exercise increases oxygen flow into the brain, which reduces brain-bound free radicals...an increase in oxygen is always accompanied by an uptick in mental sharpness."

There are various case studies which support this, for example the Napperville School District. It involved 19,000 students and they were given a choice of physical activities to do each day. Before the programme, 30% of the students were overweight and they had poor academic performance. However afterwards, only 3% were overweight and they were first in science and sixth in maths in the world!! This just shows the huge benefits of physical activity. 

Experiential Learning Cycles (ELCs) are models developed by John Dewey which help us to understand how the process of learning works. As this module is called “Learning in Outdoor Education” I want to see how this model applies to outdoor activities. There are nine ELC models and they have varying numbers of stages from one to six. A four stage model can be applied to outdoor activities and how we learn from it. The four stages are Experiencing, Reviewing, Concluding and Planning. The diagram below outlines the four stages.

By going on the field trip I experienced the outdoors and what effect it has on me. It is a good way to get away from the all the stresses of everyday life and a time to relax and just take in all the beautiful scenery around you. Writing this blog has enabled me to review and conclude from my experience of the outdoors. The final stage is planning, and I now feel prepared to plan for our next experience in the Blue Mountains!

There is a book called "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Stephen Covey. The seven habits are as follows:

1. Be Proactive

2.Begin With the End in Mind

3. Put First Things First

4. Think Win-Win

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

6. Synergise

7. Sharpen the Saw

All of these habit cans be applied when you are in the outdoors. For example synergy is very important, as working together can often improve your performance. During the walk we were each given a chance to lead the group but it was always best when we worked together as a time to try and work out the best route to take.

My overall experience from this field trip has made me realise how beneficial the outdoors can be to you in everyday life. Not only are there the physical benefits of exercise but it also has many mental benefits including boosting your brain power!