The Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Creationism (2018)

Outdoor creation education is for the fulfillment of our command to be stewards of what God created. We have a divine command to take care of what was created. Therefore, a purposeful aim of outdoor creation education is for the care and preservation of wild places. Philosophy/Aims of Outdoor Creation Education The aim of outdoor creation education is not the activity itself, but rather to learn how to understand who God is and who we are in relationship to Him and others through a deepened understanding of our physical world. As stated above, outdoor creation education is the pursuit of a deepened relationship with God, and others, through the engagement, study, and understanding of the world around us. These aims are relationally driven as God has created us in His image as relational beings. Some specific outdoor creation education aims include: To deepen our understanding of and connection with God God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through nature. With the Bible as our foundation, we see within creation His desire to redeem man, His relational qualities, and His commands and promises illustrated. Outdoor creation education provides the training needed to develop the skill of seeing and understanding these illustrated principles. The development of this skill involves a combination of formal and informal activities. Initially, the learner is dependent upon the teacher to provide formal instruction and modeling. Over time, that dependency diminishes as the learner gains competency and confidence. There is a necessary informal component as well. The development of this skill is a natural outcome of navigating outdoor adventures and challenges. This requires the teacher to value the learner’s ability to figure some things out independently and provide ample time for informal engagement. We see the scars of a global catastrophe upon our earth that reminds us of the destruction of God’s judgment. Yet there is immense beauty displayed as well. The presence of beauty woven into God’s wrath is a revelation of His heart to redeem man. The purpose of His judgment is redemption rather than destruction. On our river trips through Grand Canyon, we are able to touch rocks understood to be from creation week, as well as rocks laid down during the Flood. To enhance our connection with the people around us Shared adventure in nature creates a bond with those with whom we have interacted. When made a priority, deep relationships form as challenges are overcome and adventures shared. Outdoor education takes us away from our daily distractions and puts the people in front of us into focus. My wife and I have friends all over this planet because we pursue Christ together through a wilderness adventure. I once guided a trip for a struggling family. Over the course of five days, I saw their hearts soften toward one another and find joy in one another once gain. To understand scientific systems Biological and geological systems are on full display in outdoor settings. Nature is a great classroom for investigating what is going on in our physical world. The learner is immersed in the world of interacting ecosystems, geological processes, and abundant biology. The teacher provides the necessary guidance to see beyond the surface of these systems into the intricacies hidden within. For example, visiting an area recently burned provides the learner the opportunity to see the restorative properties of the forest and the critical role fire plays in the cycle of the forest. To develop habits of stewardship Engaging nature provides a healthy understanding of our natural resources and their proper use. Likewise, having great memories of exploring nature builds an appropriate appreciation for nature and desire to keep it clean for the next generation. Environmental responsibility is a significant issue for all to participate in. The learner can be directed to consider local natural resources, and ways to be involved in wilderness care. As urban cultures have developed, our connection to the land around us has diminished. However, we have a deep dependency upon the land. Outdoor creation education is a powerful tool to open the eyes of the learner to that dependency. We tend to care for the things we love and respect. Spending time in the outdoors opens our eyes to the majesty it beholds and our need to care for it for future generations. To improve leadership and problem solving skills Adventures in an outdoor setting often place people well outside their comfort zone. Also, many of the modern day conveniences are not readily available. This forces the learner to find alternative ways of meeting their daily needs. Many outdoor activities require teamwork to accomplish a common goal. These tasks promote healthy communication, positive interaction, and growth of leadership skills. When traveling through Grand Canyon, people are doing life outdoors. We eat, teach, and sleep without any shelter (though tents are available if it gets really bad). This is new to most people. I have observed families working together to find a way to make their little camping area functional. They collectively find ways to minimize the negative effects of the wind, sand, and heat. The individual personalities mesh together to meet a mutual need. Components of Outdoor Creation Education Biblical education We want to better understand God’s word through the hands-on illustrations afforded to us in nature . These include illustrated attributes of God and biblical concepts. The Bible comes to life in the world around us. For instance, within Grand Canyon we see illustrated in the metamorphic rocks how heat and pressure work to transform and harden the stone just as the struggles of life work to transform us and harden our faith. Likewise, we are able to touch rocks that we believe date back to the week of creation and also rocks deposited during the flood. In doing so, we are touching the latter rocks that speak of God’s defense of His holiness, His hatred of sin, and His heart to redeem man. Adventure education Adventures reveal much about who we are such as our fears, strengths, skills, and passions. Shared ventures help us understand how to interact with the people around us. The outdoor classroom is a dynamic place to learn both interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. For generations, parents have counseled their children during hard times that it “builds character.” The truth is that those times of great struggle reveal character strengths and weaknesses more than build them. The stressors associated with outdoor endeavors effectively reveal our character while simultaneously providing the means to develop it. Albert ◀ Outdoor creation education ▶ 2018 ICC 249