HKOLA Conference 2024

Saturday 27th January

Sunday 28th January

Introducing HKOLA This session seeks to introduce HKOLA to the community. It will go into the background to HKOLA, the reasons behind it, it's aims, structure and goals over the next few years. As a members driven organisation there will be space for members to ask questions and contribute ideas. led by Dave Addis / HKOLA Dave has worked for various outdoor education providers in HK, UK and around the world, notably Outward Bound Hong Kong as an instructor, and as the Senior Expedition Manager and Leader for a youth expedition company. A competent sea-kayaker, qualified mountain leader and wilderness first aider, he's keen to pass this passion on as Head of Outdoor Learning through the outdoor education programs at ICHK. Most recently his Masters dissertation on The Impacts of the Pandemic to HK's OAE sector, has led him to form the HK Outdoor Learning Association.

The role of outdoor learning in a world AI This session discusses the vital importance of outdoor and experiential learning at this moment in human history, when AI and automation are shifting the landscape of employment and leisure. led by Toby Newton / ICHK Toby has worked in senior leadership in schools since 2002, initially in London and, since 2008, in Hong Kong. He joined ICHK as Deputy Head in 2012 and acted as Head of School for a year and a half before making the move permanent in 2016. Toby has been at the forefront of innovation around curriculum and pedagogy throughout his teaching career. While an Assistant Head in London, he wrote a new "learning to learn" course, widely feted by the local education authority, and which has been built on at his subsequent schools. At ICHK, Toby continues this focus on developing a truly 21st century education, supportive of learning for all students in a rapidly changing world, in which qualities of character and self-belief are so central to success

Play for Peace Workshop Cooperative play is a universal way for people to come together and learn. It creates a gateway to moments when differences are celebrated, friendships are created, and we see what connects us rather than what divides us. We use play as an experiential learning tool and a catalyst for inspiring people from different cultures to reach across barriers and boundaries. led by Ben Powrie / Ark Eden Ben is a seasoned educator and facilitator, having several years of experience as an English as a Second Language teacher and an outdoor education facilitator. He has been working at Ark Eden as lead facilitator since Summer 2023, and has undertaken training from Play For Peace trainers. He also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate and is training to be a Forest School leader.

Managing risk and expectations in the outdoors This session will involve focused group discussion on what we mean by 'RISK' on a commercial outdoor school program or out on a guiding day. It'll look at factors that dictate risk management and risk mitigation, as well as the external factors such as governance in Hong Kong.  led by Ashish Jonathan With over 20 years of experience in the outdoor education industry Ashish has worked in more than 6 different countries which include India, Nepal, USA, Hong Kong, UK and Thailand. With a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Education from Worcester, UK. He is the only active British Canoeing Assessor – Course Provider in Hong Kong. Being a LNT Master Educator, he is passionate about educating the local community about sustainability and conservation. As a mountain guide Ashish has climbed extensively in India, Nepal and the USA.

Session TBC

DigArb.hku.hk: A digital tool for local plant knowledge (& local walk) Have you ever been out and wanted to know more about the plants you are seeing? In this event, Gavin will introduce the ‘HKU Digital Arboretum’ (www.digarb.hku.hk) a planting and planting design teaching and learning resource featuring over 1000 plant and tree related videos mostly taken during Covid lockdown when field trips could not be conducted in person. It will also include a walk around ICHK's school garden, nature trail, and mangrove area. led by Gavin Scott Coates / HKU Gavin has worked in Hong Kong as a landscape architect and illustrator since 1982. Currently, he is a senior lecturer in the Division of Landscape Architecture at HKU, focusing primarily on planting design, landscape technology and biophysical systems. In 2016 he designed and co-taught a Common Core Course entitled ‘Nature in the City, Beyond the Concrete Jungle’ focusing on the relationship between humanity and nature – this course was rerun as a summer course from 2018 to 2021, and in 2023.He is also well known as a children’s book author and illustrator.

Session TBC

The role of self-determination on OAE programmes In her presentation, Dr. Blaine will share findings from a study that investigated the personal, social and environmental outcomes of an OBHK 5-day experience for adolescents in HK.  Compared to Australia, U.K. and US, there is very little published research from Hong Kong, which this study seeks to address. Research in outdoor education is invaluable in terms of not only investigating the efficacy of programmes, but also for guiding procedure and policy. Data collected from post-programme surveys remains an effective means of understanding what effect outdoor education has on our students, contributing hugely to effectiveness of outdoor education. led by Judy Blaine / JAEOL Dr. Judy Blaine, South African born and bred, has spent the past 28 years living and working in Hong Kong, where she raised her four children. Judy has a medical background and, after completing her BSc (hons) in Psychology, went on to do her PGDE in Special Education, Masters in Applied Psychology and PhD in Psychology.  Judy is a research fellow at both HKU and Rhodes University in South Africa. Much of her work and research focuses on psychosocial wellbeing, integrating empathy, equity, diversity, inclusion, nature connection, indigenous ways of knowing and social justice. Her contribution to academia over the past few years has included presenting at international conferences and publishing her research in peer-reviewed journals.