When we talk about training staff the ultimate purpose is to change something about how they work. It's more than running through a familiar set of activities — it’s about creating deliberate change in the people we are training. This article explores a strategy that begins with the end in mind.

HKOLA is actively participating in a collaboration with Civic Exchange and 15 other organizations, following the release of the report "Building on the Learning for a Green Future." This partnership aims to envision the ideal green school and to advance climate and environmental education within Hong Kong's educational landscape.

As you prepare to lead an outdoor education program, one of the key considerations you’ll face is the role of smartphones among your students. These devices can be a double-edged sword, offering both valuable opportunities and potential distractions. Here’s a balanced guide to help you navigate this technology in your programs.

As stewards to natural places, HKOLA believes outdoor education organisations have a responsibility to act in a way that ensures our impact is minimised and our actions are sustainable for future generations to also enjoy. With this in mind, HKOLA has begun developing environmental standards for Hong Kong outdoor education providers to follow.

This article explores why contingency planning is vital, how to ensure Plan B holds equal value to Plan A, and how tools like the Cynefin Framework can help providers and clients alike build more resilient, adaptive programs.

Problems happen every day, everywhere—even in the comfort of your own kitchen. A little water pooling on your work surface might not seem like much, but it can reveal some very real lessons about how we approach challenges in everyday life. This is the story of how a puddle sparked a broader reflection on root causes and problem-solving, and why "firefighting" fixes are no substitute for addressing the source of an issue.

The HK Government has started a public consultation on Hong Kong's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). On behalf of our members, HKOLA also wrote to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to put forward our requests for consideration.

Organising the outdoor education camp for your students can be daunting. Here are some of the top considerations when choosing to work with a provider.

HKOLA is supporting an academic study that aims to shed light on the current state of Hong Kong's outdoor education sector, and provide...

When so much planning goes into the outdoor learning programme itself, it is important for educators to remember that the learning experience does not simply finish when the participant finishes the programme. This research study conducted in an international school in Hong Kong aims to identify the mechanisms in a school environment that would help students to transfer their learning from an outdoor adventure education programme back into their school and personal lives.

Change is tough. Whether in personal, professional, or organisational contexts, it often feels daunting to step away from the familiar and walk into the unknown. But here’s the fascinating part: people are more willing to embrace change when they’re reminded of what will stay the same. By offering a vision for continuity alongside a vision for change, resistance can transform into acceptance.

As summer approaches, it's time to say goodbye to our migratory bird friends, and hello to a new season of wildlife: our local snakes!

In "Where the Tides of Life Make Sense: Insights from Surfers in Hong Kong" Judith Blaine explores the remarkable ways surfing influences the lives of individuals and communities in Hong Kong. This article provides a short summary of the research paper.

When it comes to safeguarding, there’s no such thing as being too thorough. Yet, many organisations do not have a completely robust system in place. It’s time to take a closer look at what’s slipping through the cracks and how we can all step up to ensure safety while maintaining efficiency and fairness.

An insightful workshop on gender, LGBTQ+, and inclusivity in the outdoors. This session will deepen your understanding of gender dynamics and offer practical guidance for navigating these topics in various settings.

During Charlie's session, she will speak about the power of Forest School and playing in nature, and its contribution to fostering curiosity and resilience in children.

Adrian See Nov 30, 2024 In this workshop, participants will examine Bob Ryan’s “Spheres of Practice”. Originally designed for the Challenge Ropes Course, we will make use of it as a framework to help outdoor practitioners effectively navigate the complexities of mainstream common practices, standard operating procedures, and individual preferences. Participants examined practical scenarios in the outdoor industry, assessing how various decisions can be informed by the diff

Panel discussion at the HK Outdoor Learning Conference 2024. Experts Lye Yen Kai (Blackbox OE / Singapore Outdoor Adventure Education Council), Dave Addis (ICHK Secondary School), Holly Brigham and Dr Xoni Ma (OWLHK) speak on a variety of standards, workforce, wellbeing and advocacy.

What does it mean to be an outdoor professional? This session will ponder this crucial question and call upon the attendees to co-create their own definition for Hong Kong. On the way, it will look at what it means to be a professional in other nations, the benefits of being recognised as a professional, and the potential pathways that we could take in Hong Kong to achieving professional recognition.

As an outdoor instructor in Hong Kong, it's important to understand the differences between guidelines, standards and laws within the outdoor adventure education industry.