ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8665-0770
Abstract
This paper presents findings from a study that explored the opportunities and limitations for change and development in the Outdoor Education & Training Centres/Services (OETCS) in Ireland. Several changes have occurred in the past 15 years that have potentially affected practices and programmes in the OETCS in Ireland. These include background structural changes in the local authorities that operate the centres, as well as the alignment of the centres with further (vocational) education. Rather than aiming to be representational, a post-qualitative analysis allowed for moments of interest, or glowings, to be drawn from the empirical materials (interviews with centre directors and surveyed staff/practitioners). These glowings are assembled and discussed across three lines—recognition and funding, staff and vision. The content of these sections may be useful in planning the future development of outdoor education in Ireland and further afield.
Disciplines
Education | Outdoor Education
DOI
10.1080/14729679.2026.2720074
Full Publication Date
17-8-2026
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Resource Type
research article
Resource Version
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
Access Rights
open access
Open Access Route
Hybrid Open Access
License Condition
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Pierce, J. (2026) ‘We hid in the wilderness: developments in Irish outdoor education’, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, pp. 1–17. doi: 10.1080/14729679.2026.2720074.
Publication Details
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning