Equilibrium’s manual on Experiential Education is based on the execution of a single project in which a proportion of the work was undertaken in rural areas.
It, nevertheless, contains a detailed section providing safety advice for those working with children and young adults in the outdoors and we recommend it as reading material for teachers and youth workers who are considering taking parties out of the larger towns or cities.
This brief guide deals with the issue of working within or in proximity to small, rural communities without having a negative impact on their day-to-day life. The author is a seasoned traveler and has worked in village environments in a number of countries thus developing an understanding of how to avoid damaging the integrity of self-contained but fragile cultures. Being British, he is also aware of the Countryside Code that applies in the UK as a means of encouraging people to respect both the natural environment and the rural way of life.