"VIEWS FROM THE TOP"
Outdoor and Experiential Learning
Edited by Tracey Dickson, Tonia Gray, Bruce Hayllar

This books give voice to the diversity of perspectives and practices that exist in Australia and New Zealand - a result of the editors' professional experiences and professional development.

In an industry where, from an Australian perspective, the last major text book is more than 10 years old, this book explores new territory and paradigms from an Australian and New Zealand perspective.

This book aims to provide a place for people who are embedded in the Australian and New Zealand cultures to share their views and to critically reflect on an alternate body of writing to that originating from North America.

There is a significant absence of "other" perspectives on outdoor and experiential learning, with an almost unchallenged orthodoxy originating from North America, that has a tendency to prescribe model and methodology. This book aims to present alternative perspectives and insights gleaned from the the wealth of experience in Australia and New Zealand.

• It explores new territory and paradigms from an Australian and New Zealand perspective.
  
  
• From an Australian perspective, the last major textbook (edited by Keith McRae) is more than 10 years old. It is timely that we as a profession case a fresh eye over the contemporary issues that have emerged over the past decade.
  
  
• It is written from the perspective of Australian and New Zealand writers (most other material comes from North America)
  
  
• It is the first in a possible series that promotes the work of "other voices" from around the world.

As a complement to existing material this book assumes that the reader will have been exposed to other material presenting relevant theories. It also assumes they will have some grounding in outdoor and experiential learning methodology.

The articles in this volume include the leading writers, researchers and academics in the outdoor and experiential learning profession in Australia and New Zealand. Never before has there been a gathering of material from these authors as a way of promoting the depth of knowledge and experience in our region.