Featured on Lian He Zao Bao (联合早报) today!

“Due to the broad definition of Outdoor Adventure Education, the industry needs to be able to start off by aligning itself to a set of guidelines for both practitioners and providers inorder to grow our capabilities effectively. Private practitioners and providers look forward to gaining government support for our needs in professional development; and one of our immediate outreach is for Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education to berecognised as a profession and industry. We hope that while MOE continues its efforts to engage the industry players, we will also get support in other ways to elevate and sustain the profession as a whole.” 
- Nicole Chua
Asian Detours - Sales and Marketing Director 
Head of Marketing and Membership for the Outdoor Learning & Adventure Education Association (OLAE)

Much anticipation comes for the Outdoor Adventure Education private practitioners in the talks surrounding the National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan as we strive to carve a foothold for ourselves in the industry.

Featured practitioners and providers spoke of the importance of recognition, to level the playing field for all, and also to develop the Outdoor Adventure Education as a viable and rewarding career path. In the development of the Masterplan, it is also essential to engage various parties in the industry to formulate a set of official standards in Outdoor Adventure Education. The guidelines, together with improved dialogue between MOE and private practitioners, will ensure that individual providers are better equipped to supply and enhance their program offering, thus improving the standards of the industry as a whole.

Good news comes as MOE recognizes the need for inclusiveness in the Masterplan - to ensure that the feedback and concerns of the Outdoor Adventure Education private practitioners are taken into consideration.

Let us continue to make our voices heard!

MOE is glad that several service providers set up Outdoor Learning Adventure Education Association in February to share their expertise, agree on standards in the industry and raise the quality of programmes and staff competencies.

MOE met the president, Mr Lye and other members of the Outdoor Learning Adventure Education Association on April 4 together with the advisory panel for outdoor adventure learning.

MOE will continue to engage the association as we want to encourage quality service providers with competent staff and ensure the learning and safety of our students.

With our various partners, we can raise the quality and quantity of outdoor adventure learning programmes for our students' benefit

Liew Wei Li (Ms)
Divisional Director
Student Development Curriculum 
Division 
Ministry of Education

"Compared to private operators, who may rely on freelancers or temporary staff, the ministry said having a core of full-timers means it can set standards and inject new ideas when it comes to delivering quality outdoor education. “We need people who are competent and passionate, for instance, in teaching, you need competent and passionate teachers, in order to bring a subject to life. So, in the same way, we need some of these competent outdoor educators in order to role model for our students and to show the way about the 'adventure spirit'." said Dr Ho." One of OLAE's key mission is to ensure and provide a sustainable business environment and to develop viable career pathways for individual practitioner members and continue to attract and retain talent in the OLAE industry.

The association is working tirelessly in our discussions with stakeholders such as MOE and OBS to create pathways and establish new and continual opportunities for the industry contributors - both individual practitioners and orgnanizations.

Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education Association was formed by members who agree that there is a need to establish industry-wide best practices for safety, operations and training. It is paramount for the industry players to keep pace with the changing outdoor education market and it is our responsibility to help clients and participants to be aware and educated on what constitutes safe and meaningful outdoor education programmes. There exists a considerable breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in the industry and this valuable resource needs to be better exploited.

Read more about OLAE's first feature on Channel News Asia.