IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jenvss/v9y2019i3d10.1007_s13412-019-00559-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experiential learning in the natural environment: reflections from the North Pacific Ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Paul G. Harris

    (Education University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Experiential learning by students is a common feature of many Environmental Studies programs. But some teachers of Environmental Studies, especially those in the Humanities and Social Sciences, may have few opportunities to learn in similar ways. This article describes the author’s experiential learning about the environment while voyaging on the North Pacific Ocean in a small sailboat. The author learns firsthand about wind, waves, and sea; comes to appreciate the vitality and scarcity of potable water; witnesses some of the potential impacts of climate change on oceanic weather patterns; searches for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; looks for whales but finds albatrosses; experiences the many frailties of a human in the wild; and develops a new appreciation for Charles Darwin’s fortitude. Being on a very small boat in a very big sea—in this case, the biggest ocean on Earth—is not for the overly faint of heart. But there are compensations: heightened awareness and new understanding of the natural environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul G. Harris, 2019. "Experiential learning in the natural environment: reflections from the North Pacific Ocean," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 9(3), pages 276-280, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:9:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s13412-019-00559-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-019-00559-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13412-019-00559-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13412-019-00559-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:9:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s13412-019-00559-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.