Project Assistant：SHEN,CHENG-HAN

　　Commissioned by the K-12 Education Administration of the Ministry of Education, the Taiwan Marine Education Center of National Taiwan Ocean University organized the “Cherish the Present, Create a Better Tomorrow: 2024 Outdoor Education Annual Conference.” This year’s conference centered on the theme “A Decade of Outdoor Education Footprints,” celebrating and reviewing the development and progress of outdoor education. Through various activities, the event emphasized the value of outdoor education and highlighted its achievements over the last decade.

　　On November 18, 2024, a declaration ceremony and an award presentation ceremony were held at Zhongshan Hall Plaza in Taipei City. In the opening speech, Deputy Minister of Education Wan-Chien Chang Liao remarked, “Curiosity is a child’s nature, and exploration is an instinct of life. Taiwan’s diverse natural environments, rich history, and cultural heritage offer abundant learning opportunities. Outdoor education enables academic knowledge to be applied in real-world settings, fostering deeper understanding and inspiring holistic development in children.” Certificates of appreciation were subsequently presented to the co-organizers of the conference: Vice President Ming-An Lee, National Taiwan Ocean University; Chief Secretary Ming-Chou Kuo, Taichung City Government; and Director Chuan-Chin Chiao, National Museum of Natural Science.

　　The first half of the event featured the declaration ceremony—“Outdoor Education Declaration 3.0,” which envisioned the future with the theme “Advancing Learning for Social Sustainability: Creating Healthy, Equitable, and Inclusive Outdoor Education for All.” Representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Culture jointly launched the “Outdoor Education 3.0 Train,” symbolizing the steady advancement of outdoor education. The building blocks carried by the train cars symbolized unity and collaboration among the ministries. Over 200 participants from government ministries, civic organizations, schools, and academic institutions attended the event, expressing a shared commitment to promoting outdoor education nationwide. The initiative seeks to normalize outdoor education in schools and foster a society centered on health, equity, common good, and sustainable development.

　　The second half of the event featured the award presentation ceremony. Since 2021, the Ministry of Education has been recognizing exceptional contributions to outdoor education by presenting the “Outstanding Achievement in Outdoor Education Award,” honoring local governments, schools, and educators for their sustained efforts. In 2024, a new award category—“Group Contribution Award”—was introduced to encourage collaborative efforts between organizations and schools in developing outdoor education curricula. Deputy Minister Chang Liao presented the “2024 Outstanding Achievement in Outdoor Education Award” to 37 recipients, acknowledging their successful implementation of outdoor education policies. These awardees exemplified how resource integration can enhance educational diversity and support for students.

　　For a complete list of award recipients, please visit the Ministry of Education’s Outdoor Education Resource Platform: https://outdoor.moe.edu.tw/home/news/read.php?newsType=&newsID=790