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The World Ride |
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Exploration, Geography and Children When the parents of ten-year-old Bernadette Murray (above) set out in 1971 to ride with their young three children from Mexico to Canada they could never have foreseen that this 2500 mile family journey would one day serve as an example of the cross-pollination which occurs when you mix exploration and education. As Little Long Riders like Bernadette, Collette and Barry Murray prove, horses do far more for children than just provide the vigorous physical exercise which combats obesity, improves balance and increases a child’s focus. Riding also inspires a sense of self-confidence, which in turn lays the groundwork for academic achievement. When children saddle up for success the results are startling. The educational mission of the World Ride is designed to: - ride to at least one classroom in each country so as to include the children along the route - provide free lectures about the relationship between geography, exploration and horses - work with teachers to establish a series of internet linked classrooms - challenge educational convention, inspire personal confidence, encourage exploration and instill equestrian excitement in the world’s school children. Contact us if you are: - a student interested in learning about horses, exploration and geography - a teacher who would like to link your class to the World Ride - an educator who would like more information on the World Ride educational effort - an academic publisher who would like to participate or - an internet educational institution with ideas about global tutoring Sceptics may argue that Basha and CuChullaine O’Reilly stand little chance of encouraging a generation to take to the saddle and explore Earth. Yet history demonstrates that one person’s passion for exploration and education can indeed change the course of events. This occurred in the fifteenth century when Prince Henry of Portugal established the world’s first school for explorers. At Sagres, on the southwestern tip of Europe, he brought together geographers, cartographers, instrument-makers, astronomers, and mathematicians. The institute was designed to teach navigation, to collect geographical data, invent seafaring equipment and to sponsor expeditions. Although Prince Henry never sailed on any of his expeditions, he is credited with instigating the Age of Discovery. Unlike Henry, who inspired but did not travel, Basha and CuChullaine will lead from the saddle.
Though Prince Henry stayed ashore physically, nevertheless he proved that each of us must muster the courage to cross our personal ocean of doubt if we are to reach the destination of wisdom on the far side. Long Riders like the O’Reillys know about the trials of such a journey. During their previous equestrian explorations, they have been humbled by hardship, gained wisdom via adversity and learned that regardless of where they rode, their horses were the key to the global village. Yet it was Sweden’s celebrated explorer and Long Rider, Mikael Strandberg, who warned, “We need more attention on little-known local people and their culture and less on the eternal quest for personal heroics.” That is why the World Ride is designed not just to excite, but to educate, and why the O’Reillys will be following the theme set by citizen explorers such as Jonathan Swift, Lord Byron and Oscar Wilde, whose equestrian journeys, and books, influenced generations of riders and readers. This need to mix education with exploration was noted in a recent interview in Wired magazine, when film maker, turned deep-sea explorer, James Cameron warned, “Exploration is not a luxury. It defines us as a civilization…. Where will we be in 20 years if we don’t inspire kids?” The question then is, how do you make geographic education appealing to children? The answer is you bring the travels of the Long Riders, that open air nation of equestrian explorers, into the classroom via the internet.
Two names provide inspirational symbols of cutting-edge academic achievement by Long Riders in the field of educational exploration. In 1927, the Swedish Long Rider, Sven Hedin, fielded the largest and most complex scientific expedition ever assembled. Nicknamed the “Travelling University,” the accomplishments of this journey into the deserts of western China are still being studied today. Then in 1982 British Long Rider, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, led the Royal Geographical Society’s largest expedition. Known as the Mulu expedition, Robin led 140 scientists into the virgin rainforest of Borneo, the results of which launched global concern for protecting rainforests. During their global journey, Basha and CuChullaine will ride to 11 classrooms, one in each country, to visit the children along the route of the World Ride. One of their aims will be to encourage global dialogue between these young horse-lovers by emphasising what they have in common. Photographs of the World Riders with each class of children will be posted on the website, together with information about that country’s traditions, culture and history, thereby making geography an exciting and fun subject for this new generation of Little Long Riders. Basha and CuChullaine are working to formulate a special Internet-based educational programme which will link the classrooms chosen to participate in this historic equestrian event. Children will thus be encouraged to, “Read the books, get in the saddle, and explore the World.” Yet even if you can’t get in the saddle, you can at least get on the Net.
The internet is already revolutionizing education. With 90% of four-year public American schools offering some form of online education, the question you have to ask is not who is offering internet learning, but who isn’t. Yet while the internet is a vital tool in today’s global educational enlightenment, it can also be used to promote a peaceful mission. In addition to providing on-going information, The World Ride website will allow school children from around the world to learn about the expedition over the internet, to address questions directly to the Long Riders, and to communicate with each other. Though these are worthy goals, and while the internet provides unlimited opportunities for cultural development, Basha and CuChullaine are determined to promote the value of one subject above all others - Geography.
The World Ride website serves as an invisible gateway to adventure, one which allows school children to follow the progress of the equestrian explorers via live web-cam reports, receive regular written news updates and view extraordinary photos taken from the saddle in all kinds of weather across an exciting variety of countries. It will also demonstrate that equestrian explorers like the O’Reillys are dependent upon their knowledge of geography. A series of alarming news stories highlights the need to emphasize this topic. It was reported that one in five British children under the age of 14 could not find the United Kingdom on a map of the world. Despite Iraq dominating the headlines in recent years, 86 percent of British children failed to locate it. Adding to these worrying discoveries is the news that British teachers are avoiding field trips due to health and safety concerns. By incorporating the internet into classrooms, The World Ride connects students to each other via the topic of geographical discovery. The result encourages global geographic literacy. Yet students cannot cross cultural boundaries between classrooms, exchange ideas, nor participate in the dawning of an age of electronic democracy, without the encouragement and guidance of their teachers.
In addition to being one of Britain’s leading scientists, Baroness Susan Greenfield, has been described as “the people’s peer.” Thus a cautionary note from this academic leader has multiple implications. “Having the right stuff in the twenty-first century means being able to understand the world about you and learning to put aside our prejudices and preconceptions,” Greenfield said. Because intellectual freedom grows best in diversity, teachers should encourage students to become cultural explorers who discover and communicate with each other. Thus, if the next generation of students is to understand and address the complex problems facing our planet, then educators must be willing to encourage courage and curiosity. The World Ride is one such VLE – virtual learning environment – which emphasizes personal and academic exploration. But this will only occur with the participation of teachers, educators and influential academic bodies. By linking Earth’s horse-loving children in a collective mounted global experience, the World Ride becomes a project designed to inspire a new generation of explorers, geographers and researchers.
Children 12 years or younger can become Members of the Little Long Riders' Club! Contact us if you are: - a student interested in learning about horses, exploration and geography - a teacher who would like to link your class to the World Ride - an educator who would like more information on the World Ride educational effort - an academic publisher who would like to participate or - an internet educational institution with ideas about global tutoring then please email us. |
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