Thoughts on Hiking Trailers for OBS

[Originally posted on Facebook, 10 May 2019]



An article appeared in the Straits Times on 17 Mar 2019 titled "Teens getting too soft? Student campers at OBS with trolleys spark debate"
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/student-campers-with-trolleys-spark-debate [Sorry, there is a paywall so the full article is inaccessible if you don't subscribe to the Straits Times.]

With regard to the introduction of hiking trailers into some Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) programmes, it was unfortunate that the media coverage left OBS somewhat on the back foot. It was also unfortunate that the journalist incorporated the word 'trolleys' (which brings its own set of connotations) when she could have just simply stuck to the correct term from the outset.

In Singapore’s tiny outdoor education landscape, it is perhaps unavoidable that OBS, as the largest outdoor education provider, is perceived as a leader in programme design and delivery. In this regard, the effects of any decision OBS makes regarding programme safety or quality are far-reaching and opinions that support or detract are to be expected. The introduction of technology such as the hiking trailers also reflects the Singapore government’s consistent drive to seek innovation in pursuit of efficiency and quality.

I think many would agree with me when I say that, where outdoor education is used as a tool to help inculcate positive personal values, the use of technology needs to be sensitively incorporated. A simplistic example might be the use of GPS to aid in navigation in an urban setting. Turn-by-turn instructions issued by the GPS obviates the need for participants to interpret information and make decisions.

OBS has stated that the hiking trailers enable greater inclusivity in participant profile and participation, and also may allow participants to experience greater levels of challenge e.g longer distances can be covered. I have no issue with these aims; I especially support the former.

As someone who is interested in outdoor education programme design, and given that the trailers will be implemented soon, these thoughts entered my mind:

• Expeditions involve much planning and decision-making - since the trailer can take more items (and concomitantly, weight), will there be fewer opportunities for participants to practice such behaviours?
• Back in the day, a key theme propounded to both OB participants and instructors was ‘back to basics’. How will using the hiking trailer jibe/conflict with this, assuming it is still an important philosophy?
• Practically speaking, any kind of equipment, under heavy use, will malfunction. Will participants be taught how to perform basic repairs? Or are the instructors - burdened as they are with time, participant and activity pressures - expected to perform them? Often, faulty or damaged equipment can overshadow or even negate the learning benefit of the programme or expedition. Conversely, if it were possible to send replacement equipment at short notice with the aim of reducing programme downtime, this may also deprive participants of other potential learning moments e.g dealing with setbacks or making the best out of an undesirable situation. This is especially so in Singapore, where we have been acculturated to expect things to ‘just work’.
• How will this impact the broader outdoor education industry? Will clients demand similar technology from the smaller players? The investment outlay would be considerable. I personally know of one company which received a request from a school to deliver cycling expedition programmes, similar to that which OBS provides. Apart from the cost of acquiring equipment, and ensuring that Land Transport Authority guidelines are adhered to, one can only imagine how the Park Connectors might look like, what with participants on expedition using hiking trailers, bicycles with trailers/panniers, kickbikes with trailers and who knows what other modes of transport... I can well imagine that the response from LTA, PUB and NParks regarding increased usage of their respective domains would be decidedly lukewarm.

Perhaps the next time OBS decides to introduce or pioneer an innovation, it might do well to ensure the desired messaging gets through first.

[The above are just my thoughts - I am not commenting on whether the hiking trailers are a good idea or otherwise.]