Join us at the 2025 BELL Experiential Learning and AEE Asia-Pacific Region Conference, held at The ISF Academy from February 12-16, 2025!
Experience the power of outdoor education, service learning, risk management, child safeguarding and athlete voice and wellbeing through our five core streams. Whether you are a teacher, in school management, an outdoor education professional, an industry provider or any other profession that works with children, this regional bilingual (ENG/CHI) conference is perfect for you.
Immerse yourself in the knowledge, experience and visions of four international experts and leaders in their profession who will deliver inspiring keynote presentations and workshops. Gain the opportunity to earn valuable international certification in a variety of fields including Risk Management, Wilderness First Aid, Sports Climbing, Mountain Biking and many more.
This is the first conference of its kind that provides you with the opportunity to expand your skills, network with like-minded professionals, and discover approaches to experiential learning. You will benefit from the presence of educators and industry pioneers who are passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your professional development and make a positive impact on your students and the community!
Registration will open soon.
Unlock your potential and become a leader in experiential learning!
Additional information regarding the certifications and accreditations mentioned in the “Conference at a Glance” will be provided once they are confirmed. It is important to note that the outlined schedule is subject to change as we finalize the details.
PRE-CONFERENCE – Wednesday, February 12 – Friday, February 14
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Internationally recognized certifications and accreditations
Risk Management for Outdoor Programs (Viristar)
Sports Climbing Level 1, 2 and 3 (International Federation of Sports Climbing Asia)
Wilderness First Aid (SOLO)
Mountain Bike Leader Level 1 and 2 (Mountain Bike Instructors’ Award Scheme)
Child Safeguarding
Bronze Medallion
Leave No Trace
Orienteering
Nature Adventure
WELCOME BANQUET – Friday, February 14
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Reception
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.: Banquet
We cordially invite you to join us on the evening of Friday, February 14, for an esteemed panel discussion on “The Advancement of Experiential Learning: We Journey Together.”
This special occasion presents a unique opportunity for you to gain knowledge and find inspiration from a distinguished group of experts, leaders, and innovators who are at the forefront of shaping the landscape of experiential learning.
We encourage you to participate in this enlightening event, where you will gain a broader understanding of ideas that have a profound impact on learning and organizational development. The focus will be on education, with particular attention given to the transformative effects of experiential learning in nurturing student character and values.
| Time | Day 1 – Saturday, February 15 | ||||
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Opening Ceremony, Wushu Performance | ||||
| 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Welcome Speech: Dr. Malcolm Pritchard | ||||
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Keynote Address: Mr. Tim Gerrish – Child Safeguarding | ||||
| Streams | Child Safeguarding | Risk Management | Outdoor Education | Service Learning | Athlete Voice and wellbeing |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Dr. Clare Dallat | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Cathryn Berger Kaye Advancing Service Learning in schools | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Dr. David Marsden | T.B.C. Athlete Voice and Wellbeing Workshop | |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | LUNCH | ||||
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Keynote Address: Dr. David Marsden – Outdoor Education | ||||
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Cathryn Berger Kaye Advancing Service Learning in schools | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Mr. Tim Gerrish Child Safeguarding Workshop | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | |
| 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | COCKTAIL RECEPTION | ||||
| Time | Day 2 – Sunday, February 16 | ||||
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Keynote Address: Dr. Clare Dallat – Risk Management | ||||
| Streams | Child Safeguarding | Risk Management | Outdoor Education | Service Learning | Athlete Voice and Wellbeing |
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Dr. David Marsden | Cathryn Berger Kaye Advancing Service Learning in schools | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Mr. Tim Gerrish Child Safeguarding Workshop | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | T.B.C. Athlete Voice and Wellbeing Workshop | |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | LUNCH | ||||
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Keynote Address: T.B.C. – Athlete Voice and Wellbeing | ||||
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Dr. Clare Dallat | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks | Workshops AEE Activate mini talks |
| 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Keynote Address: Ms. Cathryn Berger Kaye – Service Learning | ||||
The Call for Presenters is now open for the 2025 BELL Experiential Learning and AEE Asia-Pacific Region Conference. We are actively seeking presenters who specialize in the fields of Outdoor Education, Risk Management, Child Safeguarding, and Athlete Voice and Wellbeing. This is an exceptional opportunity for professionals like yourself to share your expertise and contribute to the advancement of these important areas.
The Call for Presenters will remain open until September 30, 2024. We encourage you to visit the conference website to familiarize yourself with the event’s content and immerse yourself in the conference theme of Experience and Excellence. As you explore the website, consider a topic that will captivate and engage your peers, providing them with valuable insights and knowledge.
It’s important to note that, at this stage, you are only required to submit an application with a concise title and description of your proposed presentation. There is no need to provide the full presentation at this time. This approach allows you the flexibility to outline your ideas and intentions while having ample time until the end of the calendar year to prepare your actual presentation. This ensures that you can deliver a well-prepared and impactful session that showcases your expertise.
We strongly encourage you to seize this opportunity and embrace the challenge of presenting at this prestigious event. By sharing your knowledge and experiences, you have the chance to make a significant impact and contribute to the professional growth of your peers. Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact [email protected]. Their team will be more than happy to assist you with any inquiries regarding the application process or registration.
Register now and take the first step toward making a meaningful impact on the conference attendees.
When asked “Where do you live?” Cathryn Berger Kaye often answers “in Los Angeles and airports.” As president of CBK Associates, she has traveled throughout the United States and globally, providing conference keynotes, in-depth institutes, and school on-site consultations with tailored education and learning resources. Her expertise spans service learning, intercultural understanding, social and emotional learning, creative curriculum design, youth engagement and leadership, effective teacher strategies, and environmental sustainability, all towards infusing social justice into the mainstream of education. Her work is highly engaging while exemplifying best teaching practices. She consulted extensively with the International Baccalaureate Organization as a lead co-author of the Diplomma Programme CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) Guide with additional influence on the Middle Years Programme and the Career-Related Programme.
A former teacher, Cathryn engages participants and collaborators with practical ideas that work, poignant stories worth remembering, and strategies that enliven teaching and learning. With years of experience in diverse settings—including teaching in rural, suburban and urban schools—she knows the importance of a community’s landscape. By visiting schools in 63 countries, she has a deep appreciation for all the dedicated educators who care deeply about our children and our world. She is known for sustained relationships that build internal capacity for excellence.
She is the author of The Complete Guide to Service Learning and two books with environmental advocate Philippe Cousteau, Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Earth’s Ocean, Lakes, Rivers & Wetlands and Make a Splash! A Kid’s Guide to Saving Earth’s Ocean, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands. She has also written a series of Kid’s Guides tackling the subjects of climate change and global warming, hunger and homeless, reading, protecting and caring for animals. Her first published book, Word Works–Why the Alphabet is a Kid’s Best Friend , was written to keep the joy of writing alive for children.
Dr. David Marsden’s journey in outdoor education, stretching over three decades, traces back to his formative adventures in the wilderness regions of South Eastern Australia. These early explorations ignited his passion, setting the stage for a career that started as a technical instructor and evolved into an outdoor educator, academic, consultant, and executive. Along the way, Dave has worked closely with a diverse array of age groups and cultural backgrounds, guiding them through immersive experiences rooted in slow and wild pedagogies.
Currently serving as Executive Director at The Outdoor Education Group, Dave spearheads initiatives that annually connect 35,000 young Australians with the natural world. Supported by a dedicated team of over 250 outdoor education professionals, he champions transformative experiences that foster a deep appreciation for nature. Dave’s doctoral research developed a framework to identify and enhance the knowledge and skills gained by pre-service outdoor educators through practical experience.
Dave’s influence extends beyond his organisational leadership, reaching into advocacy roles. Currently, he serves on the board of Outdoors Victoria and holds the position of deputy chair on the National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness advisory group. In these roles, he promotes outdoor education and time in nature as a means to foster genuine human care and environmental stewardship.
Inspired by outdoor education’s unparalleled capacity to cultivate meaningful connections, Dave remains committed to empowering others through transformative outdoor experiences.
Tim Gerrish O.B.E. is a highly committed and commended International Child Protection specialist with extensive experience in advising on child safeguarding risk management issues and investigations. He specializes in advising international school leaders, conducting audits and evaluations as well as developing and delivering top class training on child safeguarding for international schools and high-profile organizations all around the world. Tim is an accredited consultant to the Council of International Schools (CIS), and Federation of British International Schools in SE Asia (FOBISIA). He is a proactive leader and trainer who is passionate about building partnerships in an effort to ensure children are better protected globally.
Background
Tim is Founder and Director of International Child Protection Advisors (ICPA) Ltd, www.icpa.co.uk, his background is in law enforcement with 30 years experience as a detective with Scotland Yard in London. He was also head of the UK’s National Criminal Intelligence Service Serious Sex Offender unit before working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP). At CEOP his role was Head of International Partnerships, working with international schools, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies and child protection practitioners overseas. He has extensive experience of working with schools and other organizations within Southern and Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, South America, and numerous other places around the world.
Honours and Awards
Dr Clare Dallat is based in Melbourne, Australia and is the Director of Risk Resolve. She has a PhD in Human Factors (Accident Prediction), an MSc. in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Transformational Leadership in Education, and is a Chartered Professional in Occupational Health and Safety.
Clare has over 25 years of professional experience in risk and safety across multiple domains, including outdoor and experiential education, the public sector, international tourism, and elite sport. Clare’s journey into the field of risk and safety wasn’t a traditional one. It was sparked by a deeply personal workplace tragedy at the age of 23. From that pivotal moment, she has blended her extensive real-world experience with evidence-based research in safety science, all while maintaining a practical and human-centered approach.
Clare has led over 100 complex risk and safety projects and reviews for State and Federal governments, regulators, and organisations across Australia, and internationally. She is an Adjunct Industry Research Fellow within the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at The University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and was the first person outside of North America to be presented with the prestigious Reb Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award. This award recognizes her leadership, innovation, and service to international wilderness risk and safety management. As an academic, practitioner and natural storyteller, Clare’s approach emphasises curiosity and meaningful collaboration over box-ticking, offering a refreshing and much needed perspective on improving safety in workplaces worldwide.
Certification Name | Organization | Course Description and Details |
Sport Climbing 1-2 | International Federation of Sport Climbing Asia |
Dates: February 12, 13, 14 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (1-hour lunch) 8 hours of instruction per day = 24 hours in total Fee: USD300 per person Note that BELL will charge an additional 10% on top of the course fee to cover sundry costs Venue: Shek Pik Experiential Learning Centre, Lantau Island AND/OR ISF Academy. Please confirm if this venue is suitable and type of setup you wish to have. WiFi: available at ISF only |
Wilderness First-Aid | The WFA is 16 hours long (two days), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies. Dates: February 12-13 / 13-14 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (1-hour lunch) 8 hours of instruction per day = 16 hours in total Fee: USD60 for WFA certification + USD20 for CPR & AED certification per person Venue: indoor and outdoor space WiFi: available at ISF only | |
Risk Management for Outdoor Programs – TRAINING (no certificate) | Viristar | Risk Management Training: Course Subjects Human Factors in Incident Causation Duration: 3 day Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (1-hour lunch) 8 hours of instruction per day = 24 hours in total Fee: USD479 + 30% for conference organizer fees (i.e. USD 684 in total) Venue: indoor and outdoor space WiFi: available at ISF only |
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
This session presents a compelling argument for the role of outdoor learning in developing empathy, care, and a sense of connectedness among participants. It highlights current innovative practices that emphasize these values and explores the psychological and social benefits of fostering such traits through outdoor experiences. By envisioning the future role of outdoor education in addressing societal challenges, the presentation showcases successful programs as models for how care, empathy, and compassion can be integrated into educational practices. The session concludes by underscoring outdoor education’s potential to inspire a more empathetic, connected, and compassionate global community. Nurturing care and compassion through outdoor education supports educators in aligning programs to the UN’s Global Goals for education, sustainable development and global citizenship, and curriculum frameworks such as the International Baccalaureate.
Dr. David Marsden has dedicated over three decades to outdoor education, beginning with his formative experiences in the wilderness of South Eastern Australia. As Executive Director at The Outdoor Education Group, he leads efforts to connect 35,000 young Australians with nature each year, supported by a skilled team of 250 professionals. His doctoral research has significantly advanced the field by creating a framework to enhance the skills and knowledge of pre-service outdoor educators. Dr. Marsden also promotes the benefits of outdoor education and its safe delivery through his roles with Outdoors Victoria and the National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness.
Today, as outdoor education occupies a critical role in a rapidly evolving educational landscape, it is poised to impact students and environmental sustainability significantly. Educational organisations worldwide are developing frameworks to maximise the transformative potential of outdoor environments. Yet, challenges persist in crafting inclusive, effective, and sustainable programs that meet global educational standards and adapt to local cultural contexts.
The demand for quality outdoor education is growing, driven by a diverse student body in need of skills like environmental stewardship, health, wellbeing, and social and emotional competencies. This need is met by innovative outdoor programs that foster resilience, teamwork, and leadership in natural settings.
This presentation will explore the role of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in enhancing the outdoor education sector. It will detail the process of establishing effective CoPs, using real-world examples to demonstrate their impact on the quality and scope of outdoor education programs. A specific case study involving collaborations between government, educational institutions, and industry leaders in Victoria, Australia, will highlight the potential of these partnerships.
The goal of this address is to provide a clear roadmap for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop a connected and robust outdoor education community, equipping learners to navigate and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Research shows that most foreseeable risks in adventurous activities are situated in the planning and preparation tasks often conducted well before getting into the canoe or the first kick of the ball (Dallat et al., 2018). By getting the management of these critical tasks right, we are much better placed to achieve the desired safety, quality, and educational outcomes from participation in these important activities. In this practical workshop, we’ll share a framework that will support you to evaluate your own risk profile, and where necessary, evolve your own planning and preparation systems for out-of-the-classroom activities. Designed for anyone involved in out-of-the-classroom activities, including third-party providers, senior and middle managers, teachers and coaches, this session will provide valuable, take-home, research-informed insights.
Clare will present a range of emerging themes, trends and insights from the risk and safety management practices of organizations around the world. Based on the insights from conducting over 100 multi-day risk and safety reviews of experiential programs, she will demonstrate how emerging trends, ironically designed to enhance safety performance, may in fact, be constraining it.