Outdoor school programs have evolved over the years, often reflecting changes in educational priorities, safety standards, and available resources. Here are a few reasons why the program your child is experiencing might differ from past versions:

1. Safety Concerns: Activities like bow practice and fire building come with inherent risks. Schools might minimize these activities to prevent accidents and ensure student safety, especially as legal and insurance concerns have become more prominent.
2. Educational Focus: There’s been a shift in some educational circles towards emphasizing environmental awareness and conservation over traditional survival skills. The curriculum might focus more on understanding ecosystems, observing wildlife, and learning about the impact of humans on nature.
3. Resource Limitations: Conducting a wide range of outdoor activities requires a significant amount of resources, including specialized equipment and trained staff. Budget cuts or logistical constraints might lead schools to streamline their programs to activities that require fewer resources, like hiking.
4. Regulatory and Policy Changes: Changes in school policies or local regulations might limit the types of activities that can be included in school programs. This could be due to environmental concerns, such as restrictions on fire building in certain areas to prevent wildfires.
5. Community and Parental Feedback: Schools often adapt their programs based on feedback from parents and the community. If there have been concerns about the safety or relevance of certain activities, schools might choose to modify their programs accordingly.

If you’re concerned about the changes in the outdoor school curriculum, it might be helpful to discuss these with the school administrators or the teachers organizing the program. They can provide specific reasons for the curriculum choices and might be open to incorporating more traditional skills if there’s enough interest and it’s feasible to do so safely.