"That you may grow up to be good and respectable people!" Educational strategies and methods in the work of Jaroslav Foglar

Abstract Experiential education takes many forms and uses a diverse range of methods. This paper focuses on the work of the Czech writer and educator Jaroslav Foglar and conveys his concept of experiential education, with the broader purpose being to introduce Foglar and his work to the international academic community. We aim to describe, explain and document the contribution Foglar made to experiential education and focus on the key educational strategies and methods that have been in use ever since, especially in leisure education, outdoor education and in innovative schools. In the empirical part of the paper, using a questionnaire ( n = 1174), our research is trying to map which areas inspired by this literary work influenced respondents in their broader lives. More than 80% of the respondents felt influenced by Foglar and found in his work a sort of role model for their actions and behaviour. Over 50% of the respondents also perceived his work as an educational inspiration. We pay particular attention to the sub-group of educators (one part of the research sample) who showed a statistically significant difference in the extent to which they appreciated Foglar’s educative potential. They especially appreciate the way Foglar’s work stresses the importance of behaviour ethics, relationship to nature and bonds built within a peer group.