As a teacher, I often reflect on my time as a student, trying to remember what it was like for me at the age I now teach. Recently, when presenting a session on outdoor learning for the Institute for Outdoor Learning Global Conference. I decided to start with a story.
On Friday, shortly after dismissing my class, I grabbed a couple of coffees, threw on a fresh hoodie, fixed the hair and went straight into presenting my seminar on developing and facilitating an outdoor learning programme for my primary school organisation. My aim was to speak from the heart, sharing
A lovely colleague recently said to me: “You are authentic.” I initially didn’t think much of it, but then I realised what a genuine compliment it was. It made me wonder: Has this always been the case? Finding My Strengths When I first started teaching, I often followed every new
It’s been three years since I was diagnosed with ADHD, and it has been a game changer. My greater understanding of ADHD allowed me to identify my biggest challenges in teaching and seek help (ongoing process). What I have been working on 🌱I’ve been working on building my organisational skills
Six and a half years ago, I took a leap of faith and moved to the Netherlands by myself. Why? Before this, I had lost my direction after moving back to Scotland from Malaysia. After living abroad with my partner at the time, I just couldn’t quite fit back into
I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be a speaker at the Institute for Outdoor Learning global conference on November 21st! I’ve been a huge fan of their work for a long time, and it’s an honour to be part of such a great event. I’ll be talking about #outdoorlearning
For the past two years, I’ve been sharing my experiences teaching children outdoors. I now feel confident in sharing this because of my 11 years of teaching experience, my MSc Outdoor Education that I completed alongside my practical experience. Even with this background, I still try to avoid using prescriptive
After being diagnosed with ADHD three years ago, I embarked on a journey to better understand how my brain works. This path included coaching, therapy, a neurodiversity coaching certification course, and a lot of reading—something I had to work hard to do. As a teacher, this personal journey has inspired
When working as an outdoor learning specialist across four international schools (Early Years to Year 6, for three years!), I led countless forest excursions for curriculum-linked tasks. My initial thought? Every child would be thrilled! But the reality wasn’t always that simple. I remember my confusion when some kids didn’t
I often get asked about my approach to learning outdoors. While I’m advocate for hands-on discovery with natural materials, I’ve also enjoyed combining edtech—specifically, the iPad. I find it a useful tool for bridging the gap between the outdoors and the classroom, creating an engaging experience for learners. Here’s how
Our Edinburgh University Outdoor Education MSc cohort recently celebrated our 15-year anniversary, a testament to the powerful community we built and the enduring love for nature that brought us together. Looking back on my time at the University of Edinburgh, one of the best years of my life was spent
I am thrilled to have presented my Wild STEM Outdoor Learning workshop at the ECIS, the Educational Collaborative for International Schools Outdoor Learning Conference 2025! What a truly memorable and wonderful experience connecting with so many inspiring educators passionate about outdoor learning. I was absolutely overjoyed and humbled by the