Harriet Hills

I am a 3rd year University student at Plymouth Marjon, studying BA (Hons) Outdoor Adventure Education.

Along with a degree in outdoor adventure education, I also have professional contacts within the sector and qualifications relevant to outdoor adventure. My beliefs and values are centred around concern for the environment and preserving our wild spaces for future generations. John Muir is one of my inspirations and someone who I aspire to be like. John Muir was a Scottish born man who lived in the USA and is most famous for convincing the US President Theodor Roosevelt sign the Yosemite grant in 1964; creating the first national park.

“Any fool can destroy trees…It took more than three thousand years to make some of [these] trees- trees that are still standing in perfect strength and beauty, waving and singing in the mighty forests. Through all the wonderful, eventful centuries … God has cared for these trees but he cannot save them from fools.”

-John Muir

 

 

In accordance with these values I view myself as an environmental educator; someone who focuses on creating an awareness and an understanding of environmental issues through developing a person’s critical thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills. Environmental issues are a highly relevant issue at the moment, I personally feel strongly for the environment and therefore wish to and believe it is my duty to continue to educate young people in this very poignant topic.

I also identify as being place based outdoor educator as I believe that a connection to the environmental surrounds is paramount to education and learning, a person who interrogates their teachings with place, the curriculum and the learner. I believe that it is our responsibility as educators to ensure that social issues are not forgotten or pushed aside during outdoor education sessions but rather embraced.

Whilst gaining my degree I have gained many graduate competencies including working as part of a successful team, I am good at making decisions and problem solving, communication and leadership skills. My interpersonal skills are that I am motivated to complete any tasks to the best of my abilities and pride myself in ensuring that they are completed in a timely manner, Im good at problem solving. I am a practical person and am extremely determined when applying myself to a task. Technical skills are skills that more directly relate to the participants trust in their outdoor leaders. My technical skills are that I hold qualifications in archery, have a level 1 challenge course qualification and am a qualified Leave No Trace practitioner. As well as this I also hold competencies in many different sports and disciplines of outdoor adventure education.