Ecopsychology Course Spaces Available

David Key & Mary-Jayne Rust who are running our Power of Wild Places workshop in June 2007 advise us that they have spaces available on their Ecopsychology Course. This may be of interest to members of The Wilderness Foundation UK.

Two rare places have become available on the extremely popular ecopsychology course. Due to changed circumstances two people have reluctantly had to drop out - and the people on the waiting list no-longer have space in their diaries.

If you'd like to participate in the UK's first continuing professional development course in Ecopsychology, take a look at the website for details of content, timing and costs:

http://www.che.ac.uk/mambo/content/view/179/188

and to book a place please contact Osbert Lancaster as soon as possible. osbert.lancaster@che.ac.uk

Please mention The Wilderness Foundation UK when responding.

Get out into the Wilderness and Boost your Self-Esteem!

Jo Peacock, University of Essex, reports:

The Wilderness Foundation and the University of Essex are collaborating on a piece of ongoing research which explores the heath benefits derived from participating in wilderness trails.

Many different groups of young people have taken part in the trips, including Norfolk army cadets and members from Envision and Clouddog. Since collaboration began, 44 people (29.5% male and 70.5% female) have participated in these wilderness trails in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales and Imfolozi Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. The trips have involved a variety of activities, such as camping, back packing and hiking, story telling, observing wildlife, cooking, campcraft, conservation volunteering and learning about the environment.
All participants were requested to complete a questionnaire immediately before and after participating in a trail, so that we could identify any changes in their self-reported self-esteem levels. There was also an opportunity for participants to express their feelings concerning the special moments of the trip, in addition to rating the enjoyment levels of various aspects of the trail.

Participating in the wilderness trails significantly enhanced individuals’ self-esteem, and therefore improved their psychological well-being. Figure 1 highlights the overall positive change in self-esteem, with values improving from 18.1 to 15.8 (the lower the value, the higher the self-esteem).
The beauty of the scenic environment was a fundamental part of the experience and a lot of enjoyment was also derived from interacting with the wildlife and spending time outside in the fresh air. The narrative consistently referred to the enjoyment of forming a “great team” and establishing new and special friendships, so the social element was an important part of the experience (see Box 1). The personality of the group leaders were a notable influence and the trail enabled participants to feel very connected to their surrounding natural environment. So, it appears that spending time in the natural wild environment can help to re-connect you with nature as well as to each other and this compelling bond can empower and inspire you.

What was Special? Comments from Participants

“Looking at things from a different perspective, in particular looking at life overall in a more positive way. Also, it was most special to find out about others within the group and forming special friendships. Overall, it was special simply because I had not dreamt of having such an opportunity”

“Meeting new people was fantastic as was getting away from the pressures of modern life”

“Having no sense of time and being able to enjoy it all without being stuck to a time structure. Seeing animals in their natural environments”

“The way a group naturally bonds together to support each other. To acknowledge humans can live comfortably without spoiling the environment.”

“I found it an amazing new experience being away from a large city environment. Having to experience this on such a personal level really brought home how much I'm missing and reminds me to take time out for similar things.”

“I thought Rob [the guide] was very special. His knowledge and ability to pass on his experience and knowledge is a fantastic skill. I also have made some very good friends here. I learnt that people are supportive and caring even in a tough situation. It was an invaluable experience that I feel privileged to have been a part of “

“I found the interaction between the different plant and animal species including humans a special part of my experience. Furthermore, I found the opportunity that allowed me to understand the wilderness is special. Most of all the knowledge I have gained and friendships that I have made special”

“The experience taught me immense amounts about myself and the world I live in. It was absolutely amazing, and I think I am beginning to understand the world and my place within it”

Member Profile: Graham Game

Our membership is drawn from a variety of fields including explorers, environmentalists, ecologists, conservationists but also psychologists and other practicioners not to mention people who simply have a passion for Wilderness. Here, in a new occassional series, we'll be profiling some of our particularly active members.

Graham Game, a professional environmentalist for 30 years, has worked on a wide range of campaigns and projects for organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Green Network and The Wildlife Trusts. In the 1990's he was involved with The All Party Parliamentary Environment Group at Westminster, has been an elected Councillor, a prolific public speaker, facilitator and lecturer, and has written countless articles for a wide variety of publications, and contributed to many broadcast programmes in the UK and USA.

While working for The Wildlife Trusts, Graham was involved with many innovative projects including the creation and management of Europe's largest coastal re-alignment scheme to mitigate some of the effects of sea-level rise and climate change on the East coast of England, and he was instrumental in the partnership with The Royal Horticultural Society, and the Wild About Gardens project which included the new book "Wildlife Gardening for Everyone".

In 2005, having secured sponsorship from a major brand, he project-managed The Wildlife Trusts' Show Garden at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show which won a Silver Award, and came runner-up in the BBC Peoples Choice Award. He has been described in his local press as "One of Britains most experienced Environmentalists", and in 2005 The Independent newspaper in a feature entitled "The Force of Nature", described Graham as responsible for promoting a "New kind of Environmentalism" through his work with Ecotherapy and
Ecopsychology.

Graham has been a keen supporter of The Wilderness Foundation since it became established in the UK, and today is a Consultant working on green PR, marketing, environment, health and sustainability issues, and his primary focus is promoting climate change and energy solutions. He is an active member of The All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group at Westminster, and is busy attempting to write his first book "Ten Years to Save The World".

Here is an excerpt from the Independent article mentioned above:

"It is almost de rigueur in some metropolitan circles to yearn for a simpler life in the country. And even those whose ambitions do not stretch to pressing olives or breeding pigs hotfoot it to the mountains or seaside at every opportunity. When the stresses of everyday life get too much, we take a walk in the park or have an hour in the garden. Science has long recognised this instinctive attraction to nature. Now, an emerging branch of psychology suggests it may be fundamental to our health and wellbeing - and to the future of the planet.

Ecopsychology is grounded in the idea that our innate craving for contact with nature is the result of millions of years of evolution in a natural environment. The problem, ecopsychologists argue, is that industrialisation and urbanisation have tossed those instincts aside. Our detachment from nature lies behind a host of modern psychological, emotional and physical problems, as well as our blasé attitude towards environmental change. Personal and planetary wellbeing, they say, feed into one another." - Read the full article here on the Independent website.

Learn more about Graham's work at http://www.greenfuturesconsultancy.com/ and also read his blog at: http://www.grahamgame.blogspot.com/

If you would like to join our membership then please download a membership form here.