The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Outdoor Adventure Education team proudly participated in the 4th Gathering of Adventure Therapy Europe (GATE) held in Sigulda, Latvia over the summer. The event, a biannual conference, brought together leading practitioners, researchers, and enthusiasts from the fields of Adventure Therapy and Experiential Learning.
This year’s GATE was hosted by Adventure Therapy Latvia and Adventure Therapy Europe, serving as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovative practices in the field. The conference theme, “Connecting Borders to New Horizons,” focused on exploring how the Adventure Therapy community can maintain its uniqueness while promoting inclusion, diversity, and accessibility.
UWTSD was represented by a team of students, alumni, and faculty members. Tara Crank, PhD student, delivered a workshop presentation, sharing her cutting-edge research in Adventure Therapy. Emma Knight, UWTSD MA graduate, also presented a workshop, drawing on her recent academic work to inspire and educate participants. Mache Trevino, MA Lecturer, co-presented a workshop, reflecting on how choice impacts participant well-being experience. UWTSD graduate Dafydd Rowlands participated in various conference activities, bringing fresh insights from his academic journey. During the Conference, they all engaged in group discussions on the evolution of Outdoor Education and its impact in Wales and beyond.
Mache Trevino, UWTSD’s MA Outdoor Education Programme Manager, said:
“The GATE was a wonderful event where the UWTSD Outdoor Education team connected with colleagues from different countries and reflected on the evolution of our field in our region. Our alumni presented their research projects, shared community outdoor engagement initiatives, and disseminated some of the outstanding activities related to well-being, therapeutic approaches, and connectedness with nature happening in Wales.
“As a facilitator and lecturer, I was humbled and honoured by the opportunity to participate in this Gathering, reconnect with colleagues spearheading the transformation of our practice, and to join the collective effort to support and professionalise Outdoor Therapies in the UK and around the world. We all returned energised and full of ideas to implement in our varied fields of work. I feel immense gratitude for the support provided by the UWTSD and the INSPIRE Award to be able to attend and present at this key platform.”
UWTSD graduate Emma Knight, added:
“After recently graduating from my MA in Outdoor Education, I attended GATE 2024 as a volunteer, presenter, and participant. Being my first conference, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the experience was incredibly rewarding. This conference showed me that I am capable of contributing meaningfully and that the community is more accepting and supportive than I ever imagined.”
The UWTSD team returned with renewed inspiration, ready to implement new ideas in their respective fields and continue contributing to the global discourse on Adventure Therapy and Outdoor Education.
