Alumni stories: Catherine Dunn, MSc Outdoor Education

'A progressive and forward-thinking city'

Edinburgh is such a progressive and forward-thinking city in everything to do with the outdoors. Scotland is also a really good place to study outdoor education, given the landscapes it has to offer! The programme was the main draw, though, really, and the idea of learning from some of the best lecturers in the field.

love the outdoors and wanted to make it part of my future career. I’m not sure I thought much beyond that. I wanted to return to education and, having never actually been to university, thought this would be the perfect way to return to learning.

'Fantastic environments to learn in'

The residential courses were amazing; fantastic environments to learn in, incredible ways to develop friendships and powerful ways to connect to the outdoors.

'I learnt to teach about and for the environment'

It was the skills I learnt that are directly applicable to education and environmental education that I valued the most. I learnt to teach about and for the environment, for nature and for a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.

[The most useful thing I learned was] how educating for a more sustainable future can inform everything we do as educators and how outdoor education can be at the heart of learning from primary level all the way up to higher education.

'A life-changing programme'

For me, it has been a life-changing programme and 15 months I will never forget. I have learnt so much, made life-long friends and carved a niche for myself in sustainability education.

It has shaped my career, it has guided everything I do now. It has given my work a structure and informed all aspects of my work, from filmmaking to educating.

Don’t think twice, just do it. It will be worth it.

Related links

Catherine's blog with BERA reflecting on The Oak activity and MSc Outdoor Education

Catherine's blog with Venture Scotland during her Professional Placement