Conversations with practitioners 3: Toby Clark

Dunkley, R. A. and Smith, T. A. (2022) Conversations with practitioners 3: Toby Clark. In: Smith, T. A., Pitt, H. and Dunkley, R. A. (eds.) Unfamiliar Landscapes: Young People and Diverse Outdoor Experiences. Palgrave Macmillan: Cham, pp. 515-535. ISBN 9783030944599 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-94460-5_21)

Abstract

In this final conversation with a practitioner, we speak to Toby Clark, the John Muir Award Scotland Manager. Here, Toby discusses the ecological mindset underpinning the work of the John Muir Trust, and shares how his own early ecological experiences in ‘nature’ played a pivotal role in his career in conservation. He speaks about his past experience of working with unemployed young people in the outdoors, whilst addressing some of the misinterpretations outdoor educators and instructors can make working with groups that often do not have privileged access to the outdoors. Toby reflects on some of the chapters in the preceding themes, particularly on the importance of a ‘low dose’ of novelty for young people encountering certain places or activities for the first time. He problematises ideas of authenticity in outdoor experiences, and the importance of recognising what young people themselves see as authentic about places. Reflecting more on the work of the John Muir Trust, Toby considers the importance of the family in increasing young people’s access to ‘nature’ and the outdoors.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dunkley, Dr Ria
• Authors: Dunkley, R. A., and Smith, T. A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• ISBN: 9783030944599
• Published Online: 17 June 2022