“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — JANE GOODALL

Growing up with different cultural communities around the world showed me the importance of Rites of Passage in marking major transitions such as child to adult, menstruation, marriage and birth. This led to many years of travel, study and research, working as a midwife both in the UK and within tribal communities, and supporting young people who are coming of age in today’s world.

I have found great inspiration by spending extended periods of time in nature – particularly in the mountains. My journeys have taken me on several long-distance trails including the Lycian Way, the Camino de Santiago and the Pacific Crest Trail. Both my own experiences, and witnessing others, have shown me the power of the natural world in guiding and holding us through life’s transitions. Since qualifying as an outdoor instructor, I have trained with the School of Lost Borders in the USA and completed three years of outdoor leadership training with Schumacher College in the UK, and nature connection now forms the basis of all my work.

I work on a range of different programmes with many inspirational partners and collaborators:

• Through Wilderness Expertise I offer a year long personal development program for young people ending in a month long immersion in nature. The programme builds personal leadership, self confidence and group work skills, alongside mountain expedition training.
• Wild Time offers young women aged 13 – 15 years an opportunity to learn alongside qualified and experienced outdoorswomen, to deepen their sense of self, build confidence and self-worth, and to recognise their strengths and talents. The year long programme introduces young women to their personal cycles and their innate connection to the wider cycles that surround us.
• Wild Rites is a week long programme for young adults aged between 14-18 in nature. This week focuses on themes arising for both boys and girls as they face adulthood, and culminates in a solo and celebration to mark what they have achieved.
• The Way of Nature Women’s Programme is set in the unspoilt beauty of the Dart Valley, UK. Five days of exploring reconnection and relaxation. At the heart of the process is a 24 hour solo in nature. This is a rich and often unforgettable exercise, practiced by people throughout time.
• Call of the Wild (co-facilitator) is a year long foundation course in outdoor education leadership with WildWise in association with Schumacher College. The course offers an extraordinary syllabus to anyone open to spending time in nature, and our job as environmental educators is to cultivate this nature connection in powerful and meaningful ways.

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