10 years of teaching and research collaboration through @uarctic.bsky.social - delivering a 'value-added' Masters program in Northern Tourism. www.uarctic.org/news/2026/9/...

New report explores the long-term impact of UArctic's Northern Tourism Program

We are very pleased to share a new impact study exploring what more than a decade of collaboration through the UArctic Thematic Network on Northern Tourism has meant for students, researchers and the ...

uarctic.org

So I've received an award 🎉. Absolutely humbled to be the 2026 recipient of the AEE's Dr. Betty van Der Smissen Distinguished Researcher Award. Thanks to my family, colleagues/collaborators, students, and the Association. Plus my anonymous nominator. I truly appreciate this. Thank you!

Thanks Pete Allison for zooming into my Nipissing University PHED 4906 class today. Engaging discussion of Character (amongst other things). Great info and resources available on the Outward Bound International site: www.outwardbound.net/outward-boun...

Outward Bound Global Character Project - Outward Bound International

In 2025, Outward Bound International (OBI), in collaboration with Penn State University, the University of Utah, and Clemson University, and supported by the John Templeton Foundation, completed a mul...

outwardbound.net

Another wonderful afternoon in NU's Outdoor Classroom. Vibrant discussions about Land-based learning, listened to a TMO podcast, made some Andy Goldsworthy-esque art, and even though the weather was cold and dreary, students stayed positive and engaged. Also great to have a free BBQ at the break.

What an amazing weekend for 16 hours of teaching outdoors, experientially! Beautiful weather, super-engaged students, and a fantastic new outdoor classroom and mobile course accessories. Hiked over to Duchesnay Falls, taught a ton of different skills...

The latest edition of the STLHE Higher Ground blog is now live. Just some of my recent musings on where we teach and why flexibility matters: stlhe.ca/higher-groun...

Excited to have our latest report published: pub.norden.org/temanord2026...

Tourism Employment in the Arctic: Towards Decent Work

This report presents findings from the first workshop and field course of Tourism Employment in the Arctic: Towards Decent Work. The 2025 objective was to examine precarity in Arctic tourism employmen...

pub.norden.org

Join me at the STLHE Virtual Conference (Nov. 13, 2026). Part of our ongoing refresh to STLHE's events.

Finally watching Shrinking: Love this quote: "Academia is the fifth circle of hell. It goes babies, musicals, magic, kale...academia." While I disagree with some of the others, I burst out laughing when Harrison Ford's character said it in response to a colleague applying for a job.

New Publication Alert! Published online, just in time for IOERC11 in Oslo 🇳🇴: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Emerging themes and reflections from the 10th International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Japan

The International Outdoor Education Research Conference (IOERC) series connects outdoor educators across the globe and continues to progress in impact and reach. This paper aims to summarise key in...

tandfonline.com

New publication - available now! The 25th anniversary special issue of the JAEOL: www.tandfonline.com/toc/raol20/c... @drheidismith.bsky.social @drdavehills.bsky.social @taloeffler.bsky.social @oe-munge.bsky.social

Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

25th Anniversary Special Issue: Changing Perspectives in Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. Volume 26, Issue 2 of Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

tandfonline.com

Wow - the Faroe Islands 🇫🇴 are stunning! Even when one is stuck in a beautiful conference centre (handball arena) most of the day 🙂. Open landscapes, lots of sheep, multi-use harbours, history and art, dynamic weather...

Week 2 in Ísafjörður, Iceland 🇮🇸. Cruise ships have arrived and there is more hustle and bustle in the harbour. Beautiful sunny days looking towards Hornstrandir and a chance opportunity to see a polar bear skull (yes, polar bears do arrive here on occasion, but this skull is from East Greenland 🇬🇱).

🇳🇴Happy Constitution Day to all my friends in Norway 🇳🇴. Enjoy the celebrations!

One week in Iceland (mostly Ísafjörður)🇮🇸! Paddling on Eyrarvatn - it was a PhD committee meeting 😊. Foggy views from the tower at Byggðasafn Vestfjarða. A beautiful sunny day for a football match - sadly a loss for Vestri. The Grímsson house - memories of last summer, staying there with my family.

Seeking new members for the Editorial Board of the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning (JAEOL). Apply here: think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru...

Editorial Board Members needed for Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

Editorial Board Members needed for Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

think.taylorandfrancis.com

It was so much fun to be a part of this discussion, now posted on the Lasmuigh podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/1Qvx... @aylward-tomas.bsky.social @mtu.ie

International perspectives on outdoor practice.

open.spotify.com

A very quick research trip to Whitehorse. Flying over the Coast Mountains at sunset, and lots of great conversations and writing at Yukon University. Thanks Christy, Dylan, Alison and others. @uarctic.bsky.social @lrfheritage.bsky.social.

Hooray - progress on the NU Outdoor Classroom. I know there were many students in my Sept-Apr courses disappointed that we couldn't use it (due to the many construction delays); should be pretty amazing once completed. Propane fire pit; shelter; power; accessible path (currently underwater 😀)

Final call! Nominations for the 2026 ISSOTL Election close soon. Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of #SoTL. Submit a nomination today! Deadline: March 27th. Learn more on the ISSOTL website: issotl.com/2026/01/27/2...

Ending my travels to Ireland 🇮🇪 with a rainy day 7 in Dublin. Thanks @orlakelly5.bsky.social for a wet stroll in the local park - then I took a walk by Croke Park, Trinity College, and a variety of shops/signs in the City Centre. @icuf.bsky.social @aylward-tomas.bsky.social

A beautiful day in Dublin 🇮🇪. Discussed outdoor classrooms with faculty and place-based education with students. A spectacular blend of old and new spaces at Dublin City University - St. Patrick's campus @dublincityuni.bsky.social. Thanks @orlakelly5.bsky.social for hosting me. @icuf.bsky.social

Days 4 & 5 at Munster Technological University were a whirlwind of discussions and meeting many excellent people. I even managed to spend time in the Outdoor Classroom with a group of 16 years olds - weaving willow, making environmental art, and eating S'mores. @aylward-tomas.bsky.social

Day 3 in Ireland 🇮🇪 - a blustery day on the Corca Dhuibhne, Dingle Peninsula (still very beautiful though). Wind and waves, a visit to the Blasket Centre, chowder and ice cream, and ending with a podcast about landscapes, language and outdoor learning.

After a morning lecture discussing authentic OE in Canada vs. a standardized IKEA-esque model, it was off to Killarney National Park. Just stunning landscapes - in the sun or the mist!

An exceptional view on my first evening in Tralee, Éire. Thanks to my hosts at Munster Technological University (BA in Outdoor Learning): www.mtu.ie/courses/tlsh.... @aylward-tomas.bsky.social, JP and Tom Farrelly. Looking forward to the days ahead.

Excited to share our 'Year in Review': 2025 into 2026. Thanks to all our UArctic colleagues and partners for contributing to our work @uarctic.bsky.social. We couldn't share it all in 1 page. www.uarctic.org/activities/t...

Calling all educators & #SoTL scholars! Submit your proposals for ISSOTL26 in Saskatoon, Canada, from October 28-31, 2026. Proposals due March 30, 2026. Share your research & practice! Learn more on the ISSOTL website: issotl.com/issotl26/cal...

Quinzhees and Campfires (+ S'mores). The joys of winter camping - a Nipissing University BPHE practical course. Just glad it was only -11 C the weekend we camped out; unlike this past weekend (-35 C or so). ❄️ ❄️ ❄️