UWTSD takes outdoor wellbeing research onto the international stage at GATE 2026
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) took its outdoor education and wellbeing research to an international audience recently, joining practitioners, researchers and organisations from across Europe at the Gathering for Adventure Therapy in Europe (GATE) 2026 in Belgium.
Hosted by UPC KULeuven, UCLL and ALBA, GATE 2026 brought together professionals working across adventure therapy, experiential learning, outdoor practice and nature-based wellbeing to share research, practice and new approaches to wellbeing through engagement with the outdoors.
Representing UWTSD, PhD researcher Tara Crank and Mache Treviño González, Programme Manager for the MA Outdoor Education, delivered workshops exploring how outdoor and nature-based approaches can support wellbeing, reflective practice and professional development.
Researching new ways of connecting with nature
Tara Crank presented Growing Experience and Perception of Nature Through Digital Tools, sharing findings from the first cycle of her ongoing PhD research at UWTSD.
The participatory research explores how digital tools can support nature connection within a community green health hub in Wales, working with domestic abuse survivors and outdoor facilitators.
Through an interactive forest experience, Tara invited participants to engage with her findings and consider how technology can influence sensory engagement, reflection and relationships with the natural environment.
For Tara, returning to GATE was also an important milestone in her doctoral journey.
“GATE Belgium was a beautiful event to be part of – for me it was a time of reconnection with a community and a marker of growth for my progress in the PhD. Having presented at GATE 2024 in Latvia at the very beginning of my PhD study, now presenting some of my findings was exciting and was helpful in connecting with other PhD students at the beginning of their journey, as well as more experienced members of the community.”
Tara also co-facilitated a Campfire Cooking workshop with Sanne Detrez and Silke Praet from ALBA, sharing skills and perspectives across countries and organisations.
“We made a good bond while designing and facilitating the workshop together and hope to have more international collaboration with each other in the future.”
The experience also led Tara to establish an international PhD and Early-Career Researcher Network for those working in adventure and nature-based therapies, supporting continued peer connection and collaboration.
Returning to the trees
Mache Treviño González facilitated Returning to the Trees: Reflective Journaling for Insightful Practice, inviting practitioners to explore journaling as a tool for professional insight, wellbeing and reflective outdoor practice.
Drawing on Welsh cultural perspectives, including the concept of Cynefin – a sense of place, belonging and relational identity – the workshop used ‘Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed,’ (“returning to my trees”) as a metaphor for grounding, regulation and returning to oneself through relationship with place and the natural environment.
Workshop participant Lynn Van Hoof from Outward Bound Belgium said:
“I really enjoyed the workshop. There was a moment when I was journaling where all the puzzle pieces of the GATE just clicked for me, in my personal process… I will definitely apply more journaling in my programmes now!”
Mache said the event highlighted the importance of international collaboration in a growing field:
“Participating at GATE was a brilliant opportunity to share and reflect on nature-based wellbeing and health, continuing the collaboration with colleagues on this shared path of expanding and professionalising our field. It was a privilege to witness and recognise the hard work of our PhD student Tara, not only through presenting her research progress, but by being actively involved in the postgraduate student network that flourished during and after the conference.”
Connecting outdoor education, research and international practice
UWTSD’s participation at GATE reflects the University’s commitment to connecting outdoor education, research, wellbeing and international professional practice.
The MA Outdoor Education at UWTSD provides practitioners, educators and professionals with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of outdoor learning and practice while engaging with emerging approaches to wellbeing, nature connection and experiential education.
As nature-based and adventure-informed practice continues to develop, events such as GATE provide valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and develop more thoughtful, evidence-informed approaches to working outdoors.
Interested in taking your outdoor practice further?
The MA Outdoor Education at UWTSD welcomes practitioners, educators and professionals interested in developing their knowledge, practice and research in outdoor education and related nature-based fields.
Find out more about the MA Outdoor Education at UWTSD here, and explore opportunities to study, research and connect with an international community of outdoor practitioners.
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476