Kirsten Macken

After graduating from uni with a degree in Design Crafts (BA hons), I began my journey into the world of outdoor education. Discovering alternative learning has made it possible to explore all of my greatest interests; the natural world, creativity and love for engaging with people. I have always been a great communicator and listener which has allowed me to flourish in person centred work.

I like to think of myself as a curious person when it comes to learning, which I hope inspires others to want to explore their own curiosities.

Having worked mostly within person centred lines of work, I have been able to develop the skills required to communicate without judgement and with an understanding of perspective. I believe these skills to be crucial for greater understanding of individuals needs allowing me to provide the best possible support. All of my roles within a care/education setting have been supporting individuals with additional needs, whether physical or mental.

This has been great for my level of patience and compassion for varying lifestyles and needs.

Exploring my practical abilities through outdoor education and labouring have been an extension of my studies at university. These experiences have allowed me to transfer my knowledge and skills to each job whilst improving my understanding of how things are made.

My degree in Design Crafts was a 3 year exploration of creativity, innovation and engagement with materials. All of these elements of my degree have been useful for creating session plans for forest school and outdoor learning. The ability to understand a wide variety of materials and how to inspire interest in creating are key to a great experience in nature. I have been able to bring new bushcraft skills into sessions with students using materials that are available from our surroundings.