Staff Interview: Laura Kittle
This interview was conducted with Laura Kittle, one of our outdoor leaders, and a COLT graduate, on April 27.
She took some time out from work for this interview, and shared her thoughts.
Q: Laura, would you tell our audience a little about you?
A: “I grew up and lived in Ontario. I attended South Carlton High School in Richmond (ON), where I was introduced to outdoor education experiences by a great teacher, Bill Sheffield. A teacher, who was passionate about teaching indoors and outdoors; it was a whole approach. I would love to be someone’s Bill Sheffield. At Brock University I completed the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation and Leisure Studies—a program with a largely theoretical focus. Students participated in some outdoor events but most trips were student initiated. Consequently I chose COLT (the fall of 2005) as way of broadening my hard skills repertoire—something the program has great reputation for. Here I was able to hone my strengths and really strengthen what I thought were my weakest skills. My personal preference was for the water based components of the course. In the spring of 2006 the practicum was the next step for me as I wanted to work as an outdoor leader / instructor, which I was able to do last year here at SPL.”
Q: What do you see as the best part of living/working here, the biggest challenge, the food?
A: “Hmm… the best part is living and working in a community of healthy, like-minded people, and the biggest challenge is trying to explain how this community works to other people especially in the city. The food … the food—there is no way I could eat this well living elsewhere or by myself.
Q: What do you see as the main role of outdoor leaders? How do you achieve that? Name some challenges?
A: I see our role as that of ambassador for the out-of doors; and I try to create a comfortable, happy environment, hoping to spark stewardship with the students in my group(s). This may not happen tomorrow, or the next day, but in the future; so those, who have been here, will be more responsive about the natural world. Activities the students participate in allow me to let my passion shine through. Definitely, I am glad to be getting paid for something I love doing. I believe by blurring the line between work (learning?) and play, we get happier people. There is not enough play in this world, you know … people having fun, playing…
Q: I see you put up some question about the concept “more with less”. What prompted you to ask the questions?
A: I see this as way to help other leaders clarify the concept. Here at SPL, Leaders bring a diverse range of skills, qualifications, experiences, perspectives and stories. This seemed to me one way to create an opportunity to share and engage—if the wanted to.
Q: Where do think this will go?
A: I hope people keep writing up ideas, thoughts that are provocative, innovative…
Out of the ideas, I hope, people may take action—that is happening already. For example, Emily (Parker) suggested we (?) label bathroom garbage as burnable, so there is one way to reduce landfill. There may be other ideas—all are welcome. Alli Powers (Chief Instructor (Education)) and Bob Mielke (Maintenance) are moving this small project further along.
Q: What do you hope to have as an outcome by asking for all these contributions?
A: Outcome? I would like...to get people thinking, or to share their ideas, or raise issues important to them, or to simply raise awareness. Now one person can express an idea, but someone else can act on the idea—of course, working together on any project is good too.
Q: I noticed that your project, as it were, prompted a lot of environmentally focused responses. From your viewpoint, where do you see the Lodge’s environmental priorities, needs?
A: The lodge already does wonderful things, raises awareness, and of course there is always more to do.
So here it is: LESS PLASTIC BAGS!
Q: What would replace it?
A: Reusable containers! As I see it the biggest roadblock to reduce environmental impact and use less resources we (as individuals) need to expend more energy. It is less convenient. And it is not our habit—as a culture—to exclusively use containers.
Q: What would be the challenge?
A: Someone (Ed: the Lodge?) would have to pay for containers of different sizes, they could be part of an instructor’s kit. There would be cleaning, maintenance, and housekeeping issues—really do we manage this? I would be a significant transition from plastic bags. Of course, getting others onboard for this is vital, since it is less convenient and requires more effort (Ed: more effort=less pollution?). I have had a chance to raise this with the Out-trip coordinator already.
Q: Last year, SPL supported a staff member (Dave Cuddy, and more on this later) in their quest to participate in a CanadaWorldYouth project. What are your thoughts on this? DO you have other ideas along those lines?
A: I thought it was fantastic that Dave Cuddy got the support from SPL. It was great to get support in this community, and more important, the fact that staff had input on which charity to support was great idea; it created ownership and visible support. Right now Erica Spearman (SPL Leader 2006) is getting some donations, financial support from some staff members already for the Otesha project. This is a very worthwhile venture to look at.
Q: As an Outdoor Leader you are involved in curriculum delivery. What new ideas/ approaches would you like to be involved in developing?
A: What is good here is the freedom, the autonomy in the way we can deliver learning objectives. This can be a challenge sometimes, as I believe some objectives need to be delivered in a more consistent format.
Q: For example?
A: We need to make better, clearer connections or links between nature and living in the city and the home. More kids are disconnected now.
Q: We should integrate nature and the class curriculum?
A: Yes. I feel we can get carried away with just delivering an activity, but to me it is important to tie together the intellectual and theoretical parts of education with outdoor education ideas. Outdoor Ed. is a great leveler; the concepts are basic and often simple.
The challenge is to create a connection.
Matt Morgan-Henderson, our Chief Instructor, and I, had a chat about this. A forum would be a great venue for furthering this. This would allow piggybacking of ideas. I believe we need to emphasize the intellectual side of Outdoor Ed. The doing is of course important, but so is the thinking, reflecting. We need to come across as well-spoken, intelligent, and educated people with students and teachers, reflected in what and how we say it.
Q: Is that an outcome of your education?
A: Quite likely, and I crave the thinking part of Outdoor Education. I think that we will be better advocates for outdoor education, if we are clear, and concise in what we say and do—which requires still more thought.
Q: The challenge for outdoor education is to retain its relevance and effect with students after they leave here. What are your thoughts on this?
A: The biggest challenge is to leave impression or footprint that stays with them. It can be slow burn. I have had a few students, who get it while they are here, that are changed by the experience. Others take much longer. We have got to make sure we give as much of ourselves as is possible to create lasting memories. Our role-modeling is really important here, so students see and feel our passion and love of nature. It is my hope we are cool enough to be remembered as role models.
Q: SPL has been around for almost 50 years and it is celebrating 30 years of COLT this year. From your perspective, what kind of projects/ ventures would you like to see people, the Lodge engage in.
A: Hmm…that is a hard question. I have to think about this one as SPL does a lot of excellent work already, and has a great reputation.
Q: Future plans? Tell us a little about what you see for yourself—apart from instructing/ leading here at SPL?
A: I think I have answered this in part, already. I love the intellectual, the thinking, and then acting. Teachers College was a thought. I am a little nervous about Teachers College.
Q: Because you might teach in the classroom?
A: The best teachers took us outside. They understood connection. Bill Sheffield did.
Q: What would stop you?
A: I guess I just need to go and look where I can teach this way.
Laura, thank you!
She took some time out from work for this interview, and shared her thoughts.
Q: Laura, would you tell our audience a little about you?
A: “I grew up and lived in Ontario. I attended South Carlton High School in Richmond (ON), where I was introduced to outdoor education experiences by a great teacher, Bill Sheffield. A teacher, who was passionate about teaching indoors and outdoors; it was a whole approach. I would love to be someone’s Bill Sheffield. At Brock University I completed the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation and Leisure Studies—a program with a largely theoretical focus. Students participated in some outdoor events but most trips were student initiated. Consequently I chose COLT (the fall of 2005) as way of broadening my hard skills repertoire—something the program has great reputation for. Here I was able to hone my strengths and really strengthen what I thought were my weakest skills. My personal preference was for the water based components of the course. In the spring of 2006 the practicum was the next step for me as I wanted to work as an outdoor leader / instructor, which I was able to do last year here at SPL.”
Q: What do you see as the best part of living/working here, the biggest challenge, the food?
A: “Hmm… the best part is living and working in a community of healthy, like-minded people, and the biggest challenge is trying to explain how this community works to other people especially in the city. The food … the food—there is no way I could eat this well living elsewhere or by myself.
Q: What do you see as the main role of outdoor leaders? How do you achieve that? Name some challenges?
A: I see our role as that of ambassador for the out-of doors; and I try to create a comfortable, happy environment, hoping to spark stewardship with the students in my group(s). This may not happen tomorrow, or the next day, but in the future; so those, who have been here, will be more responsive about the natural world. Activities the students participate in allow me to let my passion shine through. Definitely, I am glad to be getting paid for something I love doing. I believe by blurring the line between work (learning?) and play, we get happier people. There is not enough play in this world, you know … people having fun, playing…
Q: I see you put up some question about the concept “more with less”. What prompted you to ask the questions?
A: I see this as way to help other leaders clarify the concept. Here at SPL, Leaders bring a diverse range of skills, qualifications, experiences, perspectives and stories. This seemed to me one way to create an opportunity to share and engage—if the wanted to.
Q: Where do think this will go?
A: I hope people keep writing up ideas, thoughts that are provocative, innovative…
Out of the ideas, I hope, people may take action—that is happening already. For example, Emily (Parker) suggested we (?) label bathroom garbage as burnable, so there is one way to reduce landfill. There may be other ideas—all are welcome. Alli Powers (Chief Instructor (Education)) and Bob Mielke (Maintenance) are moving this small project further along.
Q: What do you hope to have as an outcome by asking for all these contributions?
A: Outcome? I would like...to get people thinking, or to share their ideas, or raise issues important to them, or to simply raise awareness. Now one person can express an idea, but someone else can act on the idea—of course, working together on any project is good too.
Q: I noticed that your project, as it were, prompted a lot of environmentally focused responses. From your viewpoint, where do you see the Lodge’s environmental priorities, needs?
A: The lodge already does wonderful things, raises awareness, and of course there is always more to do.
So here it is: LESS PLASTIC BAGS!
Q: What would replace it?
A: Reusable containers! As I see it the biggest roadblock to reduce environmental impact and use less resources we (as individuals) need to expend more energy. It is less convenient. And it is not our habit—as a culture—to exclusively use containers.
Q: What would be the challenge?
A: Someone (Ed: the Lodge?) would have to pay for containers of different sizes, they could be part of an instructor’s kit. There would be cleaning, maintenance, and housekeeping issues—really do we manage this? I would be a significant transition from plastic bags. Of course, getting others onboard for this is vital, since it is less convenient and requires more effort (Ed: more effort=less pollution?). I have had a chance to raise this with the Out-trip coordinator already.
Q: Last year, SPL supported a staff member (Dave Cuddy, and more on this later) in their quest to participate in a CanadaWorldYouth project. What are your thoughts on this? DO you have other ideas along those lines?
A: I thought it was fantastic that Dave Cuddy got the support from SPL. It was great to get support in this community, and more important, the fact that staff had input on which charity to support was great idea; it created ownership and visible support. Right now Erica Spearman (SPL Leader 2006) is getting some donations, financial support from some staff members already for the Otesha project. This is a very worthwhile venture to look at.
Q: As an Outdoor Leader you are involved in curriculum delivery. What new ideas/ approaches would you like to be involved in developing?
A: What is good here is the freedom, the autonomy in the way we can deliver learning objectives. This can be a challenge sometimes, as I believe some objectives need to be delivered in a more consistent format.
Q: For example?
A: We need to make better, clearer connections or links between nature and living in the city and the home. More kids are disconnected now.
Q: We should integrate nature and the class curriculum?
A: Yes. I feel we can get carried away with just delivering an activity, but to me it is important to tie together the intellectual and theoretical parts of education with outdoor education ideas. Outdoor Ed. is a great leveler; the concepts are basic and often simple.
The challenge is to create a connection.
Matt Morgan-Henderson, our Chief Instructor, and I, had a chat about this. A forum would be a great venue for furthering this. This would allow piggybacking of ideas. I believe we need to emphasize the intellectual side of Outdoor Ed. The doing is of course important, but so is the thinking, reflecting. We need to come across as well-spoken, intelligent, and educated people with students and teachers, reflected in what and how we say it.
Q: Is that an outcome of your education?
A: Quite likely, and I crave the thinking part of Outdoor Education. I think that we will be better advocates for outdoor education, if we are clear, and concise in what we say and do—which requires still more thought.
Q: The challenge for outdoor education is to retain its relevance and effect with students after they leave here. What are your thoughts on this?
A: The biggest challenge is to leave impression or footprint that stays with them. It can be slow burn. I have had a few students, who get it while they are here, that are changed by the experience. Others take much longer. We have got to make sure we give as much of ourselves as is possible to create lasting memories. Our role-modeling is really important here, so students see and feel our passion and love of nature. It is my hope we are cool enough to be remembered as role models.
Q: SPL has been around for almost 50 years and it is celebrating 30 years of COLT this year. From your perspective, what kind of projects/ ventures would you like to see people, the Lodge engage in.
A: Hmm…that is a hard question. I have to think about this one as SPL does a lot of excellent work already, and has a great reputation.
Q: Future plans? Tell us a little about what you see for yourself—apart from instructing/ leading here at SPL?
A: I think I have answered this in part, already. I love the intellectual, the thinking, and then acting. Teachers College was a thought. I am a little nervous about Teachers College.
Q: Because you might teach in the classroom?
A: The best teachers took us outside. They understood connection. Bill Sheffield did.
Q: What would stop you?
A: I guess I just need to go and look where I can teach this way.
Laura, thank you!
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