Reflections on a decade: AT in Canada since IATC3, Victoria, BC

MAY 3-5 2013. We gathered near Bragg Creek in the foothills of the Rockies. We were fortunate to have warm spring weather, well before the floods began! We were also fortunate to have another fine gathering of students, therapists, counselors, youth workers, researchers, theorists, guides and educators all passionate about working with people experientially, adventurously, and in nature.

Reflecting on the last decade of AT in Canada, I have to wonder if much has really changed. Is adventure therapy anymore recognized? Are our practices any more sophisticated?  Or, are we simply treading water in the healing and helping fields? The 3rd International Adventure Therapy Conference was held in Victoria in 2003. A number of us in Bragg Creek this Spring attended 3IATC, and I will share my observation that the overall average age seems to have stayed the same, while those of us who were in Victoria seem to have aged beyond the mean. This speaks to me of other outdoor industries such as guiding, or even the ski industry where the average age of employees remains early-mid twenties, even though a few individuals seem to stay on forever. Does our field of practice support and provide for 'careers' or are we..?

To be continued (August 8, 2013)

adventurously,

nevin

CATS 4: MAY 3-5, 2013

The 4th Canadian Adventure Therapy Symposium will be held May 3-5, 2013 at Camp Horizon near Calgary, Alberta. The symposium is being hosted by Enviros Wilderness School Association. Stay posted for syposium report which will be posted here.

http://canadianadventuretherapysymposium.ca/category/c-a-t-s-4/  

Hope to see you all there!

6 IATC held in Czech Republic, Sept 26-30, 2012

The 6th Triennial International Adventure Therapy Conference (6IATC) was held in Czech Republic, September 2012.

See: http://www.6iatc.eu/

As practice and interest in adventure therapy continues to grow internationally, this conference critically examined key issues in developing innovative and ethical practice which informs the development of the field.  Whether practice is termed adventure therapy, wilderness therapy, outdoor therapy, eco-therapy, nature therapy, or other variations, the conference will, amongst other things, examine international trends, share examples of culturally diverse practice, debate professional standards and ethics, develop strategies for collaborative practice, review the research evidence and research agenda, and discuss future strategic initiatives.  The conference aimed to map out key directions as adventure therapy emerges as a recognised psychological therapy across the world.

The 6th International Adventure Therapy Conference (6IATC)  provided a unique opportunity to showcase and exchange ideas and insights about the therapeutic use of adventure and outdoor practices.

As the Canadian representative to the Adventure Therapy International Committee (Advisory group that oversees the hosting of IATC events and published proceedings), I encourage you all to participate in future IATC gatherings. Students, academics, practitioners and those from other disciplines are welcome.

More details to come.

Nevin J. Harper

CDN Representative, Adventure Therapy International Committee

Summary: CATS 2009-2011

Adventure therapy—the confluence of outdoor, adventure and experiential activities in therapeutic fields of practice—is present in a number of forms across Canada. From Arctic expeditions for kids with cancer to indoor rock climbing with drug and alcohol clients in urban settings, this exciting approach integrates participant’s physical, emotional, spiritual and cognitive being. While operationalized in various forms, adventure therapy currently has no formal/informal professional association/network in Canada to allow for the sharing of resources, development of standards of practice or collaborative input for the field.

The Canadian Adventure Therapy Symposiums (CATS) have been held to identify trends and address the needs of those currently practicing, or desiring to practice adventure therapy. The symposium was held Spring 2009 in Victoria, BC; Fall 2010 in Chicoutimi. QC; and Fall 2011 in South River Ontario. Between 55 and 80 practitioners, academics and students from across the country from health, mental health, substance abuse, education, justice and related human service fields have been in attendance at each symposium.

The Symposiums aim to engage attendees in idenitifying trends, producing recommendations for future development of adventure therapy in Canada, and networking. For example, the original CATS produced the following recommendations and have since been built upon at each subsequent gathering (see page 18 of CATS final report for more details):

1) To develop an interactive national networking forum to allow adventure therapy practitioners, academics, students and partnering organizations to communicate and share their expertise and resources and to develop partnerships and opportunities to advance the field.

2) To continue meeting at a national level to strengthen the field through sharing our knowledge and stories while honouring our diversity

3) To investigate liability and insurance issues in adventure therapy with professional human service associations and insurance providers.

4) To diversify the populations served by adventure therapy and better understand how to serve each population.

5) To develop a national body for the oversight and development of adventure therapy in Canada.

It has been taken into consideration that the symposium, although attended by representatives of 4 provinces, was primarily made up of Western Canadian delegates. For that reason, the results of the symposium will be shared in Montreal in the fall of 2009 at the meeting of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group of the Association for Experiential Education to solicit more ‘Eastern’ input. In addition to the recommendations, a proposal to host the Second CATS gathering at University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) in the fall of 2010 was presented to the organizing committee; an ideal host with strong institutional support and that can provide significant continuity as UQAC and two adventure therapy organizations represented at the 2009 symposium will co-host. See you all in Chicoutimi next fall!

Last, the connections between CATS and the Adventure Therapy International Committee (ATIC) deserve further clarity in relationship to one future potential of these gatherings. The notion to hold the symposium was raised in Rotorua New Zealand at the 2006 International Adventure Therapy Conference. Canada has 2 national representatives on ATIC, positions which ultimately would be elected/nominated by a national organization or committee. The growth of CATS and a national organizing body will assist in bringing further credibility to the work of ATIC and AT in Canada concurrently. We are currently seeking one new national representative for a six-year term on ATIC. Interested individuals would need to have the time and resources to fulfill repsonsibilities and attend the next two interantional conferences, one this fall in Scotland and another in 2012.

Special thanks to the sponsoring organizations, the host committees and volunteers, and the emerging CATS committee for their commitment to continued success and growth of the CATS community.

Full reports from each symposium can be viewed and/or downloaded from link on right.

Respectfully submitted,

Nevin J. Harper

CATS1 Convener