Who am I?
While I’d like to say that I have always sought an adventure in the outdoors, it has often been that the outdoors comes looking for me. It was through the selfless offers of others through my later years of High School, that I come to appreciate that the benefits of outdoor adventure go well beyond physical, social and mental health.
I’m now 28 years old, married to my beautiful wife Maddie and love calling Lobethal, in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, South Australia, home.
By day, I have the privilege of working with young people who haven’t fit into societies expectations of their development. I specialise in delivering experiential learning programs that empower value and by doing so, reap the rewards of building communities of purpose-driven people.
Given the choice, I will always opt for my mountain bike, but also love multi-day walking adventures and am never shy to paddle waters in my kayak. I’m a huge advocate for how outdoor adventure can transform people, challenging the way things ‘have always been’ and enabling the exploration of ‘what’s possible’.
The opportunity to reinforce the value of connectivity to youth and build communities of purpose-driven people through experiential outdoor adventure is what motivated me to pursue this Fellowship.
What is my project?
After a 9 month application process through 2018, the selection committee endorsed me to undertake the Terry Lavender Churchill Fellowship to allow me in 2019 to:
‘Explore opportunities for trail destinations to attract and grow world class 'shared-use' interests’.
To achieve this, I hope to:
Undertake a holistic research approach to best determine how outdoor recreation destinations, spaces and trails can be developed, improved, managed and promoted.
Investigate how relevant and appealing the 'shared-trail' concept is, recognise what appeals to users, specifically, bushwalkers and mountain bikers in trail development and grasp what is required for the ongoing sustainability of a ‘shared-trail’
Promote greater engagement of activities within single locations to understand the diversity of benefits as a result of multi-use trail destinations.
Seek out ways to develop trail communities by consulting stakeholders to generate a sense of ownership. Then explore the role community ownership can have in the promotion, development, management and maintenance of trails.
Ultimately, I’m aspiring to collect evidence, examples are experiences that reinforce that outdoor recreation and trails can effect a diversity of positive change in people through engaging them in natural environments.
Knowledge that I am looking for (but certainly not limited to):
Understanding the diversity of benefits and why outdoor spaces and trails matter.
Strategies and approaches to promoting and attracting people to outdoor recreation. Notably, what is it that continues to engage people in outdoor adventure.
Examples of sustainable shared-trails and the reasoning to why they are successful.
Potential for outdoor destinations, spaces and/or trails to form the foundation of multi-purpose outdoor recreation community hubs.
Options for community engagement in the promotion, development, management and/or maintenance of trails.
Disseminating my research at the end of my Fellowship journey?
During and upon returning home from my 8-week Churchill Fellowship journey, I'll be sharing and disseminating my research in the following ways:
Providing 'live updates' via social media during and after my Fellowship
Writing and delivering a comprehensive report at the conclusion of my fellowship. I’ll then present the findings to all interested local, national and international stakeholders including peak bodies, clubs, business and Government leaders.
Collaborating with South Australian stakeholders (including Government, trail builders, peak bodies, clubs and others) and share what I have discovered and learnt.
Continually seeking to inspire current and future outdoor adventurers (especially young people) with my learnings, opportunities and possibilities.
Attending outdoor recreation conferences, festivals and events to further network and share my learnings and experiences.
How you can help?
I’m reaching out as I’d appreciate if you could consider:
Being open to a meeting where we can discuss questions, examples and perspectives for my research.
Providing me with opportunities to experience, visit or tour what you’re involved with or offering to the public.
Sharing resources and information connected to my research.
Considering me for upcoming events, conferences and activities which can raise the profile of my research.
Connecting me to contacts who may be able to contribute towards my research.
Key Questions
Below are my key guiding questions. When we meet, expect our discussion to explore these lines of curiosity:
Why do outdoor recreation destinations, spaces and/or trails matter?
What do you believe attracts people (specifically young people) to outdoor recreation trails? Then, what is it that engages them and has them continually returning?
Do you have examples or experiences of how outdoor recreation destinations, spaces and/or trails support young people to develop and grow themselves?
What does a thriving and sustainable outdoor recreation community/village model look like to you?
Where are successful examples of shared trails (trails used by multiple user groups - walk, bike ride, horse ride etc.) and why are they functioning well?
Can trail destinations form the foundation of potential micro-enterprise outdoor community hubs?
What present options exist for stakeholder and community engagement in trail development?
Do shared trails improve engagement and accessibility for all in the outdoors?
What do you consider to be the benefits of shared trails?
If you could improve or change one or multiple things in outdoor recreation destinations, spaces and/or trails, what would it be?
The benefit to the Australian community?
Ensuring my Churchill Fellowship provides valuable insights, knowledge and influence to the Australian (and International) community is important to me.
Here’s how I plan to generate this benefit:
Honouring Terry Lavender's legacy by harnessing the opportunity to uncover new ideas, attitudes and implementation strategies. This will assist to build the profile/usability of outdoor recreation trails for all types of users.
Educating young Australians on the opportunities available to them through outdoor adventure. Encouraging them to seek out adventurous activities which utilise shared outdoor trails and incorporate them in the future development of these outdoor destinations and spaces.
Exploring how resources, infrastructure and services can help develop local community recreation spaces, with consideration to all diverse interests and needs of the community.
Investigating and addressing a common national issue faced by many trail users, to be able to learn about successful examples where shared-trail use occurs and how all users respect, educate and embrace the concept.
By expanding evidence-based knowledge of what contributes to a successful shared-trail destination, including logistics, social and economic value, implementation of additional programs (such as Leave No Trace) and the viability of community ownership.
The Churchill Fellowship
Never heard of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust or Churchill Fellowship? Read on…
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in 1965 to honour the memory of Sir Winston Churchill, and fulfil his wish for people from all walks of life to travel the world to gain new knowledge and share ideas and insights.
You can read more about the cohort of 2018 Fellows here.
The fellowship is something like a Rhodes Scholarship, but more egalitarian, and available to all people and on a much wider basis.
Since the inception of the Churchill Trust, more than 4,000 Australians have identified projects where overseas research allowed them to bring back vital networks and skills.
I’m very humbled to have received a Churchill Fellowship through the Terry Lavender Scholarship.
Terry Lavender is an Australian outdoors icon who among many achievements, was a Churchill Fellow himself in 1991 and was central to the development of many trails, notably the 1200km Heysen Trail in South Australia. You can read more about Terry’s legacy here.
The Terry Lavender Churchill Fellowship was established to provide a South Australian with an opportunity to follow their passion overseas to investigate ways to develop, improve, manage and promote outdoor recreational trails and pursuits.
A letter from the CEO of the Churchill Trust, Adam Davey which supports my Churchill Fellowship can be found here.