University of the Sunshine Coast academic Dr Glyn Thomas has received a national award in recognition of his efforts over almost 30 years of teaching people to enjoy and understand the outdoors.
Dr Thomas, a senior lecturer in outdoor environmental education at USC Moreton Bay, was recently presented the inaugural Fellowship of Outdoor Education Australia (OEA) – the organisation’s highest honour.
OEA said the award recognised his exemplary contribution above and beyond any paid professional role.
“We congratulate Glyn for this recognition of his work for the outdoor education community, both here in Australia and globally,” the organisation said.
Dr Thomas said his role as an academic went beyond just promoting outdoor recreation and outdoor education to encouraging people to preserve the natural world.
“It’s about providing positive experiences in the outdoors for participants that change the way they think and feel about the outdoors so that they will be more inclined to take care of it in the future,” he said.
Dr Thomas started his working life as a physical education teacher but changed direction when he saw the impact outdoor education could have on people.
“It is a great way for people to learn more about themselves, others and the natural world – these are the three pillars we talk about in outdoor education,” he said.
“I saw teaching at university level as a way of maximising my impact. Instead of having a positive impact on just my personal participants, I’m now preparing emerging outdoor leaders.
“You broaden the impact by teaching the teachers who go on and have their impact on students.”
The Petrie-based academic has published more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, had his work cited more than 1000 times by other authors, and recently led the editorial team for a new international textbook.
He has served several outdoor education organisations in various volunteer leadership roles and edited two outdoor/experiential education academic journals over the past 16 years.
