Navigating grief in the outdoors to emerge as a bush adventure therapy leader

Abstract

Learning to navigate in the outback Flinders Ranges, South Australia, becomes a metaphor to traverse grief after the sudden death of the author's son. Transformative learning theory through a social–ecological lens provides the framework to reflect on her archetypal heroine's journey. The author crosses the threshold into the liminal space and navigates the transformational pause to integrate feminine ways of knowing. She chooses to recalibrate her internal compass, sets a new bearing towards outdoor leadership, and emerges as an Operation Flinders bush adventure therapy leader at the age of 55. This is a waypoint worth noting considering only 9.7% of team leaders are female and their average age is 40 years. Processing grief in the outdoors with therapeutic intent can be a transformative experience.