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Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

Jun 24, 2025

In this episode Will speaks with Katie Baum Mettenbrink, Director of Risk Management at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), about the intersection of risk, resilience, and mental health in outdoor education. With over two decades at NOLS, Katie shares her journey from a college backpacking trip to becoming...


Jun 10, 2025

In this episode Will speaks with Dr. Neal Christensen, psychologist, researcher, and co-owner of Elements Programs in Utah. With over two decades in the field, Dr. Christensen shares his journey from discovering outdoor experiential work in high school to becoming a leader in wilderness therapy for neurodivergent youth....


Jun 3, 2025

In this episode Will speaks with Haley Bezon, founder and executive director of Hearty Roots—a nonprofit nature-based wellness organization serving youth in Maine. Drawing on her own lived experience with mental health and a diverse work background in education and wilderness therapy, Haley shares how Hearty Roots was...