In researching the intersections of language, place, and outdoor education, Carley journeyed to one of °µÍøTV’s global partner schools, Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. During her six weeks there, she interviewed Irish language speakers who are involved in the revitalization of the Irish language and integrating Irish into their work, to better understand how speaking and connecting with the Irish language has impacted them both personally and professionally. As a language that has undergone centuries of colonial oppression, these conversations were poignant and profound. Carley will draw from these conversations to inform and inspire the development of her Capstone curriculum project. 

An unexpected realization from Carley’s research experience at the Burren College of Art is how art, music, and creative expression can also play a role in mediating and articulating our connections to place and the more-than-human world, just like language does. While Carley was there as an Outdoor Leadership student, she was surrounded by art students creating work centered around place-based engagement and responsiveness to the surrounding landscape. The alignment and resonance between their seemingly disparate fields of study was inspiring and thought-provoking for Carley. Although beyond the scope of her Capstone, she is excited to think about ways that the field of outdoor education may be enriched not only through more intentional engagement with language, but also through the integration of the creative arts into outdoor, place-based educational practice.

Being able to merge her academic interests with her personal connections to Ireland through her Capstone project and her research experience at the Burren College of Art—which just so happens to be located in the same county where Carley traces a part of her Irish ancestry—has been both serendipitous and incredibly meaningful for Carley. While she came into the Outdoor Leadership program with a somewhat unusual and non-traditional background in language and cultural immersion programming in Tanzania, the critical approach of the Outdoor Leadership program and the support she has received from °µÍøTV professors have enabled Carley to feel like she is meaningfully contributing to the expansion of the field of outdoor education. She hopes her Capstone and her experience in the Outdoor Leadership program are a message to others interested in this program not to be timid about exploring and engaging their curiosities and interests, however niche they may be, and that they will be encouraged by °µÍøTV faculty along the way. 

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I love how Prescott allows you to customize your degree. I am doing a double major with two emphases right now–Adventure Education with an emphasis in Wilderness Leadership, and Psychology with an emphasis in Arts Therapy. I was really drawn to Prescott’s Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Art Therapy because I could not find it offered at any other college in the United States.

Touring the college in person was also a major reason why I chose to go to °µÍøTV. I really enjoyed seeing how the campus was laid out–Everything is close together, I could easily get from class to class and go to my dorm without struggling to be late for events. I really like the dorms because they have a nice clean feel, are spacious, have plenty of closet space, and are [LEED Certified] Platinum. The Cafe and Library area seemed very cool as well. I chose °µÍøTV because I want to live in a place that makes me feel at home and at ease. 

The teachers are passionate about what they do, which pushes students to want to learn and be motivated in moving up in their education. The staff is super kind and knowledgeable in their fields of passion. The Success Coaches have made the transition from high school to college way less stressful. I have bonded with my peers through Wilderness Orientation and just being at the dorms. There are always student activities happening outside of class, which helps form more friendships at Prescott. The community at °µÍøTV has such friendly and welcoming energy. I appreciate how everyone is so supportive and kind to each other.

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