Welcome to #PinkNicky’s Blog, for your weekly dose of adventure ideas.
It’s Saturday morning, so grab your tea and toast. Here are a few people who are making waves in the Adventure Community!
What did I get up to this week: This week I have completed 4 windy walks and 1 sunny walk plus completed loads of prep for my workshop at the upcoming Adventure Mind Conference. The workshop will be fun and colourful, I have got the music ready, choosen all the props, bought the balloons and packed my case!
On 27/28 November, I will be attending my first Adventure Mind Conference, held in Conisbrough, Sheffield. I am travelling up tomorrow, all ready for Monday 10am.
The Conference aims to explore the importance of adventure to wellbeing and mental health, for outdoor professionals, wellbeing practitioners, researchers, health professionals & all adventurers.
This year’s theme is “Small Adventures, Big Impact”.
I have always believed in the small adventures concept, stick your trainers on and see what you can do in your local neighbourhood. With some research and creativity, you can find some great walks local to you (Check out the YHA or the National Trust’s Autumn special offer).
Especially now with the cost of living crisis, we need outdoor pursuits that are not expensive and activities to keep us sane.
These are the 5 people who I am planning on saying hello to and finding out more about what they do.
Belinda Kirk is the founder of the Adventure Mind Conference
Belinda is an explorer, mum and leading campaigner promoting the benefits of adventure on wellbeing, performance and mental health. In 2009, Belinda established Explorers Connect to spread the word about the life-changing impact of adventure and encouraged 30,000 ordinary people to engage in transformational outdoor challenges. She has led dozens of international expeditions over the last 27 years, crossing continents on foot and gaining a Guinness World Record for rowing unsupported around Britain.
Author of Adventure Revolution: The life-changing power of choosing challenge
I need to thank Belinda for giving me the chance to run a workshop at the Conference.
Gill Erskine is Director of WildStrong
Gill is passionate about making the outdoors and movement accessible to all. A natural community builder, Gill started WildStrong as she wanted to create space for people to spend more time outdoors and meet others who live locally. In 2023, Gill was recognised as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur 100 campaign.
Check out the Wildstrong Manifesto – I totally agree with “bootcamps too shouty”.
View the locations and see how you can get involved.
Dr Chris Kay is a British representative of the BOSS Project (Benefits of Outdoors Sports for Society)
There is no agreed mechanism for comparing the social benefits of outdoor sport in economic terms. The project is trying to change this in order to support investment in health enhancing physical activity in the outdoors. This is the first time I have come across the Boss Project and I totally get what it is trying to achieve. It would certainly be a turning point if you could put a price on “20 minutes outside every day”.
I will be listening to Chris and reporting back.
Nadia Weigh is the Director and Community Co-Leader for the Adventure Queens
AQ is a UK based, not-for-profit women’s adventure community. I have been part of the AQ online community for the last few years and they always have lots of adventures to get involved in.
Don’t forget to submit your adventure for the annual Adventure Queen Grant.
You can also feature your adventure stories using #adventurequeensuk.
I will be meeting Nadia for coffee and finding out about what AQ have planned for 2024.
Charlotte Boenigk is the founder of Free Your Instinct
Charlotte is a free running, adventure seeking, chocolate loving mother, of two wild little toddlers. Founder of Free Your Instinct, a charity that offers parkour for those with a recognised mental health need, she is currently finishing a PhD researching parkour for mental health.
Free Your Instinct has classes in London and Bristol and they are looking for Event Volunteers.
Follow #GiveParkourAGo
I am meeting Charlotte for coffee and look forward to finding out more about Parkour for Mental Health.
It’s time to get out of bed! and find today’s adventure!
Over and Out
#PinkNicky
