Outdoor Adventure and Environmental Studies with Integrated Foundation Year

Do you have a passion to be in and learn about the outdoors and the environment? This course will challenge you to use the outdoors for environmental and societal benefits as well as giving you everything you need to kick-start your outdoor career.

Our foundation year in Carlisle will build a solid base in scientific, intellectual and investigative skills and knowledge so that you reach the level needed to undertake the remainder of your degree in Ambleside.

Course Overview
The course focuses on incorporating adventurous lifestyles that are socially and environmentally sensitive to address the ecological and cultural challenges of our times.

Using your outdoor skills you will learn about environmental, ecological, and geographical processes that shape outdoor places. You will explore how outdoor experiences can be used to benefit health and wellbeing, with the opportunity to visit and be involved in projects in partnership with work-based activities both in outdoor and environmental contexts.

There are several field trips in the UK and you’ll also be able to travel independently to the Picos de Europa in Spain. This opportunity will set you up for a successful career in the great outdoors. Whether you work in environmental education, conservation and environmental management, or using therapeutic applications outdoors.

On this course you will...

• Learn outdoors experientially to develop outdoor skills and explore contemporary environmental questions.

• Work with and for different outdoor and environmental organisations to gain hands-on experience and contacts with potential future employers.

• Explore how the outdoors has heath and wellbeing benefits and therapeutic applications.

• Learn in inspiring locations like the Lake District National Park, North Wales, Scotland, British coastline, and Spain (including a shared international expedition with Spanish students).

• Meet some of the most inspiring people and students, and have unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

What You Will Learn
In the context of this degree, environment has a broad meaning, for example: built, outdoor, indoor, ecological, geological, geographical, social, political, and historical as well as perceived, individual and emotional.

This programme immerses you in outdoor experiences as a vehicle to develop outdoor skills, environmental knowledge, contemporary and creative practice, communication and facilitation skills (working with people), personal ethics, and values. You will gain an understanding of not just the environment, but wider practices and management styles that occur within the UK and the wider world.

You will explore how people, places, and environments interact and develop curiosity, ideas, and a lifelong passion for learning. Our degree is a way of life that fully immerses you in outdoor learning, both theory and practice.

Year 1

• Essential University Skills 1

• Essential Biology

• Scientific Investigation

• Essential University Skills 2

• Environmental Sciences

• Dynamic Earth

Year 2

• Ecological Knowledge, Interactions and Change

• Outdoor Adventure Skills and Learning (Water)

• Exploring Lake District Landscapes

• Living and Working in Groups Outdoors

• Outdoor Professional Development

• The Earth System

Year 3

• Habitats and Ecosystem

• Outdoor Living Learning and Adventure

• European Mountains: Ecology, Culture and Tourism (domestic travel when restricted by Covid regulations)

• Health and Wellbeing and Environmental Health

• Research Design

• Catchments: Summit to Sea (Optional)

• Traditional and Innovative Approaches to Outdoor Education (Optional)

• Exploring Coastal Environments (Optional)

Year 4

• Dissertation

• Contemporary Global Conservation

• Adventure and Environmental Ethics

• Cold Environments (The Cryosphere) (Optional)

• Outdoor and Environmental Education (Optional)

• Therapeutic Opportunities (Optional)

Assessments will take place throughout each year to support the development of academic and employability skills.

Key areas such as literacy, numeracy, communication, presentation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and solutions are developed as part of the assessment package. The assessment briefs are written so the student can make choices and individualise the context, knowledge and skills they need to develop.

Assessments are an opportunity to demonstrate your learning, creativity and critical perspectives. Your assessment load will be spread throughout the year to avoid “bunching” of submission deadlines. The students’ journey through the assessments will be facilitated and appraised by their personal tutor.