Meet Eric Cartlidge!
Eric (he/him) grew up in Ajax, Ontario and is currently based in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Eric is the Owner/Operator/Main Facilitator at the Adventure Company, where he works to help his clients create a connection to nature physically, emotionally, and mentally, one adventure at a time.
Tell us a bit about what you do at your organization.
Our goal at the Adventure Company is to connect people to nature, physically, mentally, and emotionally one Adventure at a time. We use a variety of activities throughout the year to accomplish this, including canoeing, kayaking, SUP, hiking, snowshoeing as well as guided mindful forest walks. We also offer weekend getaways that could include camping as well as low and high ropes style activities. We want people to experience nature and all of its benefits at the level in which they are comfortable and build from there.
Tell us more about yourself!
I have an honours degree in Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism from Lakehead University most recently became a Certified Therapeutic Adventure Specialist (CTAS) through AEE, and have been involved in the residential camping and outdoor adventure scene for the last 25+ years. I have taught/instructed a variety of activities from paddling in many forms to sports to high and low ropes activities and have worked with children as young as 3 and adults as old as 85. I have worked for organizations that used the outdoors as a therapeutic tool, to help youth reintegrated into their communities after being part of the youth justice system as we as youth who were having trouble connecting to the traditional education system. I am currently the owner operator of the Adventure Company and try to get as many people exposed to nature as possible.
I have a dog named Daisy and my favourite colours are blue and red.
What excites you when you think about the future of Experiential Education?
The undiscovered potential for health and well being that Experiential Education has.
Who or what inspires you?
Watching people experience an activity or a setting for the first time and seeing the smile on their face.
In your free time, we can probably find you:
In the woods or on the water.
What is the most rewarding part about being a Member of AEE?
I have only been involved for a year now when I got my
CTAS certification. So far it has been the connections and the PD and educational opportunities. Receiving my CTAS certification was pretty exciting after going through the entire process.
Having the CTAS certification adds some credibility to a mainly unregulated practice. Other organizations have technical certifications that show competency in a particular skill (canoeing, kayaking etc..) but the CTAS certification indicates a deeper set of skills and experience on how nature and Experiential Education can be implemented for the most amount of benefit.
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