The International Association for Adventure and Nature based Therapies is an international network of practitioners, researchers, and people with an interest in collaborating about Adventure and Nature Based Therapies. IAANT has representatives from over 40 countries and hosts a triennial conference.
The Australian representatives on IAANT are Amanda Smith and Fiona Cameron. If you would like to connect in with the international community, they can be contacted at [email protected]
We hope that everyone reading this update is as well as possible, in these complex global times.
In Australia, as we continue to build safe and ethical practice and research in the Outdoor Health space, it is timely to widen the lens and reflect on the healthy evolution of Adventure and Nature Based Therapy internationally.
Last year in Taiwan at the 10th International Adventure Therapy Conference, the Adventure Therapy International Committee changed its name to the International Association for Adventure and Nature-Based Therapies (IAANT). Along with the change in name came a shift and growth that both acknowledged the culturally diverse practices and practice histories that exist. A highlight for many attendees was receiving and digesting an Acknowledgement of Positionality written by the incoming Chair Tanya Ginwalla and embraced by the IAANT leadership group.
“As the International Association of Adventure and Nature-Based Therapy (IAANT) we come together with care, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility. We recognize that the field we are part of is not new, but emerges from age-old relationships between people and the natural world.”
Read the full acknowledgement here: https://www.iaant.org/new-page
The International Association of Adventure and Nature-Based Therapy (IAANT) website is live! A lot of work has gone into creating a new IAANT website and it is now up and running so please check it out here.
International Representatives:
International Representatives from 18 different countries met in April. Each representative gave an update on happenings their region and challenges identified. Some of the challenges identified were felt by everyone, such as instability in the field; lack of funding or changing parameters; fallout from conflicts; global economy. Another action from this meeting led to the role description of International Reps being revised:
The primary role of National Rep is to be aware of, familiar with, and connected to the Adventure and Nature-Based individuals, organizations, education programs, and associations in their region. The secondary role of a National Rep is to connect their region to the international community, and to connect the international community to their region.
11th International Adventure and Nature-Based Therapy Conference
11 IANTC Conference | Kerry, Ireland | April 2028 | A Wave of Change
See announcement video on the 11 IANTC Conference website.
Like all areas of IAANT, there is an international working group of volunteers to support the local organising committee for 11IANTC. If you are passionate about adventure and nature-based therapies and excited about helping to run a an event on this scale, please email: [email protected]
