Making Nature More Accessible – Tiina Luhtala Reflects on Her Community Educator Studies at Humak

When Tiina Luhtala found herself in the nature and outdoor experience field almost by accident in 2016, she had no idea that nature would eventually become both her profession and her way of life. Her career in outdoor guidance and nature-based activities developed gradually through a winding path that Tiina describes with a laugh as a lifestyle change.

Nature had always been important to Tiina – a place that supported her wellbeing and where she could move in many ways, alone, with her dog or with larger groups. Working as a nature guide and completing training as a wilderness instructor prepared her for studying Adventure Education in the Community Educator degree programme at Humak.

The decision to pursue higher education came from a desire to deepen her professional skills.

“I became especially interested in what happens within people and groups when they spend time in nature. All the growth, interaction and learning that being in nature can make possible,” Tiina explains.

Memorable moments and adventures across Finland

After graduating at the end of 2023, Tiina has worked widely in nature-based activities, leading trips and courses and guiding different outdoor sports. Her work has taken her from the southern coast of Finland to seasonal work in Lapland and even to the mountains of Norway.

Her personal hobbies have always gone hand in hand with her professional work, allowing her to make use of her diverse knowledge of outdoor sports in guiding roles. She has gained experience instructing activities such as kayaking, rock and ice climbing, backcountry skating, cycling, hiking and ski touring.

“I thought the Community Educator studies would give me tools to combine practical guiding skills with pedagogical approaches. I was also inspired by the international nature of the degree. Studying in English improved my language skills and gave me opportunities to network and learn internationally.”

Her most cherished study memories are connected to the genuine sense of community within the group and the moments shared together. Deep conversations around the campfire and learning from one another left a lasting impression.

“Of course, as a group we also faced challenges and conflicts, but that is part of the process. Adventure education uses a lot of experiential learning, where you reflect on experiences both individually and together. It always felt safe to share things within the group,” Tiina recalls.

Making nature accessible for everyone

Today Tiina’s work is varied, mobile and flexible – exactly the kind of work that keeps her mind engaged. According to Tiina, the skills she gained in adventure education appear in her work almost daily. She plans and delivers activities in a purposeful and safe way while accepting that both nature and people are constantly changing.

“My studies gave me resilience, and I’ve learned to tolerate uncertainty. I feel these are extremely important skills today.”

For Tiina, the most rewarding aspect of her work is its meaningfulness – the moments when a participant discovers something about themselves, pushes beyond their limits or simply dares to pause.

Nature strips away unnecessary roles and makes encounters more genuine. That is why one of the most important tasks of an adventure educator is to lower the threshold for people to go outdoors.

“A lost connection to nature can only be rediscovered by going into nature. You don’t have to be perfect or ready to spend time outdoors – learning is always a process.”

Diverse career opportunities for graduates

Tiina warmly recommends studying at Humak. Students can come from many different backgrounds, as long as they are open to new experiences. Her own career path has taken her into both nature tourism and work with individuals and communities. She has worked, for example, with tourism companies, youth centres, associations and educational institutions.

The degree opens doors widely – essentially anywhere people’s growth and wellbeing are supported. For Tiina, it opened a world that still feels limitless.

“In this field, the sky is the limit. You just have to decide which direction you want to go next.”

Interested in adventure education?

Explore the offerings of Humak’s Open University of Applied Sciences! You can start with a free introductory course in adventure education or choose 5-credit courses from our selection. Detailed course descriptions and enrolment instructions are available in our online store. The courses are in Finnish.