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Ecological Identity Work

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Contemporary Approaches to Outdoor Learning

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education ((PSAE))

Abstract

This chapter aims to explore contemporary methods for accomplishing Mitchell Thomashow’s ecological identity work through outdoor learning with place, dialogue and personal narratives. Throughout this chapter an ‘ethic of becomings’ and ‘ethics of care’ is adopted and explored conceptually alongside the defining of ecological identity work and embodied outdoor learning. Place-Based Education, Open Space for Dialogue and ‘Visual Storytelling’ are explored in depth as contemporary methods for encountering nature and ‘self’ subjectively and intersubjectively. This chapter aims to re/conceptualise ecological identity work practice and introduce educators to co-creative, soft-critical and transformative approaches of exploring self-nature-place and the possibility of nascent (eco)identities emerging as affective (eco)identities with aspirations of materialising potential eco-socially just futures.

…the story of Earth is at stake as we participate in it….

—Donna Haraway: Storytelling for Earthly Survival (2017)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

    Rosamonde Birch

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  1. Rosamonde Birch
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Correspondence to Rosamonde Birch .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Education, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Roger Cutting

  2. Institute of Education, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Rowena Passy

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Birch, R. (2022). Ecological Identity Work. In: Cutting, R., Passy, R. (eds) Contemporary Approaches to Outdoor Learning. Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85095-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85095-1_14

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-85094-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-85095-1

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