About
An educator and researcher from Rovaniemi working at the meeting point of people, pedagogy, and the living world.
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Rovaniemi, Finland
01 — Point of Beginning
“My work does not begin with methods — it begins with relationship.”
Relationship to oneself, to others, and to the land we are inevitably part of. I see learning, growth, and well-being as processes that always unfold within this interconnected whole, not outside of it.
This perspective shapes everything I do — teaching, research, facilitation, and development work.
02 — Professional Path
I am trained as a physical education instructor and teacher. My professional path has consistently brought together human well-being, nature, pedagogy, and development work.
I currently work as a Senior Lecturer at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, where my work operates at the intersection of teaching, research, and societal development.
03 — Teaching
“Nature, in my teaching, is not just a setting. It is an active partner — a mirror, a teacher, and a force that invites attention, humility, and presence.”
I teach and lecture in areas related to physical activity, well-being, outdoor- and nature education, and nature sports. I am also involved in national and international development projects focusing on teacher education, sport tourism, sustainability, inclusion, and outdoor guide training.
My pedagogical approach is grounded in nature and sustainability education, experiential learning, and the creation of meaningful learning experiences — often in outdoor environments.
Adventure pedagogy plays a central role in this work. I see challenge, uncertainty, and lived experience not as obstacles, but as essential elements of learning. Carefully guided encounters with the unknown — whether in nature or within oneself — can open space for reflection, resilience, and transformation. In this sense, learning becomes something that is not only understood, but deeply lived.
04 — Research
“How can we create learning environments that do not merely produce competence, but sustain and support the human being as a whole?”
My current research interests include pedagogical development, nature-based learning, well-being in physical activity, and the holistic well-being of higher education students.
My doctoral research focuses on pedagogical approaches to supporting students' mental well-being. At its core lies a broader question about what learning environments are truly for.
05 — Ecopsychology & One Health
An ecopsychological perspective informs my work by emphasising that well-being is not an individual achievement, but a relational phenomenon.
The One Health framework deepens this understanding by recognising the interdependence of human health, ecological systems, and planetary well-being. Human flourishing cannot be separated from the health of the environments we inhabit.
When connection — to nature, to the body, or to meaning — is weakened, this disconnection is reflected in both individual and collective well-being. For this reason, my work is not about "fixing" individuals, but about restoring connection: gently, experientially, and sustainably.
06 — Philosophical Orientation
“What matters most is not what I know, but what can be discovered together.”
Philosophically, my work is grounded in inquiry. Rather than offering ready-made answers, I aim to create space for meaningful questions:
What is true in my life right now? In what direction am I growing? What does a good life mean — here, in this time and place?
As an educator and facilitator, I walk alongside rather than ahead.
07 — Core Idea
“A human being thrives when they experience a sense of belonging — to themselves, to others, and to the world.”
And this sense of connection is something we can learn, practice, and strengthen — together.