In this thoughtful conversation, Brendan Madden, a passionate leader in outdoor education and risk management, reflects on his career journey, current work, and evolving perspectives on environmental stewardship, community resilience, and youth engagement. Brendan discusses the transformative power of nature-based experiences—both for mental health and for building stronger communities in the face of climate change and societal disconnection.
Brendan shares insights from his involvement in wilderness programs, youth climate action initiatives, and his master’s research on emergency preparedness. He emphasizes the need for proactive, community-led approaches to disaster response and speaks to the emotional and psychological benefits of being meaningfully engaged during crises. The discussion also touches on Indigenous worldviews, the importance of volunteering, and the quiet but powerful impact of mentors.
With warmth and humility, Brendan describes his own growth, the value of listening to your intuition when systems feel “off,” and how small steps can lead to meaningful change.
Important Messages
Nature as a healing force: Outdoor experiences provide grounding and mental clarity, especially for young people navigating climate anxiety. Reconnecting with nature supports not only personal well-being but also helps reestablish community bonds fractured by events like the pandemic.
Mental health and climate action are deeply linked: Youth experiencing climate grief need spaces to process complex emotions. Programs that combine nature exposure, peer connection, and creative action are powerful tools for building resilience.
Preparedness over panic: Brendan highlights the importance of building local, volunteer-led emergency response teams. He cites successful models like Nova Scotia’s disaster volunteer network and his involvement with his local emergency services group. These networks provide both practical response capacity and mental health benefits through agency and connection.
Mentors don’t have to be Dumbledore: Brendan shares how meaningful mentorship sometimes comes in fleeting but profound interactions. Role models aren’t always formal—they might just be people living bravely in their own skin.
Learning from Indigenous worldviews: Indigenous perspectives frame land as a place of safety and connection, not as something to be “conquered.” This shift in mindset—toward reverence and relationality—has transformed Brendan’s approach to outdoor education.
Change takes time—and a bit of politics: Enacting change isn’t always about big gestures. It’s about consistent small steps, reading the room, and learning how to bring others along with you. Speaking your truth matters but so does knowing how and when to speak it.
Resources mentioned
Brendan Madden (MA candidate)
Brendan is embarking on a new career in disaster and emergency management. He was active in outdoor adventure education for many years and held leadership positions at Outward Bound Canada and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS-USA). He is an internationally recognized thought leader in outdoor safety and risk management and is a member of the steering committee of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. Brendan is a founding member of the Wilderness Climate Action Lab, a volunteer organization dedicated to strengthening the resilience of outdoor programs to climate change. Brendan is finishing an MA in Disaster and Emergency Management at Royal Roads University, with a thesis focus on wildfire evacuation communication for outdoor adventure groups.
