Step to the edge: Influencing diabetes self-management through outdoor adventure & physical activity pursuits Jen Hanson, MEd, BEd, BKin, OCT Chloe Vance, BEd, BPHE, BA Connected in Motion, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Initiatives & Programs
Connected in Motion (CIM), a non-profit organization serving adults with Type 1 diabetes, has been hosting outdoor adventure and physical activity based experiential diabetes education programs in Canada since 2009. The programs provide non-clinical alternative diabetes education to an underserved population of adults with Type 1 diabetes within Canada and the United States. CIM aims to gain an understanding of the process by which outdoor adventure and physical activity participation provide opportunity for personal growth and greater quality of life for individuals living with Type 1 diabetes. In addition, the organization seeks to evaluate how groups such as CIM may provide these experiences.
Experiential Diabetes Education
The process of learning diabetes management strategies (physical, social, emotional) through inductive, activity-oriented experience. (Kolb, 1984)
programming philosophy adventure | ədˈvɛntʃə/ | noun
an unusual and exciting or daring experience. Outdoor adventure programming provides participants with a safe and supportive environment to step to the edge of their comfort zones and to push themselves to into a space - socially, physically, and cognitively where they were able to achieve more than they had previously thought possible. This influenced the selfmanagement behaviours of participants and resulted in a greater quality of life.
Comfort Zone
‘The Edge’ Where the ‘Magic’ Happens
Concrete Experience
doing/having an experience
Active Experimentation
CIM has developed and facilitated over 50 outdoor adventure and physical activity based programs for adults with Type 1 diabetes since 2009. CIM has examines the framework used to guide the creation of these programs and specifically analyses the application of outdoor adventure and experiential education philosophy to non-clinical Type 1 diabetes education programming. To date, all participants involved in CIM programming are between the ages of 18 and 50 years of age, were living with Type 1 diabetes, and were residing throughout North America.
Panic Zone
Reflective Observation
planning/trying out what you have learned
reviewing/reflecting on the experience
Abstract Conceptualization concluding/learning from the experience
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connectedinmotion.ca
Learning Zone
Outcomes • Opportunities
to network, share knowledge, experiences and strategies for living active, healthy lives with diabetes. • A sense of community, fostered through outdoor adventure pursuits, allowing for better selfmanagement practices. • Opportunity for self-management practice, peer-topeer networking and experiential Type 1 diabetes education. • 800+ adults participating in programming yearly • Measured and documented perceived increases in diabetes self-management abilities