Giving Youth Something to Imitate: Positive Males Working with Kids in the Outdoors
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Presenter: Doug Moczynski
Abstract: Have you ever paused to consider how the young people you work with perceive you? Through your words, actions, and presence, the example you set shapes what meaning they make from their experience. Are you actively creating emotionally safe-enough environments? Do you genuinely model informed consent and respect young people’s agency? With family violence on the rise in Victoria, Australia, now is a decisive moment for male leaders in the outdoors to reflect on the kind of example that they set.
Our words and actions matter. Truly inclusive experiences require self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and intentional practice. In this presentation, Doug explores the art of engaging with young people (outdoors or in), right down to the subtleties of body language and tone of voice. Join us for an outdoor, interactive virtual workshop where everyone is welcome. Together, we’ll reflect, listen, and lead with greater clarity about what it means to be emotionally, physically, and culturally inclusive male leaders in the outdoors.
We all have room to grow. Let’s do it together.
About the Presenter: Doug works therapeutically with youth and tries to inspire other grown-ups to do the same. An adventurer at heart, Doug loves to share his passion with others. Armed with a bush knife and a whistle, Doug’s childhood adventures began barefoot in the rainforests of Far North Queensland. It was here that Doug developed a lifelong love of adventure and the outdoors, nurtured by his parents.
With a dynamic career in adventure guiding, Doug developed technical leadership skills across many adventure sports before finding another passion in youth work, where he has dedicated over 15 years to the out-of-home care and disability sectors, facilitating therapeutic outdoor experiences. Doug launched Gippsland Adventure Therapy in 2020, a service that supports young people and families in connecting, healing, and sharing joy through adventure.
Now studying for a Bachelor of Social Work, Doug is employed at an Aboriginal-controlled childcare agency, ACCO, and is working towards becoming a registered social worker, as well as aspires to merge the fields of social work and outdoor facilitation.
