Social Work and Outdoor Education
The combination helps realize a student’s career vision
Taking it to the streets in midwinter really switched it up for Nanette Roberto and other students in an outdoor education class this past winter. “We were all used to high adventure wilderness experiences,” says Roberto, a dual major in social work and outdoor education. “But they just told us: ‘We’re going to Boston. Bring a sleeping bag and something you would be willing to give to someone in need—a hat, jacket, or gloves.’”
Students were assigned to teams and instructed in strict appropriate risk management guidelines, structured activities, and check ins.
“During our two days, we did some service projects. The goal was to learn the difference between service and helping,” says Roberto. “Service is genuinely altruistic with no expectation of any return, and service is doing a favor.”
She and other students cleaned and hung curtains at a day care one day and then cleaned and organized at a community center the next. But, finding a place to spend the night was tough.
One of their guidelines was that by 8 p.m. the teams had to call in on their cell phones from a safe place to stay, not a shelter.
“We were in coed groups of three to four people and it’s illegal to sleep on the street. We saw people sleeping on church steps or on top of street vents,” recalls Roberto. “Some teams stayed with friends. Our group ended up at a maternity ward waiting room in a hospital. Usually they don’t allow that, but they made an exception for us.”
The “give-away item” on the street helped parlay conversations with those who were homeless. Roberto gave her hat, scarf, and gloves to a fellow at the public library. In exchange, he was asked if he would be willing to talk with her about his life. He agreed.
“He’d been homeless since he was 16,” says Roberto. “He was in his mid-30s, but he looked like he was in his mid-40s. He hadn’t been in touch with his family for years. He had a caseworker and was hoping to get into a group home. He denied any substance abuse. It was a short conversation, but his gratitude for the hat and scarf was apparent.”
For Roberto the experience raised her compassion for people who are less fortunate. “I didn’t eat anything for two days,” she notes. “I’m a vegetarian and I learned what a privileged choice that is.”
A great idea
Prior to going back to school, Roberto, who is in her early 30s, worked at Monadnock Family Services for 12 years. She came back to school with a career vision.
“At the community mental health center I created programming for adults with chronic mental illness,” says Roberto. “I started a fishing group, then a hiking group, and a walking group.”
She found that clients who had not engaged in any other activity would engage with the fishing group.
“Men and women who had been isolated for years in their homes would come out to fish,” says Roberto. “Many had fished as children. It doesn’t cost a lot, but this activity gave them a lot of self-confidence.”
She focused her work around the question: What does recovery mean to you? “I think it means, ‘I have a friend I can talk to. I have an activity I can enjoy when I’m not plagued by my symptoms,’” says Roberto.
To pursue this integration of social work with her love of the outdoors, Roberto came to UNH, declaring a dual major in social work and outdoor education. She plans to earn an MSW.
Now heading into her senior year with plans to earn her MSW, Roberto has found great enthusiasm for her vision in both of her academic areas: social work and outdoor education. Says Roberto, “The networking and support has been amazing.”