Mathilde Vædele Haugaard Jensen

Mathilde Vædele Haugaard Jensen serves as a Teaching Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management within the Forest and Landscape College of the University of Copenhagen. Employed since June 2010, she directs the outdoor guide education program (friluftsvejlederuddannelsen) and specializes in integrating outdoor activities with nature guidance and pedagogy.

Education

• Cand. scient. in Sports Science with specialization in outdoor life (friluftsliv)
• Nature guide certification
• Instructor 3 in climbing and rope climbing
• Instructor 3 in sea kayaking and touring canoe

Her research explores sustainable practices in outdoor recreation, ethical dimensions of nature guidance, and pedagogical frameworks for physical activity in natural environments. She emphasizes responsible engagement with ecosystems through structured outdoor education and certification standards for nature-based institutions.

Publications since 2010 reveal consistent focus on practical applications: her 2020 work addresses sustainability in outdoor guidance self-perception, the 2017 compendium details recreational rope climbing methodologies, and her 2010 article examines body-movement relationships in nature. These demonstrate interdisciplinary connections between environmental science, sports pedagogy, and recreation management.

She actively develops certification systems for nature/outdoor institutions and leads practical courses in climbing, kayaking, and canoeing through the Videncenteret knowledge center, directly translating research into professional training standards for outdoor educators.