A teacher who has led Scouts around the great outdoors of north Brisbane for a decade added a medal to her badges yesterday at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s first Moreton Bay campus graduation ceremony of 2025.
Lynda Aldridge’s dedication to nature and nurture earned her a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies, and a Medal for Academic Excellence for a grade point average of 6.64 out of 7.
The 48-year-old’s husband and children watched her give the graduate address at the ceremony, one of five to be held in April 2025 at the Petrie campus.
More than 450 new Moreton Bay graduates are joining a milestone month for UniSC as it reaches 40,000 graduates since inception on the Sunshine Coast in 1996.
Ms Aldridge is already working in her ideal career – teaching eager young scientists not only in the classroom but across wetlands, mangroves, beaches and bushland.
“I secured my position at Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre in early 2025, just before completing my degree. It’s truly my dream job,” she said.
“I deliver nature-based, hands-on programs for students from Kindy through to Year 12, drawing on my background in marine science, outdoor leadership and teaching.”
Day to day, that means educational experiences while pumping yabbies, handling Kabul the coastal carpet python, surveying mangroves, canoeing in Nudgee Creek, spotting mudcrabs or collecting ecosystem data.
The centre has access to the Boondall Wetlands, Mountains to Mangroves Corridor, Nar-dha (Nudgee Waterholes) and Bora Ring, the foreshores of Moreton Bay Marine Park and developing areas around Brisbane Airport.
Nature inspires hands-on learning
A highlight of her degree was exploring people’s motivations for outdoor recreation through an Undergraduate Research Fellowship supervised by UniSC academics Brendon Munge and Dr Glyn Thomas.
“We found that fostering a deeper connection to nature through education not only supported mental wellbeing but also inspired a sense of responsibility for preserving the natural world,” said Ms Aldridge, who presented the findings at the National Outdoor Education Conference in December 2024.
And environmental studies expeditions were the pinnacle for hands-on learning.
“Our group of six went on a six-day, self-supported journey where we sea-kayaked from Hervey Bay to K’gari via Big Woody Island, hiked across the island from Kingfisher Bay to Dilli Village, and biked to Hook Point.
“We planned every aspect of the journey and built bonds and memories that will stay with us forever. The following semester, we returned in a leadership capacity, helping guide the next cohort through the expedition. It was a powerful full-circle experience.”
She also received a UniSC Leadership Award for contributing to the Students as Partners program and as a peer leader advisor and student experience mentor.
“I chose this double degree because it combined secondary teaching with outdoor environmental studies, which aligned perfectly with both my passion and experience.
“I had completed a diploma in outdoor leadership through Scouts and was working as an outdoor leader at the Y, Camp Warrawee before and during my studies, so the next step was to formalise and deepen my skills while gaining the qualifications to teach.
Reflecting on people, place, culture
“Before studying, I often approached outdoor experiences with a ‘been there, done that’ mindset, but the course challenged me to slow down, reflect, and recognise the depth of connection between people, place, and culture.
“It helped me develop a deeper appreciation for First Nations perspectives and the importance of embedding cultural awareness into outdoor learning.
“These insights have been invaluable in my new job and I now have the confidence to keep growing professionally, with future goals including a potential PhD.”
Also this month, Lynda was appointed branch commissioner for environmental education with Scouts Queensland.
“In this voluntary leadership role, I will support and promote environmental education across the state, working with leaders and youth members to embed nature-based experiences and sustainability into the Scouting program.”
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