Increasing Children And Adults’ Positive Connection To, Knowledge Of, And Orientation Toward Nature Through Environmental Education Programs
Open Access
- Author:
- San Jose, Alyssa Leilani
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Keith E Nelson, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Jeffrey M Love, Thesis Honors Advisor
Dr. Jeffrey M Love, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Psychology
Outdoor School
Environmental Education
Nature
Environmental Stewardship - Abstract:
- Many efforts have been made to enhance a child’s connection to, knowledge of, and orientation toward nature through excursions such as trips to museums, nature camps, and other outdoor experiences. However, prior research has seldom been rigorous in establishing participants’ connection to, knowledge of, and orientation toward nature as a pre-test, followed by a clear specification of what range of experiences in nature are included in an intervention. Prior research also lacks rigorous assessment of a child’s connection to, knowledge of, and orientation toward nature at the post-test point after the educational intervention. This study provided such a design not only for children who attend an outdoor nature camp, but also for the adult counselors who work with the children at the camp. Using a sample of 272 participants, 177 child campers (ages 9 – 11) and 95 adult counselors (ages 18 – 35) were administered a pre- and post-test in a repeated measures design in the Penn State Outdoor School program. Findings demonstrated significant gains in areas of connection to, knowledge of, and orientation toward nature for both child campers and their adult counselors. Relative to prior developmental literature, the gains made by the children through their nature camp experience are particularly broad and significant. It appears that the present study is also the first to document gains made by adult camp counselors for a children’s nature camp experience. Overall, the data derived from this study show impressive impacts of a four-day outdoor nature program and will help inform future efforts to improve the quality and impact of outdoor nature camps and similar experiences for both children and for adults.