Exploring the Impact of an Outdoor Orientation Program on the Psychosocial Factors of Honors Students

Abstract

Exploring the Impact of an Outdoor Orientation Program on the Psychosocial Factors of Honors Students Shiloh Erdley, Darrin Kass, Brianne Oehmke, Julie Vandivere Abstract Background. Despite the quality of students typically accepted into honors programs, completion rates are relatively low, ranging from less than 20% to a high of 48% (Campbell & Fuqua, 2008; Cognard-Black, Smith, & Dove, 2017). Purpose. This research aims to integrate a high-impact Outdoor Orientation Program (OOP) into the honors curriculum to determine its impact on individual outcomes linked to student success and retention, such as self-efficacy and self-esteem, emotional intelligence, grit, and life satisfaction. Methodology/Approach. 28 first-year honors students participated in a 4-day mountain climb OOP. Participants completed psychosocial measures before the OOP and at the end of the semester. The remaining first-year honors students served as the control. Findings/Conclusions. Overall, results revealed that students who participated in the OOP showed more significant improvements on nearly all outcomes of interest over the semester than those who did not. Implications. This study supports the use of OOPs in a university setting, and these benefits may extend beyond the honors program. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jehd.v10n1a14