Outdoor Experiences Research Articles

“The freedom to make mistakes”: youth, nature, and the Anthropocene

Aldo Leopold is widely regarded as one of the founders of the modern field of ecology. He was also a skilled woodsman, hunter, and a proponent of personal development through time in the outdoors. In this essay, we focus on how Leopold viewed certain benefits concomitant with immersive outdoor experiences. Guided by his 1943 essay, The Flambeau, we highlight the importance Leopold placed on opportunities for trial-and-error through primary experience in nature for youth, while asking if these freedoms still exist in the Anthropocene. We then present four broad and interrelated social-ecological dimensions – record visitation, climate impacts across boundaries, last-chance tourism and volatility in governance – facing park and protected area managers, and outdoor and environmental educators who are the caretakers of these freedoms. Despite these challenges, we close by asserting the importance of a youth agenda to maintain access to experiences that provide young adults opportunities for risk and exploration. These experiences are paramount for both their intrinsic value and their potential to inculcate environmental ethics in future generations.

Chipping: a pervasive presence in nature, science and technology

Chipping is an all too common occurrence in nature, ubiquitous in various aspects of home and outdoor experience. While it can have deleterious consequences, it can also be harnessed to advantage in such diverse areas as manufacturing, health care, biological evolution and anthropological tool reproduction. This article outlines the fundamental science of chipping, with a broad selection of illustrative case studies. While the focus will be on those solids most susceptible to chip fracture, namely those of an intrinsically brittle nature, the generality of the underlying mechanics will be a central theme.

The Learning to Learn Competence in Early Childhood Preservice Teachers: An Outdoor and e/m-Learning Experience in the Museum

This study was developed with Early Childhood Preservice Teachers within the framework of the Teaching and Learning of Social Sciences over three academic years (2017–2018, 2018–2019, and 2019–2020) at the University of Alcalá. The main objective was to improve the learning to learn competence during teacher training from an outdoor experience at the Museum of Guadalajara (Spain), using e/m-learning tools (Blackboard Learn, Google Forms, QR codes, and websites) and the inquiry-based learning approach. To ascertain the level of acquisition of this competence in those teachers who were being trained, their self-perception—before and after—of the outdoor experience was assessed through a system of categories adapted from the European Commission. The results show a certain improvement in this competence in Early Childhood Preservice Teachers. Additionally, this outdoor experience shows the insufficient educational adaptation of the museum to the early childhood education stage from a social sciences point of view. Finally, we highlight the importance of carrying out outdoor experiences from an inquiry-based education approach. These outdoor experiences should be carried out in places like museums to encourage contextualized and experiential learning of the youngest in formal education.

Inclusive (social) citizenship and persons with dementia

This article aims to advance knowledge of inclusive (social) citizenship, through an empirical analysis of the access work of persons with a dementia. Drawing on the notion of cognitive accessibility and empirical data collected in Southern England using a novel methodology of go-along walking interviews with 15 people with dementia followed by a sit-down interview that included a nominated family member, this paper examines how persons with dementia access the outside world. The study found that access work entailed three spheres of activity: ‘access to location technologies’, ‘access to ordinary places’, and ‘consciously sharing the responsibility of access work’. Overall, this article contributes to the growing literature on cognitive accessibility by evidencing the mental demands of access work, as experienced by people with dementia, and need to share the responsibility of access work between humans and non-humans, and state and non-state actors. Points of interest Access to the outside world is important for disabled people, including people with dementia. This study examined the outdoor experiences of 15 persons with dementia living at home in southern England, to find out what access means for someone with a neurological condition. This study found that access work involved ‘access to location technologies’, ‘access to ordinary places’, and ‘consciously sharing the responsibility of access work’. The study shows how important it is to take account of cognition when promoting access rights for disabled people, including people with dementia.

Goats in Schools: Parental Attitudes and Perceived Benefits

ABSTRACT Animal interactions can provide numerous benefits for child development and education. In the United States, goats are increasingly used in urban farm to school (FTS) programs to enhance children's learning and outdoor experiences. This study examined parents’ attitudes toward the presence of goats in a middle school FTS program and in their residential community, and the perceived effects of goat experiences for their children. Parents’ observations and reflections afford insights into the beneficial impacts that animals have on children and may also serve as a means to gauge parents’ willingness to support animal care and thus enhance the sustainability of FTS programming. Using a retrospective pretest design, we surveyed 112 parents and guardians of students at an urban middle school in the Southeast USA, posing questions about their evolving attitudes toward goats and other animals at the school, their children's experiences with goats and other FTS program elements, and their views regarding the presence, benefits, and drawbacks of goats in the community more broadly. We found that parents generally had very positive attitudes toward goats (and other FTS elements) prior to their students’ attendance, and that these became more positive with time. Over 90% of respondents believed goats positively influenced their children’s interest or enthusiasm for school. Parents also reported broad acceptance of the presence of goats throughout their community. We conclude that goats can be valuable assets in FTS programs, and use insights afforded by parents’ perceptions to draw recommendations for building collaborative support to provide more opportunities for child–goat engagement at schools and in urban communities.

Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot … children’s play preferences outdoors across a year in one private pre-school setting

ABSTRACT The importance of play as a vehicle through which learning takes place for young children is well documented. Play in its many forms contributes to all types of development. Outdoor areas provide play places for young children, but their value is not fully established. Early Years settings must provide daily outdoor experiences for children, but research is needed to fully understand how children's developmental needs are met through outdoor provision. This study considers pre-school children in one setting who have regular access to a garden which is not highly cultivated; it provides a range of textures and surfaces for the children to explore in conjunction with a variety of resources. The study examines the ways in which children use the garden in different seasons and discusses factors, such as the weather and the adults in the setting, that affect their play alongside the affordance of outdoor resources available to them.

Slow nature-focused leisure in the days of COVID-19: repressive myths, social (in)justice, and hope

ABSTRACT This paper offers a tri-fold contribution. The original intent for this special issue paper was an investigation into outdoor recreational experiences that place ‘nature' at the forefront of the activity, including Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing); Friluftsliv; Uitwaaien; Gökotta; and Green-Care Farming. These nature-first approaches exemplify ‘slow' leisure, offering a counter-narrative to highly structured and overly-engineered outdoor experiences. As the writing unfolded and with the passage of time, the World suddenly came to its own ‘slowing' down – almost to a halt – as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement gained Worldwide prominence. As a result, the final version of this paper offers autoethnographic and theoretical insights into ‘slow leisure’ relevant to some of the challenges imposed by COVID-19 and societal (in)justices. This exploration advances an ideology of hope as life continues to shift, evolve, and reveal emergent potential(s).

Children in nature: exploring the relationship between childhood outdoor experience and environmental stewardship

This study examines the relationships between childhood participation in appreciative, consumptive, and abusive types of outdoor activities and the connection to nature, environmental attitudes, and four types of pro-environmental behaviors in high school students. A questionnaire was given to 140 racially mixed, suburban, largely college-bound Texas high school students. The major results indicate a positive correlation between appreciative types of childhood outdoor activities and both connection to nature and environmental citizenship behaviors. Appreciative outdoor activities in childhood were found to predict 10.7% of the variance in connectedness to nature and 12.3% of the variance in adolescent citizenship behaviors. Connectedness to nature was found to predict 8.9% of adolescent citizenship behaviors and was also responsible for 3.8% of the variation in the conservation behaviors of the participants. Results also indicated that those individuals who participated in more consumptive outdoor activities in childhood were slightly less likely to maintain a pro-environmental attitude.

Letting them go - outdoor education with/without the teacher educator

ABSTRACT This research is an autoethnographic account of teaching and learning during outdoor education experiences in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE). Through the process of writing as a method of inquiry, I use a framework of outdoor experiences that went wrong, to identify the symbiotic relationship between teaching and learning in outdoor contexts. By making some experiences visible, through autoethnographic portrayal, I wanted to make sense of risk and errors by focusing on the educational opportunities of the outdoor setting, and the teaching and learning that occurs but might otherwise remain hidden. Accessing teachers knowledge of teaching is crucial to enhancing student learning in meaningful ways. The narrative integrates theory related to learning, teaching, and teaching practice through outdoor education. Knowledge and perspectives from this inquiry aim to provide understandings of pedagogical reasoning, underpinning educational thinking, and vulnerability as a professional in outdoor education.

Outdoor Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses: A Systematic Review.

BackgroundWhile risk of outdoor transmission of respiratory viral infections is hypothesized to be low, there is limited data of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in outdoor compared to indoor settings.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed papers indexed in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science and pre-prints in Europe PMC through August 12 th, 2020 that described cases of human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Reports of other respiratory virus transmission were included for reference.ResultsFive identified studies found that a low proportion of reported global SARS-CoV-2 infections have occurred outdoors (<10%) and the odds of indoor transmission was very high compared to outdoors (18.7 times; 95% CI 6.0, 57.9). Five studies described influenza transmission outdoors and two described adenovirus transmission outdoors. There was high heterogeneity in study quality and individual definitions of outdoor settings which limited our ability to draw conclusions about outdoor transmission risks. In general, factors such as duration and frequency of personal contact, lack of personal protective equipment and occasional indoor gathering during a largely outdoor experience were associated with outdoor reports of infection.ConclusionExisting evidence supports the wide-held belief that the the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is lower outdoors but there are significant gaps in our understanding of specific pathways.

Experiential Outdoor Activities In Improving Students’ Vocabulary Achievement

This research is A Classroom Action Research held at SMP Negeri 4 Sipoholon in Academic Year 2018/2019. The problem of the research is; Does experiential outdoor activities significantly improve the students’ vocabulary achievement of the eight grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Sipoholon? And the objective is to find out whether experiential outdoor activities significantly improve the students’ vocabulary achievement. The subject of the research is 20 students of the eight grade students of SMP N. 4 Sipoholon in academic year 2018/2019. This research was only acted in one cycle in which, that in pre-test there was not student who got good and very good interpretation yet there are one who was fail and 8 students who were poor, in the minimum criterion used in the school is 70, so the researcher concluded that based on the students’ pre-test score they are fail. In fact based on the data analysis of the post-test that there are 11 students who got very good (80 – 100) and 9 students got good (66 – 79), and none of the students got fair (56-65), poor (40-55), and fail (39). It means all the students passed the minimum criterion applied in that school. On the other hand, it can be concluded that experiential out-activities significantly improves the students’ vocabulary mastery. Besides, by analyzing the data through t-test, it can be concluded that the mean of students’ post test score is higher than the mean of students’ pre-test score or 78.25 55.25. In addition, p-value under df (degree of freedom) is 19 or 1.729, it was found t-value has a significant different with t-table or 78.25 1.729. On the other hand, it can be said that the Ho (null hypothesis) is rejected and the Ha (alternative hypothesis) is accepted, in which there is a significant improvement of students’ vocabulary achievement taught by experiential outdoor activities. Keyword: Experiential Outdoor Activities, Students’ Vocabulary Achievement

Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Positive findings from a pilot study and a randomised controlled trial.

The authors confirm that all ongoing and related trials for this intervention are registered. The studies reported in this manuscript are registered as clinical trials at ISRCTN: Pilot ID- ISRCTN15325073 RCT ID- ISRCTN59395217.

Effects of augmented reality technology in a mobile touring system on university students’ learning performance and interest

In this study, we proposed an augmented reality- (AR-) based mobile touring system for an authentic learning activity, which enables students to observe and learn key information regarding cultural heritage sites. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system, we conducted an experiment in a cultural heritage course at a Taiwanese university. A total of 72 students were divided into two groups and randomly assigned to an experimental group who learned with the AR-based mobile touring system and a control group who learned with a conventional mobile touring system. The experimental results show that the AR-based mobile touring system significantly improved the students’ memorising dimension of learning achievement, as compared with a conventional mobile touring system. Moreover, the positive impact of the proposed system on students’ actualised interest and task-based interest factors provide a particularly encouraging result for outdoor experiences. These experimental results also suggest the potential of AR technology to increase students’ learning interest and improve their learning achievements in outdoor settings. Therefore, we suggest that, when applying an AR-based mobile touring system in authentic learning activities, AR virtual objects should be designed appropriately, in order that the content recall performance and learning interest are enhanced.&#x0D; Implications for practice or policy:&#x0D; &#x0D; Teachers may need to consider using an AR-based mobile touring system for outdoor learning activities.&#x0D; First-year student learning achievements and interest can be improved by an AR-based mobile touring system.&#x0D; First-year student learning performance and interest can be improved by AR technology.&#x0D; The usefulness of AR technology can be proved through a comparison of experimental designs.&#x0D;

In the caress of a wave

ABSTRACT This article is derived from a larger study using an interpretive narrative framework exploring ‘the outdoors’ as a defining feature of outdoor education. For Māori, landscapes are imbued with metaphysical values, and these are passed on through pūrākau (traditional stories), waiata (song) and whakataukī (proverbs). Wiremu, re-introduces youth to pūrākau to help build practical and ethical ways to care for places, people, and self. While his work is particularly relevant to Māori, it is equally important for anyone interested in building environmental connections to develop knowledge, attitudes and responsible behaviour. Who we are and how we live on this earth, is both created and limited through the stories we have access to. By including more indigenous stories in that repertoire, it is possible to increase the learning gained from and types of outdoor experiences we value.

Purchasing protection: outdoor companies and the authentication of technology use in nature-based tourism

Different views exist within the outdoor industry regarding the appropriateness of technology use in nature-based tourism. However, there is a lack of attention to outdoor companies’ views in academic literature. We begin to address this gap by examining outdoor companies’ websites. Results indicate that through claims of unparalleled experience and expertise, business leadership in the fight against climate change, and technological innovations for developing sustainable outdoor gear, companies claim mindful consumption of their products can improve recreationists’ outdoor experiences without harming the environment. We contend that outdoor companies use authenticity rhetoric to promote neoliberal notions of sustainability and justify technology use in outdoor recreation, thus situating outdoor recreation in discussions of neoliberal sustainability in nature-based tourisms. By utilizing authenticity rhetoric infused with countercultural outdoor recreation values, outdoor companies assert their authority over nature, positioning themselves as ethical environmental leaders. However, they do so without critically appraising their own roles in promoting sustainability concerns of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism, in perpetuating neoliberal structures of capitalism, and in reinforcing existing unequal power relations. Dominant social groups therefore continue to control environmental protection, as they enjoy the most purchasing power.

Exploring student teachers’ motivations and sources of confidence: the case of outdoor learning

ABSTRACT Outdoor learning has become an important part of policy and practice across several European contexts. While research indicates that outdoor experiences can enhance learning and mental health outcomes, studies have also identified a number of barriers to providing such experiences the most prevalent being that of teachers’ confidence. Acknowledging the role of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in preparing teachers for the demands and complexities of providing meaningful, safe and relevant outdoor learning experiences, this article explored teachers’ experiences both in general, and within a one-year ITE course in Scotland, employing a qualitative methodology. In particular, semi-structured interviews were used with seven ITE students. Results yielded through thematic analysis revealed mastery experiences as being preferred, while vicarious experiences were also seen as useful. In addition, previous experiences in adulthood and childhood impact on the motivation of student teachers to teach outdoors. Implications for ITE programmes are presented.

Recreation vs conservation in Natura 2000 sites: a spatial multicriteria approach analysis

Because of its high naturalness and biodiversity, Natura 2000 network (N2K) is becoming increasingly important for recreational opportunity, providing benefits in terms of physical and mental health through outdoor experiences. Nature-based tourism (NBT) is tourism based on the natural attractions of an area: the greater the recreation opportunities, the greater the attractiveness to people. N2K sites are suitable places to favour the development of the NBT, as N2K is not a system of strict nature reserves from which all human activities would be excluded. The approach to conservation and sustainable use of N2K areas is much wider, largely centred on people working with nature rather than against it. To do this, a balance between nature-based tourism development and ecological protection should be reached. In this work, we propose the application of spatial multicriteria analysis, in order to analyse multiple conflicting dimensions interacting over time, considering in particular both criteria related to NBT development and ecological protection. The aim of the work was to analyse the opportunities of Nature-based tourism development in N2K in Umbria, one of the Regions of central Italy, which consists of 102 sites. In particular, the work considered the conditions of biodiversity conservation, flora and fauna, as well as the leisure opportunities provided by the sites and the pressure produced by human activities on them. A spatial multicriteria analysis has been carried out to understand the potentiality of the N2K at territorial level. In particular, the proposed methodology would like to support decision makers in the identification of N2K sites in which NBT activities could be improved and developed, in a balanced way according to biodiversity conservation. Results show, according to preferences set by three different kinds of experts, that only a small bunch of N2K sites could be suitable for an increase of the NBT.

The Onward Adventure in the New Age: A Systematic Literature Review of the Outdoor Experiential Learning Meets Digital Technology

This paper discusses the teaching approaches used in the field of education in an outdoor experiential learning environment combined with digital technology. The history to this paper's thesis indicates that experiential outdoor learning is one of the teaching methods popularized since the 19th century. With technological advancement, the outdoor experiential learning, has drawn the attention of educators towards computerized technology. However, the experience of learning outdoors may either be a challenge or an advantage when computerized technology is applied to outdoor learning. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework which can help educators to consider computerized technology embedded in an outdoor experiential learning. The methodologies for this paper include fifty peer-reviewed papers, fourteen book chapters, five conference papers, four conference proceedings, and five magazine articles. This study’s main findings suggest the discussion of three primary words in the conceptual context of DTOEL that are pedagogical factors, affordances and implications of the decision. This paper reaches the conclusion that computerized technology can lessen the experience of learning outdoor, but on the hindsight, this method of learning in the outdoors provides opportunities for learning development. With regards to the contribution to the research field, the DTOEL system serves to guide facilitators to make educated choice to utilize digital technology for outdoor experiential learning.

Important Elements and Features of Neighborhood Landscape for Aging in Place: A Study in Hong Kong.

With rapid growth in the aging population around the world, the promotion of aging in place has become more significant in recent years. Many neighborhood landscape elements and features have been revealed by accumulating research findings to be critical to aging in place. However, they are usually studied separately or in small groups. Little has been done to examine the relative importance of these elements and features when brought together, from the older adult's point of view. In this context, the current study investigated the perceived importance for older adults of 22 selected neighborhood landscape elements and features. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 17 public rental housing estates in Hong Kong with proportions of older residents (aged 65 or above) between 20 and 40%. According to the 426 collected samples, older adults considered as highly important landscape elements and features that contribute to comfort and help them avoid hazards, such as good ventilation, protection from severe sunshine/rain, body support, and good hygiene, while elements were thought to potentially bring hazards while not being necessities for older adults' outdoor experience were considered least important, including portable chairs, outdoor tables, plants that can be touched, closeness to children's playgrounds, small spaces for solitude, water features, and fitness equipment. After integrally interpreting the findings regarding perceived importance with other collected data, some landscape design suggestions are generated to supplement existing guidelines and recommendations concerning older adults' well-being and quality of life. These findings can inspire future research and landscape design that prioritize promoting aging in place.

A Systematic Review Exploring the Economic Valuation of Accessing and Using Green and Blue Spaces to Improve Public Health.

Contact with the natural environment in green and blue spaces can have a valuable influence on population physical and mental health and wellbeing. The aim of this study is to explore the economic evidence associated with the public’s value for accessing, using and improving local environments to undertake recreational activity and consuming the associated health benefits of green and blue spaces. Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted. Peer-reviewed articles were sought using electronic databases, scrutiny of reference lists, experts and grey literature. All relevant papers meeting the criteria were critically appraised for methodological quality using the Drummond checklist. The review search concluded with 12 papers applying the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the quality with a narrative analysis conducted under the themes. Results suggest the public value access to green and blue spaces to undertake recreational activities and avoid delay or losing the recreational experience and associated health benefits. The public are willing to pay between £5.72 and £15.64 in 2019 value estimates for not postponing or losing an outdoor experience and for walking in local environments under current and improved environmental conditions, respectively. Valuation estimates indicate the public value green and blue spaces and are willing to pay to improve local environments to gain the health benefits of undertaking leisure activities in green and blue spaces.