UBC Undergraduate Research

Outdoor education : youth’s perceptions of experiential-based outdoor education in the context of social inclusion McKeown, Aileen P.

Abstract

Outdoor education is common, although often small and delimited, program within schools, providing an avenue in which to teach important skills to students, and may be particularly important for students who struggle in a traditional academic setting. Past research indicates that outdoor education has a positive impact on students in gaining academic and social skills. However, little research has been examined on what participants believe they gain from involvement in outdoor education. Overall, this study provides exploratory research about personal perceptions of outdoor education, assessing the value of outdoor education as part of a larger socio-cultural learning arena. This study investigates into whether youth feel outdoor education experiences creates a more socially inclusive environment among peers. This study complements extensive quantitative research suggesting a positive impact of outdoor education on the development of individuals. I assessed a cohort of students at a private secondary school in Vancouver, Canada. Students participated in qualitative in-depth interviews before and after participation in a school facilitated outdoor education program. I was particularly interested in whether or not students perceived engagement with their classmates differently after the program. Results indicate that students felt more inclusive towards classmates after participation in the program, and had a greater appreciation for team building and communication skills amongst peers. This study suggests areas for further research in student perceptions of outdoor education, which may help advise school board policies surrounding the use of outdoor education programs, as well as advise schools themselves in restructuring their outdoor education programs to better reflect desired learning outcomes.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada