A residential outdoor education camp and environmental attitudes : a case study
<p>Whilst many outdoor educators are confident their residential outdoor education</p><p>(ROE) camp programmes improve participants' environmental attitudes, research findings are</p><p>inconclusive. This study seeks to explo...
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| Format: | thesis |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
2004
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11351 |
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| Summary: | <p>Whilst many outdoor educators are confident their residential outdoor education</p><p>(ROE) camp programmes improve participants' environmental attitudes, research findings are</p><p>inconclusive. This study seeks to explore the effects of a ROE camp and socio demographic</p><p>variables (age, gender, number of siblings, environmental worldview, preferred recreational</p><p>activities, and previous outdoor and environmental education experiences) on environmental</p><p>attitudes. It also examines camp elements that may be influential upon environmental attitudes and</p><p>attempts to shed light upon the process of attitudinal change.</p><p>Twenty-eight intermediate school students (aged 11 - 13 years) participated in a four day ROE camp</p><p>that included environmental education activities. A mixed method approach was utilised where</p><p>Mackay's (1981) modified version of the Millward Ginter Outdoor Attitude Inventory (MGOAI) was used</p><p>to gather quantitative data from pre and post-tests. Qualitative insights were also gathered using</p><p>participant observation, interviews and a focus group with:</p><p>(1) three students; (2) the school's Head of Outdoor Education and; (3) a parent volunteer.</p><p>Results from a repeated measure ANOVA and constant comparative qualitative methods suggested that</p><p>the camp led to a positive improvement in environmental attitudes. Gender and previous experiences</p><p>in outdoor and environmental education activities were also found to be influential. Students felt</p><p>that environmental games, tramping and minimal impact camping practices had influenced their</p><p>attitudinal improvement. The process of attitudinal changes corresponded with Hanna's (1995) Theory</p><p>of Intention In and For the Wilderness. Issues of imbalance in outdoor education curriculum foci</p><p>are addressed, and a framework for future practice and research is suggested.</p><p></p> |
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