University students’ perceptions of the impact of a wilderness education program on their personal growth, resilience, and sense of community
Graduation Date
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Education, 2013
Committee Chair Name
Ann Diver-Stamnes
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Field experience, Wilderness education, Mixed methods, Behavioral learning theory, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Education, Outward bound, Experiential education, National outdoor leadership school, Social learning theory, Learning theory, Cognitive learning theory, Wilderness act, Resilience, Recreation administration, Personal growth, Orientation, Service learning
Abstract
This study examines students' perceptions of the impact of a wilderness education program on their resilience, personal growth, and sense of community. Wilderness education is a hands-on style of teaching and learning that is set in an immersion environment and provides participants with opportunities to develop experiences beyond the typical classroom educational experience. These experiences are often difficult to measure but can have profound lasting effects on participants. I developed and administered a mixed-methods instrument to measure the perceived impact of wilderness education on students in terms of their resilience, personal growth and sense of community. Results were coded to reveal themes. The resulting data revealed trends in the similarity of positive and lasting effects that participants recalled from their experiences in relation to resilience, personal growth, and community. Links were made between the results of this research and behavioral learning theory, social learning theory, and cognitive learning theory. Participants perceived themselves to have an increased resiliency, to have developed personally through this experience, and to have developed stronger senses of community. The results of this research support the philosophy of wilderness education that learning occurs between teacher and student with content that is embedded directly in the environment.
Recommended Citation
Coriell, Bryn Paulsen, "University students’ perceptions of the impact of a wilderness education program on their personal growth, resilience, and sense of community" (2013). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1095.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1095
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/1831cn103