Exploring Explore : determining whether students' environmental worldview transforms through an outdoor education program

Abstract

This richly descriptive qualitative study examines the ability of a Grade 11 outdoor education program to transform student environmental worldviews. This exploratory research investigates the current environmental attitudes and beliefs of a random sample of eight graduates of the G. P. Vanier Secondary School Explore program from the years 2003 through 2006. The research also examines the long-term reflections of these graduates on their experiences in the Explore program. This qualitative research utilizes open-ended interviews to ascertain the depth and breadth of the students‟ experiences. Qualitative findings indicate that a reaffirmation, rather than transformation, in environmental attitudes occurs for the participants in this study. The findings of the study corroborate the results of earlier studies on the positive impact of outdoor education programs and support the notion that outdoor education programs can provide a variety of meaningful experiences for their participants.