Discovering the elements of success for outdoor education programs in public high schools

Abstract

The study reported for this thesis sought to examine the design and process elements that are significant attributes for the successful implementation and sustained operation of programs of outdoor education (OE) in high school settings. A qualitative analysis was made of the results of semi-structured interviews conducted with twelve experienced OE practitioners about their views of the requirements for success in developing, implementing, and sustaining OE programs in high school contexts. The interviews focused on discovering and collating participants’ experiences and narratives concerning the factors that they had found to be important to sustaining OE programs in secondary schools. When the interviews were transcribed and collated the study participants described program formats that were important to the successful implementation of OE programs in high school settings with particular emphasis on developing effective relationships with community settings, an understanding of school culture, and effective student recruitment. Time use and scheduling patterns, staffing ratios, and funding for program equipment and student transportation were identified as potential program obstacles. Interviewees also described the personal attitudes, knowledge, and skills that they considered to be important for the success of teachers working in OE programs.