ERIC Number: EJ1234389
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Dec
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-8259
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of NOLS Rocky Mountain on the Development of a Sense of Place
Hutson, Garrett; Peredun, Liz; Rochelle, Shannon
Journal of Experiential Education, v42 n4 p382-397 Dec 2019
Background: One of the core environmental studies learning objectives at NOLS is for students to develop a "sense of place" by experiencing wilderness and exploring relationships with their surroundings. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how students report developing a sense of place after completing a course based out of NOLS Rocky Mountain in Lander, Wyoming. A secondary focus of this study was to understand sense-of-place development through past NOLS research on learning mechanisms. Methodology/Approach: Data were analyzed from 511 NOLS students who answered the open-ended question: Did NOLS help you develop a personal relationship to the places you visited? If so, how? This study utilized a grounded theory approach to design and analysis. Findings/Conclusions: Analyses revealed nine core categories related to developing an expeditionary and wilderness-focused sense of place. The two predominant themes supporting a sense of place were the ability of a NOLS course to facilitate nature appreciation and specific instructor-oriented and NOLS structure-oriented learning mechanisms. Implications: This article offers insights into how NOLS supports a sense of place, clarifies related learning mechanisms, and discusses curricular considerations related to facilitating person--environment relationships within landscapes understood as wilderness.
Descriptors: Environmental Education, Physical Environment, Ecology, Student Development, Place Based Education, Experiential Learning, Travel, Ethical Instruction, Student Attitudes, Outdoor Leadership, Adventure Education, Outdoor Education, Adolescents, Adults
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wyoming
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A