Understanding emerging adult identity development through work at a residential outdoor environmental education program
An application of social practice theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12525720 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Timothy J Mateer (0000-0002-6828-4340, Pennsylvania State University, corresponding author), B Derrick Taff (0000-0001-9536-527X, Pennsylvania State University), Carter Hunt (0000-0001-6319-8171, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, and Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA), Pete Allison (0000-0002-9118-011X, Pennsylvania State University), Ellen Will (0000-0002-9362-3762, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, The Pennsylvania State University, Petersburg, PA, USA) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2021-05-26 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environmental Education Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1350-4622 • E-ISSN: 1469-5871 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13504622.2021.1927994 |
| OpenAlex | W3166163602 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 40 |
Most previous research on residential outdoor environmental education (ROEE) programs has focused on the outcomes associated with student participation in these learning experiences. In contrast to these previous studies, this research takes an interpretivist approach to understand how work as a short-term instructor in a ROEE setting may also uniquely support learning and development for this population as well. A sample of former short-term instructors across the developmental period of emerging adulthood were interviewed to retrospectively explore the meaning that work in a single ROEE program holds in their current lives. Inductive analysis found social practice theory effectively aligned with the meaning former short-term instructors associated with program involvement. These findings suggest that short-term instructor work influenced individuals’ identity development processes in both a social-emotional and pro-environmental manner. Moving past their ROEE experience, former short-term instructors attempted to live out meaningful practices associated with these program-related identities, such as sharing the outdoors with others. Implications for both professional development in a ROEE setting and future research are discussed
Environmental education · Identity (music · Meaning (existential · Pedagogy · Professional development · Sociology · Work (physics · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Outdoor and Experiential Education · Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support
Navigating Environmental Attitudes
I Am What I Am, by Looking Past the Present
The Intention–Behavior Gap
Outdoor Adventure Education
Emerging Adulthood
Moderating effects of pro-environmental self-identity on pro-environmental intentions and behaviour
Significant Life Experiences Revisited
The theory of planned behavior
Identity and the Natural Environment
Identity in Emerging Adulthood
The Dangerous Myth of Emerging Adulthood
Framing for resilience through social learning
Climate‐relevant behavioral spillover and the potential contribution of social practice theory
Practice-ing behaviour change
Rethinking the Youth Phase of the Life-course
Connecting children to nature through residential outdoor environmental education
Mind the Gap
Environmental identity formation in nonformal environmental education programs
Recontextualizing psychosocial development in young children
Formative Influences in the Lives of Environmental Educators in the United States
An Overview of Significant Influences and Formative Experiences on the Development of Adults’ Environmental Awareness in Nine Countries
Emerging Adults’ Identity Exploration
New Environmental Theories
Recreational Specialization
The Problem of Ego Identity
A narrative approach to ethnic identity in emerging adulthood
Mapping the Margins
Emerging Adulthood
Emerging adulthood
Social Movements and Collective Identity
| Citations per year | 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |