Outcomes of an Outdoor, Residential Learning Experience in the Context of Pandemic and Learning Loss

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Nine
  In Roundtable Session: Critically Revisiting Environmental Education's Connections to Place (Table 11)

Abstract

This paper explores the environmental, social, and motivational outcomes of a residential outdoor education program for 6th grade students. Using a pre-post design, participating students (N=59) completed surveys at two time points: when they arrived on the program’s campus and again before leaving. Matched pre- and post- surveys demonstrated significant differences in 5 of the 6 measured outcomes. During the 5-day, 4-night experience, students experienced significant improvements in their self-reported (a) understanding of their personal environmental impact, (b) valuing of environmental education, (c) peer relationships, (d) teacher-student relationships, and (e) reading self-efficacy. In the post-pandemic context, these findings hold promise for educators and education scholars interested in understanding how to address multiple outcomes simultaneously.

Authors

• Lisa D. Nehring, Johns Hopkins University
  Presenting Author

• Nan Mu, Johns Hopkins University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Xue Wang, Johns Hopkins University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Qiyang Zhang, Johns Hopkins University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Katherine Jane Cornwall, Johns Hopkins University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hunter Gehlbach, Johns Hopkins University
  Non-Presenting Author