"You Can't Just Add More Colors": Toward Social Justice in Outdoor Experiential Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Designing Socially Just Opportunities for Equitable and Diverse Environmental and Climate Change Education

Abstract

In this paper, we present preliminary findings from an in-process study in which we surveyed and interviewed outdoor experiential education leaders and facilitators across the United States about their perceptions of social justice and their training and preparation for supporting people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures in their organizations and programs. Approximately 85% of the 49 survey respondents at least somewhat agreed that participants from marginalized groups feel supported during their programs. The 19 interviews, however, painted a more complex picture. Several participants shared that access is not enough, that belonging and welcoming are goals that go beyond “just adding more colors” for the sake of promoting diversity.

Authors

• Scott Morrison, Elon University

• Jacob Hyle