Outdoor Education Commons^™

Diverse Minds, Shared Planet: Designing, Assessing, And Adapting Curricula To Engage Diverse Learners With Their Environment And Inspire Positive Change, Mallory Rose Lampe

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The pieces that compose this portfolio together explore how environmental education can connect diverse learners to their environment through the integration of accessible curricula to inspire stewardship and action to take care of the planet we share.

Building Children's Connection To Nature In The Schools: A Piloted Nature-Based Intervention, Alexis Bird

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Nature-based interventions (NBI) have demonstrated positive effects on a range of student outcomes, including enhanced prosocial behaviors, decreased levels of stress, and improved mood and concentration. Further, school-aged children’s participation in NBIs supports students’ reconnection with the natural world. Although schools represent an ideal setting to engage students from diverse backgrounds in NBI activities, existing research is limited in understanding the effects and feasibility of integrating NBIs within school settings. This study aimed to explore the effects of NBI activities administered within a school program on students’ sense of connectedness with nature and their overall wellbeing. Additionally, participants were interviewed …

Coalescence: A Carnivore Coexistence Curriculum That Braids Indigenous & Western Ecological Knowledge Into A Relevant And Experiential Learning Opportunity For Youth, Stephanie Anne Barron

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horriblis) begin to reoccupy more of their historic range, and as humans and large carnivore populations continue to increase, incidences of human carnivore conflict are on the rise. A decolonial curriculum designed in collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe’s wildlife biologists stands to increase awareness of Indigenous ecological knowledge and teach youth about the importance of coexistence with carnivores. Additionally, this project could greatly influence youth perceptions of grizzly bears and other large carnivores. This research project examines the development and implementation of a carnivore coexistence curriculum for youth that is guided by …

Viajar A Como Au Pair A Eeuu, ¿Una Experiencia Cultural O Mano De Obra Barata?, Maria M. Fernandez

Capstones

Por medio del programa Au Pair en EEUU, un programa avalado por el Departamento de Estado, miles jóvenes entre 18 y 26 años, en su mayoría latinoamericanas, ingresan al país para convivir de uno a dos años con familias anfitrionas autorizadas por medio de agencias. Estas familias le dan a sus Au Pairs estadía, alimentación y una compensación monetaria semanal por cuidar a los niños de la familia.

A pesar de que la ley enfatiza que el propósito principal del programa Au Pair es brindar un intercambio cultural y educativo entre los participantes, son múltiples las críticas que, por décadas, …

Experiencing Transformative Learning During Participatory Needs Assessment Of A Public School: Journeys And Arrivals To Relational Ontology(Ies), Shree Krishna Wagle Dr., Parbati Dhungana Dr., Bal Chandra Luitel Prof., Erling Krogh Prof., Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

This paper discusses experiences from school-based needs assessment within a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project aimed at facilitating quality education in public schools of rural Nepal. Being often a first stage in the process of research-action, Participatory Needs Assessment (PNA) offers space for community members’ perceptions and attitudes toward their collective needs. In this light, this paper takes evidence from the first and the second authors’ Ph.D. experiences, under the supervision of the third and the fourth authors to initiate PNA of a school. Also, incorporating the reflections from the fifth author as a critical friend, it observes the political, …

Trees In Our City How A Tree And A Small Patch Of Dirt Inspired A Classroom, Zuleika Hines

Occasional Paper Series

As a new Director in a new school, I knew that I wanted the children to have a curiosity for nature. But to lead the children to a place of discovery, they would need the opportunity to observe, play, and engage in elements of nature that would support hands-on activities both in the classroom and outside. When the opportunity came for me to build my own early childhood program, I knew that I had a unique opportunity to incorporate elements of nature in the design of the classroom. But I wanted nature to be local and the trees of our …

Connecting Children And Young People With Trees, Gill Forrester, Jo Maker, Will Price, Hollie Davison, Heather Gilbert

Occasional Paper Series

Engaging children and young people with the natural world has never been more important. The benefits of outdoor learning span from increased nature connection to improved self-esteem and physical wellbeing. But with so many potential risks and barriers, how can we help practitioners feel confident and capable in an outdoor setting and therefore improve access to green space for children and young people? The education team at the National Forest Company set out to tackle this challenge. The National Forest was established in the early 1990s in a post-industrial area of the English Midlands. It covers 200 square miles and …

Making Kin With Trees: Three Educators And Children Entangled With Treescapes, Stephanie Jones, Lindsey Lush, Sarah Whitaker

Occasional Paper Series

In this article, three educators from one small U.S. city draw on Donna Haraway’s feminist, posthumanist idea of making kin to explore their personal relations with trees and their work as educators to support children’s entanglements with trees. Working in three very different contexts with children: a working-class neighborhood, a public school kindergarten, and a forest kindergarten, the three authors illuminate the “magical” emergences of making kin with trees that fundamentally shifts what becomes possible to do and be. Their writing contributes to the fields of critical childhood geographies, feminist posthumanist pedagogies in early childhood education, and writing in affect …

When A Saunter Starts To Taunt Her: Exploring The Outdoors With Disabilities, Jessica Cory

The Goose

This first-person creative nonfiction piece examines engaging with the outdoors, primarily through walking and hiking, while struggling with diagnoses of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos (hEDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). The author also considers how growing up with a parent whose disabilities made it more difficult to enjoy hikes impacted her own perception of the ableism inherent in the design, architecture, and infrastructure of many state and local parks. The author discusses the importance and struggle of teaching environmental literature through the lens of Disability Studies and advocates both for visibility as well as concrete changes to make hiking and sauntering …

Investigating Relationships Between Muslim High School Students’ School Belonging And Career Decision-Making, Nour Alhiyari

Dissertations

Muslim Americans have been subjected to systemic oppression and unjust experiences, such as discrimination, racism, hate crimes, and stereotypes, for generations in the United States. Although ample research has investigated relationships between systemic oppression in society and its impacts on marginalized students in public school environments, little research has directly investigated Muslim students' school experiences. Additionally, studies and scholarship have explored the long-term impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized groups to develop a comprehensive understanding of minority groups’ experiences in the United States. This study investigated Muslim students’ experiences in public high schools regarding their sense of belonging and other …

Implementing Transformative Education With Participatory Action Research: A Review, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

I write this review of the book, Implementing Transformative Education with Participatory Action Research, for readers, writers, and novice and veteran researchers in various social sciences disciplines and educational landscapes. The book explores using Participatory Action Research (PAR) to implement transformative education. The book argues that PAR can be used to create contextualized, sustainable, and student-centered learning environments. It offers invaluable insights from experts who have actively worked on innovative approaches to school transformation. The book also provides practical guidance and research-based strategies to help scholars effectively navigate challenges and implement transformative education. Overall, the book is a valuable …

Outdoors Please! How To Use Nature And Outdoor Classrooms To Enhance Early Learning, Bruce Geiger, Karen Pierce

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Book Review It Takes An Ecosystem: Understanding The People, Places, And Possibilities Of Learning And Development Across Settings, Denise Montgomery

Journal of Youth Development

It Takes an Ecosystem: Understanding the People, Places, and Possibilities of Learning and Development Across Settings, edited by Thomas Akiva and Kimberly H. Robinson, is a call to take a holistic and dynamic ecosystem approach to thinking about, designing, developing, and investing in the allied youth fields to more equitably and effectively support young people’s learning and development. Published in 2022, the volume outlines a vision for out-of-school time programs and systems, schools, community-based organizations, and the public sector to move beyond focusing separately on individual systems to a learning and development ecosystem approach that more accurately and inclusively reflects …

The Challenges Of Supporting Young Children’S Outdoor Play In Early Childhood Education And Care Settings, Ji Hyun Oh

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This study explored preschool teachers’ beliefs about the challenges they have experienced when supporting young children’s outdoor play. Through Charmaz’s (2006) constructivist grounded theory data analysis process, two types of challenges for providing outdoor play were specified including: (1) natural environmental challenges, such as insect bites, allergies, and severe weather issues and (2) physical environmental challenges that include lack of play materials/environments and playground maintenance. The participant teachers perceive that these challenges are related to their preparation and planning for outdoor play including the provision of outdoor play, allotted play time, and a number of outdoor learning activities.

“A Word For Nature”: A Reflection On A Contemplative Teacher-Training Course In The Desert, Netta Baryosef-Paz, Nirit Assaf

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This paper reflects on an interdisciplinary, environmental, and contemplative course the authors taught at Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel Aviv. Entitled “I am in Nature,” the course was co-taught by an ecologist and a literary scholar. It included a two-day base camping and hiking experience in the Negev Desert and three on-campus meetings. The students read Nature Writing and Ecopoetry, practiced guided mindfulness meditations in the field, and kept contemplative-writing journals. In this community voices piece, we offer an innovative pedagogy for higher education that centers on the integration of the learner’s mind, body, and heart through interdisciplinary, contemplative, …

الرضا الحركي وعلاقته بمستوى التعلم المهاري (الأداء) لسباحة الزحف على البطن لدى طالبات كلية التربية الرياضية في جامعة اليرموك, Ghaid Mandoub Obedat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى علاقة مستوى الرضا الحركي بمستوى التعلم المهاري (الأداء) لسباحة الزحف على البطن لدى طالبات كلية التربية الرياضية في جامعة اليرموك على عينة تكونت من (49) طالبة من الطالبات المسجلات في مساقات السباحة في كلية التربية الرياضية في جامعة اليرموك. واستخدمت الباحثة المنهج الوصفي، ومقياس الرضا الحركي والاختبارات المهارية لقياس مستوى الأداء في السباحة. توصلت الدراسة إلى أن أفراد عينة الدراسة يتمتعن بمستوى متوسط من الرضا الحركي، وأن هناك علاقة وثيقة ما بين مستوى الرضا الحركي ومستوى الأداء لسباحة الزحف على البطن. وتوصي الباحثة على ضرورة التأكيد على مفهوم الرضا الحركي وتعزيزه لدى المتعلمين للمهارات الرياضية من …

Nebline, October 2023

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Super Fair Showcases 4-H’ers Learning Experiences

4-H Youth Use Videovoice to Address Health Equity

Recipe of the Month: Jajic Middle-Eastern Cucumber Salad by Emily Gratopp

American Bittersweet Brightens Up Fall by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Helping Children Calm Down by Hayley Jackson

Adding Wheat to Your Corn-Soybean Rotation Has Many Benefifits by John Nelson

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Kari Schepers

Be Part of Something Big! Join 4-H!

State 4-H Horse Expo Top Results

13-Year-Old Tenley Bauman Embraces 4-H Learning Experience at Fairs

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Super Fair 4-H/FFA Top Results

State …

Scents Of Place: Exploring Self, Place And Planet Through Botanical Fragrance, Jennifer L. Kitson, Donna M. Sweigart

Open Educational Resources

This learning module provides instructors with an experiential field guide for introducing students to the United Nations Inner Development Goals Framework through self-guided mindful smelling activities and reflection prompts related to botanical fragrance. The interdisciplinary nature of this module allows for use or adaptation in a wide range of courses looking for outdoor, place-based and self-guided experiential learning to explore the role of botanical fragrance for people, plants and pollinators. The overarching goal is to deepen students’ connections to their senses (and scents) of self, place and planet through exploring botanical fragrance with mindful smelling. The learning activities in this …

Game-Based Learning In Elementary Mathematics, Sophia Greenfield

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper analyzed 15 primary, peer-reviewed research articles about how to integrate game-based learning in elementary mathematics to increase conceptual understanding. The purpose of this paper was to inform teachers about how to integrate digital and traditional games, including factors to enhance effective implementation, in a way that increased conceptual understanding. Key factors were gleaned from the articles that had a significant impact on the effectiveness of game-based learning. In Chapter Two, traditional and digital games were divided into two sections to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of each method. These benefits and drawbacks were compared in the Appendices to …

Nebline, August/September 2023

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Understanding the “WHY” of Challenging Behavior in Young Children Can Help With Strategies by Hayley Jackson

5 Reasons to Support Your Farmers Market by Tara Dunker

Recipes of the Month: Chocolate Zucchini Muffins and Fresh Salsa by Kayla Colgrove

Time for Fall Lawn Seeding by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Using Water Resources More Efficiently by Becky Schuerman

Parasitoids: Nature’s Biocontrol by Kait Chapman

Lancaster County Super Fair, Aug. 3-12, 2023

Webinars Addressing Biting Pests in Early Childhood and School Settings

Ag Landlord/Tenant Workshop

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers or 4-H Volunteers

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: …

A Phenomenological Study Of Women Principals Who Resigned During The Pandemic, Jessica A. Urbaniak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well established that principal turnover is of grave concern in the U.S. (Goldring & Taie, 2018; Levin et al., 2020) and may have been exacerbated due to the pandemic (Steiner et al., 2022). This transcendental phenomenological study explored the experience of women principals at P-12 schools in the U.S. who voluntarily left their roles during the pandemic. Data was collected from five participants through two semi-structured interviews and a visual representation of their experience. The essence of this phenomenon was: the pandemic allowed for reflection which intensified the need for women principals to feel in harmony with their …

Irvine Prairie Ornithology Guide, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

A guide to the birds found in the Irvine Prairie, a prairie-in-progress in Benton County, Iowa.

Irvine Prairie Grass Guide, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

A guide to the grasses that can be found in the Irvine Prairie, a prairie-in-progress in Benton County, Iowa.

Irvine Prairie Wildflower Guide, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

A guide to the flowers that can be found in the Irvine Prairie, a prairie-in-progress in Benton County, Iowa.

Nature Activities For Teachers Overview, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

A chart of potential activities for a range of grades from Kindergarten through 8 meant to connect teachers and students to nature.

Animal Trackers, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

Outlines an activity for grades Kindergarten to 8 about the tracks animals make.

Before & After, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

An outline of an activity for grades Kindergarten through 8 to view changes in nature through time.

Blindfolded, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

An outline of an activity for grades Kindergarten through 3 about using senses other than sight to explore nature.

Camo Pellets, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

An outline of an activity for grades 1 through 7 replicating predator/prey behavior.

Decomp Tag, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University Of Northern Iowa

Open Educational Resources

An outline of an activity for grades 1 through 8 exploring decomposition through a game with physical activity.