Creating Connection to Nature: A Curriculum Project Combining Interpretation with Adventure Education

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum that connects participants to nature by incorporating elements of both adventure education (i.e. mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, etc.) into an interpretive program, as well as creating nature connectedness (attentional deployment, sounds, identification, etc.) within participants. As needed, it can be adjusted for experience level of participants and knowledge of local ecology dependent on the provider. The goal of adding these two subjects of outdoor education together, was to enhance nature connectedness, comfortability, skills, knowledge, and behavior within participants. The theoretical basis for this program was based upon a nature connectedness, interpretation, and adventure education. These theories are: Nature Connectedness (Schultz, 2002); Constructivist Learning (Dewey, 1938; Piaget, 1972; Vygotsky, 1980); 15 Principles for Interpretation (Beck & Cable, 2011 p.17); Optimal Arousal Learning (Berlyne, 1968 & Eysenck, 1982); Risk (Ewert, Sibthorp, 2014); Cognitive Behavioral Change/Self Efficacy (Bandura, 1977); Pedagogy Learning (Rozenkranz,1989), and Experiential Learning Cycle (Kolb, 1984). The curriculum consists of four units, with two lessons in each unit. These lessons were intended to be used to deepen participants understanding of the natural world and enhance nature connectedness through the interpretation and adventure education subjects. While this curriculum was reviewed by a panel of experts and has one lesson that was pilot tested, it was outside the scope of this project to provide a summative evaluation of all of the lessons and units.