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UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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| Abstract : Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun |
| Whilst many outdoor educators are confident their residential outdoor education
(ROE) camp programmes improve participants' environmental attitudes, research findings are
inconclusive. This study seeks to explore the effects of a ROE camp and socio demographic
variables (age, gender, number of siblings, environmental worldview, preferred recreational
activities, and previous outdoor and environmental education experiences) on environmental
attitudes. It also examines camp elements that may be influential upon environmental attitudes and
attempts to shed light upon the process of attitudinal change.
Twenty-eight intermediate school students (aged 11 - 13 years) participated in a four day ROE camp
that included environmental education activities. A mixed method approach was utilised where
Mackay's (1981) modified version of the Millward Ginter Outdoor Attitude Inventory (MGOAI) was used
to gather quantitative data from pre and post-tests. Qualitative insights were also gathered using
participant observation, interviews and a focus group with:
(1) three students; (2) the school's Head of Outdoor Education and; (3) a parent volunteer.
Results from a repeated measure ANOVA and constant comparative qualitative methods suggested that
the camp led to a positive improvement in environmental attitudes. Gender and previous experiences
in outdoor and environmental education activities were also found to be influential. Students felt
that environmental games, tramping and minimal impact camping practices had influenced their
attitudinal improvement. The process of attitudinal changes corresponded with Hanna's (1995) Theory
of Intention In and For the Wilderness. Issues of imbalance in outdoor education curriculum foci
are addressed, and a framework for future practice and research is suggested.
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