Wilderness-Related Environmental Outcomes of Adventure and Ecology Education Programming

Abstract

Abstract The similarities and differences between adventure and ecology education programming are explained with respect to participants' wilderness knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behavior. A longitudinal study was conducted to compare an outdoor adventure program (Outward Bound) with a field ecology program (Audubon). A model of reasoned wilderness behavior was developed on the basis of the foundational work of Fishbein and Ajzen. The model suggests that behavior in (recreational) and for (environmental) wilderness depends on the interaction of a number of predisposing factors and on the development of relevant beliefs, attitudes, and intentions. The study findings provided support for the proposed model.