Nothing Here to Care About: Participant Constructions of Nature Following a 12-Day Wilderness Program

Abstract

Abstract The experience of 8 teenage participants of a 12-day adventure trip was investigated through participant observation and semistructured posttrip interviews. The teen participants conceptualized nature as a place out there—a reality fundamentally different and removed from their home reality of civilization. The teens understood nature as undisturbed, natural, unfamiliar, without people or human material development, relaxing, not busy, and with a sense of freedom. The teens strongly suggested nature does not exist at home. It appears that, with this construction of nature, the teens felt diminished motivation to take care of their home environment. Key Words: constructivist learning theoryenvironmental concernexperiential educationoutdoor recreation Additional informationNotes on contributorsRandolph Haluza-Delay Randolph Haluza-Delay is the director of the Warwa Outdoor School at Camp Warwa, an environmental and adventure education center near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.