Abstract
In the United States there are a number of schools that utilize outdoor learning and adventure sports as part of their educational approach. The purpose of this case study was to analyze several programs that utilize adventure sports and outdoor learning in their curriculum and then present their distinguishing features in case study form. This case study selected 16 schools/programs that used adventure education or outdoor learning and created a profile for each one using a set of common guiding questions. This paper offers an interpretation of the findings that goes beyond the 16 profiles by synthesizing common components of the schools. While no two programs had exactly the same characteristics, there were some common components that many of the schools regularly identified with or emulated. These common components were the bond with the learning space that they utilize, their educational approach, and their process of reflection. Additionally, many schools indicated that the lens in which their students viewed and interacted with the outdoor environment, the physical environment around the students, and attributes of their program delivery as their most unique features. Although there were many features that the programs shared in common, it was the way in which each program blended and utilized these features that led to each program’s individuality.
Advisor
Julie Carlson
Committee Member
Jason Kaufman
Committee Member
Steven Maynard
Date of Degree
2020
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
College
Allied Health and Nursing
Recommended Citation
Trzepkowsi, J. (2020). Taking a walk on the wild side: Case studies of programs that integrate K-12 curricula with adventure sports and outdoor learning [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1071
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Outdoor Education Commons
Rights Statement
