"Being comfortable with the uncomfortable": Adolescent girl's [i.e., girls'] experiences of an extended outdoor adventure program
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Kelli Anne Talley (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Kelli Anne Talley
Abstract: The developmental stage of adolescence is a difficult time for young people, particularly girls. Research shows that girls often struggle during this period with low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, depression, and poor body image. Outdoor adventure programming has several positive outcomes, including providing adolescent girls with authentic experiences that allow them to challenge themselves, build connections with others, and develop life tools to overpower the negative societal influences of genders stereotypes and unrealistic pressures. Numerous studies confirm these outcomes. However, most of these studies looked at programs that lasted a few days to several weeks. Due to the importance of improving adolescent development for girls, this study examined the impacts of long-term exposure to outdoor adventure programming for adolescent girls. The injury employs a qualitative analysis to share the stories of 8th-grade students at the French Broad River Academy for girls. This private middle school utilizes outdoor education regularly. Students reflected on what outdoor adventure programming meant to them during their 2.5 years at the school. They did this over a semester by taking pictures of their outdoor experiences on disposable cameras. At the conclusion of the semester, students used photo-elicitation to share their experiences by using their photos to share their stories in focus group interviews. Emergent themes from the focus groups included: Relationship & Community, Perseverance & Resiliency, Enjoyment & Finding Beauty in Nature, Leadership & Confidence, and Individual Growth.
"Being comfortable with the uncomfortable": Adolescent girl's [i.e., girls'] experiences of an extended outdoor adventure program
PDF (Portable Document Format)
885 KB
Created on 3/1/2022
Views: 243
Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- adolescent girls, outdoor adventure programming, adventure education, experiential education, photo-elicitation
- Subjects
- Outdoor education
- Adventure education
- Teenage girls