A qualitative study of the perceived significant life impacts of a university summer outdoor education course

The Life Significance of an Outward Bound Expedition: A Retrospective Study Up to 50 Years Later

“…This study adds to the literature on the long-term impacts of wilderness expedition programs on participants and more specifically for modified SLE methodology. The findings of this study support previous research that found that various types of wilderness expedition experiences often produce positive long-term effects such as increased self-awareness of strengths, characteristics, and limitations, confidence, appreciation for nature, teamwork skills, sense of accomplishment, relationship development, openness to new and unfamiliar challenges (e.g., Allison, 2021;Asfeldt & Hvenegaard, 2014;Cañas, 2020;Daniel, 2003Daniel, , 2007Dickson et al, 2008;Goldenberg et al, 2010;Hattie et al, 1997;Ramírez & Allison, 2022;Sibthorp et al, 2008;Takano, 2010;Wigglesworth & Heintzman, 2020). Similar to Goldenberg et al (2010), the participants in the current study indicated that they transferred the value of being challenged, gaining new perspectives, and having new experiences to their lives post-expedition.…”

“…Ewert and Sibthorp (2009) noted that participants' prior knowledge and experience can serve as a confounding variable. While Daniel (2003) found that the life significance can be diminished by similar previous or subsequent wilderness expedition experiences, Wigglesworth and Heintzman (2020) reported that 33% of their sample still described their experience as significant. Participants in the current study that had previous and/or subsequent wilderness expedition experiences often described their course as somewhat less significant, suggesting that the uniqueness of the experience for these participants helped to determine how its significance was perceived in retrospect.…”

“…In a study by Takano (2010) on youth expedition participants, 99% said their experience was significant, and 96% noted that it had influenced their lives. More recently, Wigglesworth and Heintzman (2020) found that interpersonal and social skills were often used in other contexts long after a summer outdoor course experience and Allison et al (2021) concluded that a wilderness expedition can be a "life-changing" experience, assuming it is well organized. Lessons learned are often revisited later in life, such as stepping out of comfort zones and/or meeting challenges (Allison et al, 2021), and the significance of the event often increases as it is connected to other life events (Daniel, 2003(Daniel, , 2007.…”

“…(Male, 1968) Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership These findings also support the importance of the timing of the event with one's life stage (Daniel, 2003(Daniel, , 2007 since participants often mentioned that their expedition occurred during their formative years or after a major life event including divorce or the loss of a loved one. Many reported using the lessons and skills in subsequent personal and professional life (Allison et al, 2021;Daniel, 2003;Gassner et al, 2006;Goldenberg et al, 2010;Ramirez & Allison, 2022;Sibthorp et al, 2008;Wigglesworth & Heintzman, 2020), the value of learning to step out of comfort zones, pursue new experiences, and confront challenges (Allison, 2021) and the potential for the event's significance to increase as it is connected to other life events (Daniel, 2003(Daniel, , 2007. Finally, these results support Bruner's (1987) notion that significant experiences are often used as reference points in a person's narrative or life story.…”

Lasting Impressions of a Mandatory University Outdoor Experience Program: A Retrospective Study

“…The few retrospective studies published on OAEs (Asfeldt & Hvenegaard, 2014;Beames, 2004;Daniel, 2005Daniel, , 2007Gass et al, 2003;Goldenberg & Soule, 2015;Gray, 2017;Hattie et al, 1997;Kaplan & Talbot, 1983;Takano, 2010) and OOPs (Deringer, 2012;Deringer & Wiggins, 2018;Wigglesworth & Heintzman, 2020) consistently conclude that most participants recall positive experiences that challenged assumptions about themselves and others. For example, Wigglesworth and Heintzmam (2020) explored a university outdoor education experience using a retrospective interview approach with participants 20 years post-trip.…”