Urban children and nature: a summary of research on camping and outdoor education

Abstract

This paper reports the preliminary findings of an extensive bibliographic search that identified studies or urban children in camp and outdoor education programs. These studies were systematically abstracted and classified qualitative or quantitative. Twenty-five percent of the abstracted studies were quantitative. The major findings, techniques of study, and policy suggestions of the studies are summarized. In general, the qualitative studies report considerable positive influence for urban children involved in camp and outdoor education experiences. The quantitative studies find only slight changes or changes for only a small proportion of the campers. The changes reported in the quantitative studies are often attributed to the break in routine or to the class backgrounds of the campers rather than to the camp experience. This paper suggests that more refined quantitative research and more modest qualitative research are needed.

Parent Publication

• Children, nature, and the urban environment: proceedings of a symposium-fair

Citation

Burch, William R., Jr. 1977. Urban children and nature: a summary of research on camping and outdoor education. In: Children, Nature, and the Urban Environment: Proceedings of a Symposium-Fair; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-30. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 101-111