Peer-reviewed research2017–2026 update
We Are Wilderness Explorers: A Review of Outdoor Education in Canada
The first synthesis of Canadian outdoor education research produced a model linking common teaching components, learning processes and students' short-term outcomes.
What's new
The authors carried out a systematic review of qualitative studies of outdoor education in Canada published between 1980 and 2018, and synthesised them using meta-ethnography. The 21 studies reviewed reported on the experiences of 508 students. Thematic analysis found eight themes covering process, goals and learning outcomes, which the authors used to build a model of common teaching components, the learning process and short-term outcomes.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
The authors argue that outdoor education should be understood in its place, time and culture. That idea supports building a distinctly Aotearoa approach to EOTC, and the review offers a method for doing so.
Putting it into practice
Sector leaders and researchers could use this review's approach as a template for synthesising New Zealand EOTC research into a shared national model.
How strong is the evidence
A systematic review and synthesis of 21 qualitative studies. It is strong for identifying common themes from students' perspectives, and it covers only short-term outcomes in a Canadian context.
What to read
The model and the eight themes.