Outdoor journeys as a catalyst for enhanced place connectedness and environmental stewardship

Humans struggle to comprehend, appreciate, and protect natural environments when they have had minimal or no exposure to these spaces. While there are many theoretical explanations for this bifurcation between humans and nature, there is an absence of wide-ranging solutions to address the issue. With a dramatic global shift towards a swelling urban culture driven by technology, current research strongly emphasizes the importance of nature’s health benefits. This study investigates the weakening connections between humans and the natural world and the effect that the characteristics and processes of nature-based journeys have on individual perspectives of environmental awareness and stewardship. Using qualitative research methods, nine participants from three Outward Bound Canada expeditions were interviewed to explore how outdoor journeys of at least one week in length influenced their sense of environmental connectivity and/or stewardship. Results demonstrate a positive association between participants’ exposure to natural environments and an increased sense of connection and stewardship towards nature. Participants experienced a reduced sense of fear in outdoor environments while their comfort levels in natural areas grew. Their values associated with natural areas changed, and for a few, their journeys challenged them to question their current personal and employment situation. Their journeys also augmented naturalistic understanding, increased their sense of connection with their surroundings, nurtured a desire to continue visiting natural areas and, for most, inspired their will to participate in employment or volunteer initiatives to improve the state of the environment.