Exploring the Long-Term Impact Of Outward Bound Teen Expeditions Up To Ten Years Later

Open Access
- Author:
- Fairley, Scott
- Graduate Program:
- Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- May 24, 2023
- Committee Members:
- Pete Allison, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Lucy R. Mc Clain, Committee Member
Rob Wallis, Special Signatory
Andrew Justin Mowen, Committee Member
Jen Agans, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Outward Bound
Expedition
outdoor adventure education
teen expedition - Abstract:
- This study examines the long-term impact of teen Outward Bound (OB) expeditions. Research suggests that OB expeditions promote personal growth, but few studies have explored long-term impact, conceptualized in this study as the perceived value and influence of beneficial outcomes over time. Using a retrospective approach, this qualitative thematic analysis explored how ten OB alumni in their twenties described the long-term impact of participating in an expedition as a teen between three and ten years before data collection for this study in 2022. This study’s findings suggest that OB expeditions can promote lasting and influential personal growth in four directions: upward (increased resilience, confidence, independence, and/ or a sense of accomplishment), outward (increased social skills and social connections), downward (increased appreciation for nature), and inward (increased self-understanding or a shift in perspective). These findings support Greenaway's (1998) four arrows model of personal development (adapted from Giges & Rosenfeld, 1976) and empirical findings across the youth expedition literature (Stott et al., 2015). Nine informants suggested that their OB teen expedition catalyzed ongoing processes of growth or beneficial change. These informants indicated that their OB expedition was a spark of motivation or a turning point in their lives that empowered or guided subsequent thoughts and actions that they continued to benefit from. These informants associated the catalyst influence of their expedition with a high degree of program impact. A majority of this study’s informants discussed how the following six components of their OB expedition promoted their upward, outward, downward, or inward personal growth: a) the physical context, b) the social context, c) challenges, d) opportunities to reflect, e) the instructors, f) each individual’s personal background. Additionally, six informants discussed how aspects of their expedition’s social context, level of challenge, or their instructor’s behavior detracted from their experience to varying degrees. Overall, the themes that emerged in this study corroborated findings from previous retrospective youth expeditions research and the broader Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) literature, suggesting that OAE expeditions can be highly impactful experiences and promote holistic personal growth that participants describe as valuable and influential years later. This study extends the existing OAE literature by reporting findings specific to Generation Z participants of OB Teen Expeditions who are reflecting on their past expedition from a subsequent period of development. Additionally, informants in this study discussed the negative influence of some course components, which is an uncommon finding in the OAE literature.