Exploring Intergenerational Learning: Understanding how youth influence environmental educators
Open Access
Author:
Eldredge, Amy
Graduate Program:
Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
March 15, 2023
Committee Members:
Danielle Lawson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Brendan Derrick Taff, Committee Member Peter Newman, Program Head/Chair Lucy R. Mc Clain, Committee Member Ellen Will, Committee Member
This research examined youth-to-educator intergenerational learning (YEIGL) during a residential environmental education (EE) camp for elementary students in Central Pennsylvania. The environmental educators consisted of university students with various levels of EE experience. Since YEIGL is an understudied area of IGL research, to understand YEIGL occurrence situated within the sociocultural theory framework, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the educators (n=27) after their teaching experiences. Through an inductive approach several learning themes emerged and were tied to existing literature. Findings indicate that YEIGL does occur in several ways for the direct benefit of the educators, as well as the indirect benefit of the campers. Therefore, YEIGL should be further investigated in IGL studies to better understand the power of IGL and how it can benefit the wider community.
