Human Development and Physical Activity in Outdoor Environments
Outdoor environments are regaining increasing importance as contexts for a range of human movement endeavours. The growth of outdoor recreation, outdoor education, adventure tourism and ecotourism is a current phenomenon. The nexus of nature and culture generates a plethora of research questions. In tandem, there is widespread concern for the state of our natural environments from the perspective of sustainability to the spectre of global warming.
This research group focuses on the interaction of people and natural environments from a wide range of perspectives. We predominantly draw on theoretical bases and research methods in psychology, sociology and education to examine current issues. These include:
The environment & people
- Nature based recreation, physical activity and health
- Understanding the human experience of place
- Technology and the wilderness
- Critical perspectives on adventure recreation
- Psychological and sociological factors and outcomes from outdoor recreation participation
Psychological perspectives
- Naturalistic decision making in outdoor recreation environments
- Personal and group development through adventure
- Outdoor leadership
- Women in the outdoors
- Outdoor instructor burnout, career paths and families
Education
- Critical perspectives on outdoor education in schools
- Teaching and learning in the outdoors
- Risk & safety management
- A curriculum on sustainability for the compulsory education sector
- Wilderness solo experiences
- Outdoor education and environmental education
Indigenous perspectives
- Maori perspectives of whenua and whanau
- Indigenous epistemologies and the Outward Bound curriculum
- Western and eastern concepts of adventure
Group Members
Mike Boyes
Shayne Galloway
Geoff Ockwell
Nancy Rehrer
Lisette Burrows
External
Annie Dignan (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
John Maxted
