Principles for Better Environmental Education Field Trips for Early Adolescent Youth in the United States: An Empirical Study
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| Title: | Principles for Better Environmental Education Field Trips for Early Adolescent Youth in the United States: An Empirical Study |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Marc J. Stern (ORCID |
| Source: | Environmental Education Research. 2026 32(1):232-255. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 24 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) |
| Contract Number: | 1906610 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Grade 5 Intermediate Grades Middle Schools Grade 6 Grade 7 Junior High Schools Secondary Education Grade 8 |
| Descriptors: | Environmental Education, Field Trips, Early Adolescents, Student Attitudes, Program Effectiveness, Safety, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Student Needs, Interpersonal Communication, Expectation, Novelty (Stimulus Dimension), Program Content, Attention, Personal Autonomy |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13504622.2025.2502575 |
| ISSN: | 1350-4622 1469-5871 |
| Abstract: | Which approaches lead to better outcomes for participants in environmental education (EE) field trips? This manuscript builds upon previous large-sample quantitative research that identified effective elements of single-day EE field trip programs for early adolescent youth across the USA. In this mixed-methods study, we observed 87 EE-focused school field trips in the USA and then surveyed youth participants immediately afterwards. We used the student surveys to quantitatively distinguish the top-performing quartile of programs from the bottom quartile. We then examined in-depth qualitative fieldnotes on each program in the top and bottom quartiles. Our analyses revealed six key principles that distinguished the programs with the most positive student outcomes from those with the least positive: (1) ensuring basic needs (physiological and safety) are met; (2) ensuring instructional clarity; (3) providing emotional support for students; (4) highlighting the novelty of the activities and setting; (5) maintaining or restoring student attention; and (6) providing a cohesive and thematic experience with clear purpose. There are many ways to embody the six principles. We share examples for each. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503103 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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