Environmental Socialization of Environmental Socialization of Conservationists and Wildland Conservationists and Wildland

Recreationists: Recreationists: The Physical, Content and Social The Physical, Content and Social Dimension of Childhood Play in Dimension of Childhood Play in

Wild PlacesWild Places

By: Carin E. Vadala, Robert D. Bixler, J. Joy JamesBy: Carin E. Vadala, Robert D. Bixler, J. Joy James

IntroductionIntroduction

Extinction of experienceExtinction of experience (Louv, 2005, Pyle, 1998) (Louv, 2005, Pyle, 1998)

Decline in outdoor interestDecline in outdoor interest Increased concern for urbanization and lack of Increased concern for urbanization and lack of

open space open space

Childhood ExperiencesChildhood ExperiencesLiterature ReviewLiterature Review

Memorable childhood experiences in nature Memorable childhood experiences in nature are formative for conservationists are formative for conservationists (Tanner, 1980, Chawla, (Tanner, 1980, Chawla,

1999).1999). High frequency of reported childhood play in High frequency of reported childhood play in

nature and adult wildland recreation nature and adult wildland recreation (Bixler, Floyd & (Bixler, Floyd &

Hammitt, 2002).Hammitt, 2002).

Play Play

Use of interstitial space Use of interstitial space (Owens, 1988)(Owens, 1988)

Building forts, dens and bush houses Building forts, dens and bush houses (Sobel, 1993).(Sobel, 1993).

Problem StatementProblem Statement

This study described what young avid This study described what young avid conservationists and wildland recreationists conservationists and wildland recreationists recall about their childhood play, where the recall about their childhood play, where the play occurred, its content and character and play occurred, its content and character and any social influences on access to play areas.any social influences on access to play areas.

MethodsMethods

59 interviews, each lasting about 1.5 hours59 interviews, each lasting about 1.5 hours Ages 18-35 years oldAges 18-35 years old Interviewees nominated by conservation Interviewees nominated by conservation

leaders based on their avidity.leaders based on their avidity. Conservation leaders were also asked to Conservation leaders were also asked to

nominate young adults with unusual nominate young adults with unusual backgrounds.backgrounds.

Contrast group consisted of people clearly Contrast group consisted of people clearly disinterested in outdoors.disinterested in outdoors.

Methods Cont.Methods Cont.

Thematic networks analysis Thematic networks analysis (Corbin & Strauss, 1990, Attride-(Corbin & Strauss, 1990, Attride-

Stirling, 2001 & Toulmin, 1958)Stirling, 2001 & Toulmin, 1958) Transcriptions coded for themes, then recoded Transcriptions coded for themes, then recoded

into organizing themes concluding with into organizing themes concluding with identification of a global theme identification of a global theme (Attride-Stirling, 2001).(Attride-Stirling, 2001).

Play Places

Interstitial Spacedumpster diving, drainage ditches,

golf course woods, bridges, storm sewer

Nature

Play Content

Creating Structureforts, tree houses

shelter

Games hide & seek, dam wars

monkey tag

Searching, Catching, Trapping fossils, insects,

old bottles, lizardsFantasy Play

movies, tv shows

Creative Actclays, potions

Pick berries

Hauling waterChop wood

Rehab wildlife

Pets

Interstitial Play Through Chores

Garden, flower/vegetable

Spatial Play

Exploration ditches,

following creeksNear-Distant/Stationary

forts and tree houses

Away From Homevacation, relatives

Tomboy

Camp/ summer friends

Playmates

Perception of safety

Camps

Travel to

Live near

Experience with

Social Facilitation/ Interpretation of Play

Parents

Peers

Control InterviewsControl Interviews

Absolutely no interest with participating in Absolutely no interest with participating in outdoor activitiesoutdoor activities

Life histories largely devoid of significant Life histories largely devoid of significant outdoor childhood experiencesoutdoor childhood experiences

LimitationsLimitations

GeneralizabilityGeneralizability Accurate report of specific events, but not Accurate report of specific events, but not

feelingsfeelings

Outdoor PlayOutdoor Play

Complex array of social, content and physical Complex array of social, content and physical aspects to play in natureaspects to play in nature

Healthy destruction of natureHealthy destruction of nature Social facilitation (and interpretation?)Social facilitation (and interpretation?) Replication of forts, dens and bush houses Replication of forts, dens and bush houses

(Sobel, 1993)(Sobel, 1993)

Wild/ pristine nature not important aspects of Wild/ pristine nature not important aspects of experience experience (Pyle, 1998)(Pyle, 1998)

ImplicationsImplications

Concern for loss of access to natural areas/ or Concern for loss of access to natural areas/ or freedom to explore if availablefreedom to explore if available

Further research on adult’s early childhood Further research on adult’s early childhood experiences in different parts of the country experiences in different parts of the country and the world and the world

Research with children tracking variations in Research with children tracking variations in outdoor play in their development of emerging outdoor play in their development of emerging environmental interests and valuesenvironmental interests and values

Questions?Questions?