“Going Green”: Investigating Environmental Sustainability Practices in Camp Organizations across the United States (original) (raw)

Fostering sustainable operations in a natural resource management agency: Insights from the field

Sustainable operations (SO; operating in an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable manner) is consistent with the environmental stewardship mission of natural resource management organizations. This study sought to examine SO practices in the daily work lives of US Forest Service employees, including those primarily stationed in the office and in the field. The purpose was to identify influences on these behaviors such that organizations can more effectively promote them. We surveyed a random sample of employees within a region and research station of the US Forest Service (n = 451) regarding SO behaviors, barriers, and facilitators to SO, and perspectives on SO. Consistent with the Proenvironmental Behavior Change Model (Burn, S.M. and P.L. Winters. 2008, A behavioral intervention tool for recreation managers, Park Sci. 31[1]:5-15), social norms, attitudes, setting design, knowledge and information, and habit were all important influences on SO behaviors, with soci...

Green Volunteerism – A new approach to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

2021

The Earth's climate has changed in great measure throughout history, and it significantly impacts human society, economic development, and ecological degradation. Understanding how to sustain green volunteerism among youth is an important issue to confronting today’s ecological challenges, especially when they may serve as future leaders of environmental movements. In a focus group setting, 25 representatives of multi-stakeholders discussed how and why students in higher education institutions participate in green volunteering. Transcripts from the conversation were analyzed to comprehend the motives, challenges, and benefits of youth engagement in green volunteering. Findings suggested that young adults are aware of and working on climate issues. A few issues were raised as challenges and/or demotivating factors in youth engagement among green volunteerism.

Assessing the Efficacy of Outdoor Education On Campers’ Perceptions of Environmental Stewardship, Civic Engagement, and College and Career Pathways

2017

Author(s): Frame, Amy | Advisor(s): Mistry, Rashmita | Abstract: Given global threats to the continued functioning of ecosystem services that sustain us all, educators would be wise to embrace the task of redefining our individual and collective orientations to the natural world. Since the inception of the modern environmental education movement in the 1970’s, outdoor education at residential camps has distinguished itself as one of the most promising pedagogies for inspiring environmental stewardship behaviors (American Institutes for Research, 2005; Hattie, Marsh, Neill, a Richards, 1997; Larson, Castleberry, a Green, 2010). Specific outdoor education program components have been shown to lead to immediate feelings of connectedness with nature, social connectedness, and self-efficacy (Garst, Browne, a Bialeschki, 2011a; McKenzie, 2003; Priest a Gass, 2005). This empirical study explored the relationships among campers’ demographics, attitudes related to their camp experiences, and...

Environmental Sustainability in and of Organizations

Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2012

We note that the current intellectual, social, and economic milieu has led to general acceptance of environmental sustainability as one of the most important issues of our time. Environmental sustainability is a ''big idea,'' and it is ''in the air'' (Gladwell, 2008). Few industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists disagree. However, there are many different ideas on the what, where, and how our field can contribute. We review facilitators, drivers, and barriers to environmental sustainability of organizations. We also discuss the ways in which cultural and international research can strengthen sustainability research and practice. In order to make a meaningful difference and positive environmental impact, I-O psychologists and HR practitioners need to focus on their unique skills and influence organizational environmental sustainability by designing and shaping work, workplaces, and workforces.

Youth eco-consciousness and environmentalist identity development at a summer camp

Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education

Developing youth eco-consciousness is a crucial step to resolving the climate crisis. Existing literature supports that immersive experiences like camps can change participants’ understanding and connection to nature (Khanaposhtani et al., 2010). In the first author’s work as an environmental educator at a youth camp in California, she collected qualitative data on how environmentally engaged learning affects eco-consciousness in youth. Through pre- and post-camp session surveys, interviews with participants, and field note observations, three major findings emerged. First, environmentally engaged learning has significant positive impacts on youth eco-consciousness, including shifts in attitudinal responses and behavior. Second, there is an inequitable distribution of environmental education in traditional K-12 schooling. Finally, youth today are increasingly aware of the severity of climate change, experiencing severe bouts of climate anxiety. These findings demonstrate the value o...