‘It was a whole other world’: the impact of residential outdoor trips on nature connectedness and wellbeing in young people

Abstract

In England, after the 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns, funded residential outdoor experiences were offered to young people from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, with the aim of supporting their wellbeing, connection to nature, and confidence in working with peers. This study evaluated the impact of outdoor residentials (2–5 days) via a mixed methods design, with 132 young people aged 6–18. Results indicated that the residential experiences led to short-term increases in nature connectedness, confidence in making friends, feeling more aligned with nature, and recognising the importance of looking after nature. No significant differences were found for wellbeing, happiness, confidence in working as a group or confidence in trying new things. An inductive thematic analysis revealed that participants valued their experiences; they gained a greater sense of self, developed an enhanced understanding of the outdoors, and appreciated the contrast the natural environment gave them to explore new opportunities. Implications suggest that the pathways to nature connectedness are useful for curriculum design for young people’s outdoor residential experiences, however, post-residential activities are needed to sustain positive changes over time.