Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Andrea Stephens
Faculty Mentor’s Department
College of Forestry and Conservation - Wilderness Institute
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Technological and political tactics to promote sustainable ways of living are lacking while human behaviors continue to threaten the ability for Earth’s ecosystems to support humans and nonhumans. It is essential to build a new culture that is ecologically sustainable. This study - one part case study and one part memoir - explores what it takes to shift perspectives. This research locates the methods and characteristics that can be impactful in promoting sustainable attitudes in higher education students. This research helps develop an understanding of and framework for effectively promoting sustainable perspective change within higher education. I observe the Wilderness and Civilization program to determine if it is effective in inspiring ecological attitude change. Interning with the Wilderness and Civilization program I helped develop “group journal” questions that students would work together to answer. The questions were designed to promote deep discussion and reflection on human-nature relationships. I led one of the two backpacking groups during the program’s ten day trek where the students worked on the journals. At the end of the program the students were asked to discuss the questions amongst one another again in order to observe any changes. I also include a literature review that assesses the characteristics of a program that incites sustainable values, perspectives, and behaviors. Lastly, I apply the results and personal experience in a memoir essay analyzing the perceived separation between humans and nature, the perceived human domination of nature, and the need to take responsibility for the stories we believe in order to develop a new characteristic for effective wilderness-based education programs.
Category
Humanities
"Wilderness and Civilization": What's Your Story?
UC South Ballroom
Technological and political tactics to promote sustainable ways of living are lacking while human behaviors continue to threaten the ability for Earth’s ecosystems to support humans and nonhumans. It is essential to build a new culture that is ecologically sustainable. This study - one part case study and one part memoir - explores what it takes to shift perspectives. This research locates the methods and characteristics that can be impactful in promoting sustainable attitudes in higher education students. This research helps develop an understanding of and framework for effectively promoting sustainable perspective change within higher education. I observe the Wilderness and Civilization program to determine if it is effective in inspiring ecological attitude change. Interning with the Wilderness and Civilization program I helped develop “group journal” questions that students would work together to answer. The questions were designed to promote deep discussion and reflection on human-nature relationships. I led one of the two backpacking groups during the program’s ten day trek where the students worked on the journals. At the end of the program the students were asked to discuss the questions amongst one another again in order to observe any changes. I also include a literature review that assesses the characteristics of a program that incites sustainable values, perspectives, and behaviors. Lastly, I apply the results and personal experience in a memoir essay analyzing the perceived separation between humans and nature, the perceived human domination of nature, and the need to take responsibility for the stories we believe in order to develop a new characteristic for effective wilderness-based education programs.