Abstract
In recent years, modern society has been rapidly shifting toward an unpredictable future due to various
factors. It has become evident that creating individuals who possess essential competencies is crucial in these
uncertain times. Higher education institutions have taken to offering outdoor educational programs as a means
to cultivate this competence. This study focuses on a group of students at Ritsumeikan University and aims to
explore the psychological and educational impacts of an outdoor education program centered around canoeing.
In results regarding the psychological effects of the program, an analysis using the short version of the Profile
of Mood States 2 (POMS2) revealed that participants experienced high levels of “fatigue or inertia (FI)” as a
result of tiredness stemming from the unfamiliar nature of the activity. However, significant positive
psychological effects were noted in all other emotional measures, leading to an overall improvement in total
mood disturbance (TMD). In terms of educational effects, an analysis of reflection sheets showed that
participants gained insights into three key aspects of outdoor learning: awareness of the natural environment,
cooperation with peers, and understanding the relationship between self and others.
