The effects of ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’ during camp on ‘attitudes toward nature’ of elementary and junior high school students.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’ during camp on ‘attitudes toward nature’ of elementary and junior high school students. The subjects were 73 students (grade 4-9) who participated in organized camp held in 20I5 and 2016. Scale of Attitudes toward Nature was administered three times (before camp, just after camp, and 1-month later). To measure ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’ during camp, simplified Wilderness Experience Scale was administered during a main program of every day in camp. Structural Equation Modeling and two-way ANOVA were conducted. The results were as follows :

1. The causal relationship model of ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’ for ‘attitudes toward nature’ was verified, and path coefficient of 0.32 showed direct effects of ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’ to ‘attitudes toward nature’. However, “timelessness”, one of the six factors which composed ‘experience feeling attachment to nature’, did not present significant path coefficient.

2. High experience group showed significant increase and sustain in total score of ‘attitudes toward nature’. The other hand, there was no significant change in low experience group. Comparing the groups, high experience group was significantly higher at just after camp than low experience group in total score of ‘attitudes toward nature’.

3. High experience group showed significant increase in score of “pro-environment” factor, and the increase tended to sustain until 1-month later. The other hand, there was no significant change in low experience group. Comparing the groups, high experience group was significantly higher at just after camp than low experience group in score of “pro-environment” factor.