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.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of outdoor activities on “IKIRU-CHIKARA” (Zest for Living). The meta-analysis was based on 3,395 samples from 33 studies that meet eligibility criteria, and they were integrated by random effect model. In subgroup analysis, studies were divided to 4 groups by length of program, “short-term” (between 1 to 3 nights), “middle-term” (between 4 to 6 nights), “long-term” (more than 7 nights), and “continual” (multiple times). The average effect size on [IKIRU-CHIKARA] was g=0.38. In the 3 ability scales of “IKIRU-CHIKARA”, the average effect size on [Psychological and Social Ability] was g=0.39, [Moral Ability] was g=0.22, and [Physical Ability] was g=0.28. In subgroup analysis, the average effect size on [IKIRU-CHIKARA] of middle-term programs was g=0.51, that was more than twice the short-term programs (g=0.19). The results support that outdoor activities affect positive on “IKIRU-CHIKARA”, especially on psychological and social ability. And the results support that over 4 nights' programs are more effective than shorter programs. Through a meta-analysis, this study clarified the effect sizes of outdoor activities on “IKIRU-CHIKARA”, that is able to be a reference value of future evaluation. Further research is required in order to verify the mechanism that outdoor activities improve “IKIRU-CHIKARA” and to develop more effective programs.

This research aimed at developing a “Short Form Ocean Literacy Evaluation Scale” using the existing ocean literacy survey for easier implementation for water activities.

Firstly, since the existing ocean literacy survey (9 factors 36 items) was an evaluation scale developed through cluster analysis, confirmatory factor analysis was used to reconstruct it into 8 factors (32 items). Next, 5 out of the 8 reconstructed factors where the discriminant validity was not approved were thought to be able to be integrated and reconstructed into 4 factors. This resulted in CFI, discriminant validity and internal consistency that were either above standard values or deemed to be within the tolerance range. Furthermore, the evaluation of the factor 4 (12 items) targeted at instructors showed similar results, reinforcing its reliability and validity. Therefore the “Short Form Ocean Literacy Evaluation Scale” was successfully developed to be a more convenient alternative to the existing ocean literacy survey.