Evaluating the Effectiveness of Residential Environmental Education Programs in Fostering Positive Attitudes Toward Wildlife

Abstract

Residential environmental education programs offer many benefits to students, including time to be “in” nature, additional time for programs (evenings in addition to days), and flexibility in the types of programs offered. The authors examined 6 residential programs in the upper Midwest to evaluate their effectiveness in fostering positive attitudes toward wildlife. Results indicated that students had significantly more positive attitudes toward wildlife after residential programs than they did after an in-class wildlife program, and that these changes were retained at least 3 months after the program. Recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of residential programs are discussed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Detra Dettmann-Easler

Detra Dettmann-Easler is with the Louisa County Conservation Board in Wapello, IA. James L. Pease is with the Department of Animal Ecology at Iowa State University in Ames.