Outdoor Education and Youth Development Lab
Outdoor Education and Youth Development Lab
Outdoor Education and Youth Development Lab
Advancing youth development and well-being through evidence-based outdoor education research.
About the Lab
Our research examines youth experiences in recreational settings, including outdoor expeditions, summer programs, and camps. We lead projects on measurement, interventions, and the mechanisms that drive change and transfer of learning.
Current work focuses on developmental contexts, character growth, and culturally sustaining youth programs - all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for young people.
Current Projects
Character at Camp Initiative
The Character at Camp (CaC) Initiative aims to strengthen summer camps’ capacity for character development, with a strong emphasis on access for communities historically excluded from these experiences.
Outward Bound Global Character Project
Efforts to understand global character education strategies, in collaboration with Outward Bound International and colleagues at Penn State and Clemson.
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National Camp Impact Study
Lead Research Partner for the American Camp Association’s National Camp Impact Study.
NOLS Partnership
The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) have maintained a productive, professional, and collegial partnership spanning more than 30 years.
Lab Members
