Outdoor adventure education supporting relational resilience among young people: Finnish action research on nature-based school camps

Abstract

The article examines how outdoor adventure education (OAE) can support therelational resilience of young people. It is based on a Finnish case study of weeklong nature-based school camps where OAE was adopted as a pedagogicalapproach to experiencing nature and discussing climate change–related topics. Inthe action research, extensive data, such as questionnaires, interviews and fieldnotes were gathered among 71 14–15-year-olds. The data was analysed throughcontent analysis from the perspective of relational resilience. The analysisrevealed three aspects that can be supported in OAE: supported vulnerability,mutual growth and relational confidence. However, the utilised OAE activitiesprovided slightly varied opportunities strengthening different aspects of relationalresilience. Therefore, when aiming for certain aspects of relational resilience,activities should be chosen carefully. The research reveals the value of relationalresilience in OAE. In addition, it suggests that adopting relational resilience as apart of sustainability competences, such as ‘collective action’ and ‘adaptability’,would make these competences more effective when facing adversity whilecarrying out sustainability actions in everyday life.