ERIC Number: EJ1475066
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2168-8273
EISSN: EISSN-2168-8281
Available Date: 2025-05-29
Ecosystem Function through Lessons in Conservation: Alleviating Youth Stressors through Education, Access, and Careers
Michael W. Everett1; Crystal L. Eustice1; Aaron J. McKim1; Dean Carlisle2; Tyla Saby2; Carmen van der Merwe2; Misha Malherbe2; Carli Kriek2
Natural Sciences Education, v54 n1 e70015 2025
At a time when illegal wildlife trade is at an all-time high and local populations lack accessibility to protected areas in South Africa, educating young people about conservation, ecosystems, and future career opportunities is paramount. The use of informal educational programming has the potential to alleviate belonging and engagement stressors while also illuminating conservation-based career destinations for traditional populations of youth in the Lowveld ecoregion. More research is needed regarding the use of nonprofit organizations to facilitate informal youth conservation education programming in South Africa. As such, this case study utilized a pre- and post-survey approach to better understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Lowveld ecoregion youth in an outdoor experiential learning setting. Results indicated that the youth did have a positive response to learning about conservation, ecosystems, and food webs during the Lessons in Conservation nonprofit educational experience. Descriptive data also indicated that educational programming impacts youth participants' career pathway choices. The authors recommend further research on a broader scale to better understand youth knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to conservation education programming.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Conservation (Environment), Ecology, Food, Field Trips, Plants (Botany), Wildlife, Parks, Environmental Education, Outdoor Education, Career Pathways
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; 2Lessons in Conservation, White River, South Africa