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Most Citizen Science Projects Take Place Outdoors Essay

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Most citizen science projects take place outdoors. A study by McRoberts (1994), revealed significant increases in self-esteem in 10 out of 14 participants when engaged with outdoor activities. Farnham and Mutrie (1997), in a study involving a group of 19 disconnected pupils of secondary age attending a special school, found positive outcomes in group cohesion, anxiety levels and self-perception after attending a short outdoor development program.
Throughout history, outdoor education has been defined in a variety of ways. “Those who influenced the field early on defined outdoor education with the needs of camping education in mind” (Adkins & Simmons, 2002, p. 2). L. B. Sharp (1943), possibly the founder of camping education, gave an explanation for outdoor education: "That which can best be taught inside the schoolrooms should there be taught, and that which can best be learned through experience dealing directly with native materials and life situations outside the school should there be learned" (p. 363). In 1955 Julian W. Smith, founder of the National Outdoor Education Project, made the connection between outdoor education and the school curriculum in his definition: "Outdoor education means learning "in" and "for" the outdoors. It is a means of curriculum extension and enrichment through outdoor experiences" (Hammerman, 1980, p. 33).
Donaldson and Donaldson define outdoor education as, "education in, about, and for the outdoors" (Donaldson and Donaldson 1958, p. 63).

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