matt_outandabout wrote:Would this not be a lot quicker for those sending information and (more) the poor chap gathering the information?
Also, can I ask what/who the research relates to - I assume a University or Third Sector organisation?
This is what I was told
"Ageing and Outdoor enthusiasts survey.
Most of my work has been in outdoor education teaching and managing two
residential outdoor centres for Wigan Council in the Lake District. At the centres
we introduced young people to the outdoors through a range of adventurous and
environmental activities. It was great to see how these outdoor experiences
encouraged confidence, self esteem and enthusiasm and teachers who
accompanied groups often talked about the social, educational and health
benefits gained by children many of whom underachieve in the classroom. Over
the years I’ve been keen to promote the value of outdoor learning through
articles, workshops for leaders and talks at conferences.
Since retirement I’ve increasingly become aware of the value of outdoor
experiences for older people. This has become a common topic for discussion
during the Covid pandemic. There is now a great deal of evidence to support the
many physical and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors taking part
in a variety of activities from gentle, nature-based walks to adventurous pursuits.
There is, however, an absence of research on how this can be encouraged as a
continuous process throughout a person’s life. I discussed this fact with two
friends who have been involved in outdoor education, one through social work
with young women and the other as a researcher in leisure and social science.
We decided that some worthwhile pointers to a healthy lifestyle might be found
by considering the stories of older outdoor enthusiasts.
Last year we collected narratives and interviews from 14 older people who have
been engaged in a variety of outdoor activities throughout their lives. We are
keen to extend the survey to a wider group of outdoor enthusiasts over the age
of 65. We are particularly interested in how people become involved in the
outdoors and how they adjust their interests and activities during their lifespan.