The current study uses experiential learning theory as a framework to understand themes associated with student outcomes of an outdoor leadership course in Vietnam. The study explores student-oriented themes, benefits of outdoor learning, and examples of contextualized concrete experience. Two hundred and eighteen university students participated as part of a 3-day two credit course with the theme of servant leadership. Survey responses were analyzed using qualitative methods and results produced higher and lower order themes linked to learning outcomes, program goals, and experiential learning mechanisms. Themes emerged related to course instructional goals (leadership), programmatic features (outdoor setting), and individual skills (problem solving). Themes were also associated with the outdoor setting and connections to nature appreciation, mental health, stress reduction, health and wellness, and proud moments linked to risk taking and physical challenge. Instructional process, concrete experience, and emergent thematic connections to the outdoor education setting are discussed.
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Lynch et al. (2024) studied this question.
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