Presenter: Jamie Cormani-Denney, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied Sociology
Authors: Jamie Cormani-Denney
Faculty Advisor: Robert Oxley, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied Sociology
Institution: Dixie State University
** Presentation is 1 of 5 presentations for one overall study conducted by Dixie State University's Institute for Social Research (ISR). Please place presentation with other ISR team members. ** The National Parks Services (NPS) has recognized the lack of diversity among park visitors for decades. This includes underrepresented social groups such as individuals from a minority or ethnic background, a low socio-economic class, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those who suffer from disabilities. A survey done by NPS in 2008-2009 discovered that while thirty-seven percent of the population in the United States was made up of minority groups, only twenty-two percent of visitors to National Parks were people of color. Outdoor adventure is accessible to everyone, though the National Parks seem to be inspiring older, White adults more than anyone else. While the NPS understands this lack of interest in the outdoors may hurt their bottom line, social scientists have revealed the cultural lack of connection to outdoor recreation could lead to increased mental health issues and fewer leadership opportunities for underrepresented groups. The Outdoor Leadership Academy (OLA) at Dixie State University (DSU) works to provide outdoor experiences to marginalized social groups. This Quality of Life Initiative 2020-2021 study will be directed by the DSU Institute for Social Research (ISR), which is a part of the Applied Sociology Program, will seek to identify a correlative link to improved mental health, self-esteem, and leadership skills through participation in outdoor adventure experiences. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines, data collection through participant observation for the 2020-2021 OLA outdoor activities is limited. As an alternative, surveys, interviews, and data collected by OLA from the 2017-2019 academic years will be assessed.