Evaluating impacts of a wetland field trip: a case study with urban middle school students

Abstract As societies search for ways to deal with increasing environmental issues due to human impacts, the urgency increases for public schools to produce graduates who are environmentally literate and thus equipped to deal with the environmental issues that will face upcoming generations. This research presents a case study that examines the impact of a wetland field trip on the connection to nature, environmental attitudes, and environmental knowledge of a group of 26 urban middle school students. The results show a statistically significant increase in student environmental knowledge. Although quantitative data does not indicate significant changes in connection to nature or environmental attitudes, student statements reveal that the students were highly engaged by the experience and it likely had a meaningful impact on their thinking about water use and water conservation.