Trees and Positive Development: Research on Effect of Urban Forest Work Experiences on Inner-City, Underserved Adolescents (WAUF-04-001)

Research that evaluated urban, underserved youth who participate in urban forest projects, to quantitatively measure youth affects of personal and social development, increased ability in civic affairs and community dynamics, employability and career interests, and eco-literacy.

Many entities endorse the concept of Positive Youth Development and promote programs that help youth become healthy, effective, and productive members of society.  There is a notable absence in these efforts – knowledge about the beneficial affects of urban forest and city green experiences.  Building on a partnership of dynamic urban forestry non-profit organizations and a social scientist, this research will evaluate urban, underserved youth who participate in urban forest projects, to quantitatively measure youth affects of personal and social development, increased ability in civic affairs and community dynamics, employability and career interests, and eco-literacy.

1) Conduct Literature Review

The first activity will be an extensive literature review of youth development and benefit studies.  A preliminary review will be conducted.  The review has assessed the science of abnormal youth psychology, positive youth psychology, and youth benefits from wilderness therapy and outdoor adventure experiences (such as Outward Bound). The literature review will continue, in order to specifically address urban nature and urban youth, particularly underserved youth. The resulting findings will be used to inform the content and procedures of the two research phases.

2) Qualitative Interviews with Youth and Minority Professionals

The initial phase of data collection will provide preliminary insights on both near term and long term outcomes of urban youth and nature work experiences. Two sets of interviews will provide the foundation for later quantitative evaluations. Interview participants will be from a snowball sample, recruited from a pool of candidates identified by both youth services and urban forestry collaborator organizations.  Content analysis of the interviews will reveal specific questions and issues for further study.

Youth Interviews – Urban youth, of underserved communities within Pacific Northwest cities, and ranging in age from 15 to 20 years, will be interviewed to determine the scope and perceptions of their experiences with urban forestry work.

Minority Professionals Interviews – To understand the long-term career choice and personal development implications of youth and urban forest work, interviews will be conducted with minority resource professionals about their adolescent nature experiences. Up to 25 professionals from around the U.S. will be contacted and asked to do 30 to 60 minute interviews.

3) Create Quantitative Measures

Based on the literature review and interview outcomes, standardized instruments will be constructed and pre-tested. These instruments will be similar to those used in other scientifically respected youth evaluations, but applied in a new context. The measures instrument(s) will be organized by developmental theories, as revealed in the literature review. Potential instruments may include surveys, journals, activity records, and focus group protocols.

4)  Distribution and Administration of Measures

The measures will be distributed and administered by youth program staff, under the supervision of the lead scientist. Measures will be applied first in the Pacific Northwest, then in up to three other U.S. cities. Collaborators will identify suitable inner-city youth groups for sampling and measurement, and facilitate implementation of the measures tools. Surveys will be conducted across multiple programs to assure generalizability of the research outcomes to communities throughout the United States. It is expected that up to 300 youth will participate in the evaluation.

5)  Create a comprehensive final report based on data analysis

Data analysis will provide multiple outcomes.  First, we will describe, compare and contrast the attitudes, knowledge and behaviors of youth participants, including group traits and demographics. This information will be of value to youth program sponsors and managers. Second, we will analyze the outcomes of urban forest experiences in relation to goals of youth development. We will test the role of nature in positive adolescent development. This information will be of importance to additional audiences, including schools, community service organizations, local decision-makers and all who are interested in enabling youth to achieve their full potential. 

6)  Dissemination of Results

The study is based in the Pacific NW, but outcomes will have national significance! The methodology will generate results that are generalizable to NPOs, agencies and organizations across the nation. Results will be shared throughout the U.S.  See last question for specific dissemination strategies.

The most exciting outcome is that urban forestry may come to be viewed as an integral element of human development.  The research demonstrates how urban greening and youth service organizations can partner to create physically and mentally healthy citizens and leaders of our nation’ future.  Secondly, this research identifies the scientific basis of youth response to nature in a way that is relevant across the country.  This information will help inform land managers and youth program managers who are interested in creating better service opportunities or creating new opportunities for effective urban forest stewardship.  Finally, the project products are unique, as they bridge two disciplinary areas that have not traditionally interacted. The products may provide a springboard or basis for better partnerships on behalf of the nation’s young people.

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