Looking Back, Paddling Forward: Perspectives On Outdoor Expedition Participation Over The Lifespan

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of participating in outdoor expeditions over the lifespan. Thirteen participants (six female, seven male), aged 50-71 were interviewed using photo-elicitation interviews. Criterion-based sampling attempted to provide a cross sectional representation of outdoor expedition participants. Informants had participated expeditions varying in length from 8 days to 3 weeks in the previous year. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted using interview transcripts. This use of innovative visual methods advanced the research process and provided rich data describing participants' lived experiences of outdoor adventure expeditions. Three themes were discerned from the data related to outdoor expedition participation: (1) childhood outdoor and nature experiences (2) the changing and evolving nature of outdoor participation through the lifespan and (3) facilitators to continued participation in outdoor adventure. Results showed that participation in a lifetime of outdoor adventure experiences bestowed many personal, physical, social and spiritual benefits.