EXPLORING THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, NATURE
CONNECTEDNESS, & WELL-BEING IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY OF
VANDERHOOF, BC

by

Carling A. Matthews
B.A., University ofNorthem British Columbia, 2013

THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF ARTS
IN
NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES- TOURISM

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
April2016

© Carling A. Matthews, 2016

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Abstract
Discourse in recent years explores the two related topics of nature connectedness and the
well-being benefits of nature contact. Existing literature has been predominantly framed from an
urban perspective potentially limiting the applicability of the research to rural communities.
Interactions with nature in rural settings may offer new insights into connections with nature.
This research explored the connections between nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and
well-being in the rural context of Vanderhoof, BC. Mixed methods were followed and analysis
of interview and survey findings identified three central themes rooted in nature connectedness
including that self-sufficient outdoor activities can arouse nature connection; well-being
outcomes can reinforce nature connectedness; and nature connectedness is a strong component of
environmental perspectives in combination with lived experiences. Identified themes informed
recommendations for further research and practice. The human nature connection must continue
to be explored for the well-being of individuals, ecosystems, and the planet.
Keywords: nature connectedness, outdoor activities, well-being, rural

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Table of Contents
Abstract ................ .............................................................................. .... ....... .. ... .. ... ...... .... .. .. ...... .... ii
Table of Contents .................... .... .. .......... ... ...... ..... ..... ....... ......... ................................ ...... .. .. .. .. ... ... iii
List of Tables .... .............. ..... ......... ... ........ ..... .. ...... ...... ............. ... .... ............. ............ ...... ................. v
List of Figures ....... ............... .................................... ............... .... ............. .... ..... .... .... ............. .... .. .. vi
Acknowledgements ........... ....... ..... ........ .... ........ ... ........ .... ....... ... ...................... .. .......................... . vii
Chapter 1: Introduction .......... ........... ............ .. .. .. .... .... ...... .... ...... ........... .................... ...... ...... .... ..... 1
Chapter 2: Literature Review ... ........... .. ... ..... ...................... ... .. .... .... ... .... ......................... .. ............. 4
2.1 Nature Connectedness ............... .... .. .. .......................... ........ ..... ...... .......... .......................... ... 4
2.2 Nature-Based Outdoor Activities ....................... .... .... ............................. ... ...... .... ......... ...... .. 9
2.3 Well-Being .............. ............ ........... ...... ......... ..... ...... .... .......... .... ...... .... ................ ............... 12
Chapter 3: Description of Case Study ................... .... ........ ............ .. ............... .............. ........... ...... 15
3.1 The Lay of the Land .......... ...... .. .... ....... .. .... ...... .... .... .. ............ .... ...... .... .... ........ ........... .. ..... . 17
3.2 From the Mountain to the Valley: Outdoor Activity Opportunities ... ............................ .... 18
3.3 Healthy-By-Nature Community Initiatives ....... .... .... ...... .......... ......... .......... .. ..................... 20
3 .4 Grounding Research in Rurality ... .. ... ...... ... ......... .. ............................................ ... .............. 21
3.4.1 The Numbers Game: Bounding Rurality by Census Population & Commuting Zones
·· ····· ····· ·· ···· ·· ······ ·· ··········· ···· ······ ···· ····· ··· ·· ····· ··· ·················· ····· ······ ··· ········ ··········· ·· ··· ···· ············ 21
3.4.2 Beyond Numbers: Social Representations of Rurality .. ............ ............. ...... ............... 22
Chapter 4: Methodology ...... ........... ... ...... ... ..... .. ... .... ...... ................................... ........................... 23
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... .............. .. .............. .. 23
4.2 Theoretical Approach ..... ... ... ... ........... ................ ................ .. .. .. ............ ........... ... .. ... .. .... .. .... 23
4.3 Research Design ........... ............ ........ .... ...... .. ... ................... ... .. .. ........... ......... ...................... 24
4.3 .1 Exploratory Case Study .. .. .......................... ......... .......................... ........... .... ...... .. ....... 24
4.3.2 Mixed Methods ...... .................. ............ ........ ..... .............................. ........... ............. .... . 25
4.4 Interview Data Collection Methods & Analysis ..... .... ... ..... .... .. .......... ....... ..................... ... . 26
4.4.1 Semi-Structured Interview Sample Design & Selection ................ ..... .... .... ...... ... ........ 26
4.4.2 Semi-Structured Interviews Method ...... ....... .... .... .......... ........ ................. ... .... ...... ...... . 27
4.4.3 Interview Analysis ..... .. .... ........ ... ....... .. ....... .. ... .... ........ ....... ..... ... .... ........ .... ..... .... ...... .. 28
4.5 Online Survey Data Collection Methods & Analysis .... ... .................... ............ ..... .......... .. . 30
4.5.1 Online Survey Sample Design & Selection .... ........ ..... ... .... ...... .............. ..................... 31
4.5 .2 Survey Analysis .. ... ... ......... ............. ............ .... .. ......... ...... ... ...... ...... ... .. .... ........ ..... ....... 32
4.6 Issues ofTrustworthiness ......... ............... ........ .. .......... ........ .. ... .. ............. .. ...... ... ...... .. ......... 33
4.7 Limitations ... .. .... .. ... .. ............. ... .. ........ ........ ..... ............... ... .... ....... ......... .. ........ .. .......... ... .... 34

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4.8 Conclusion ..... ..... ........ ....... .... .. ............... ............................................. ......... .. .. ........ .. ... ..... 35
Chapter 5: Interview Findings ...................................................................................................... 36
5.1 Introduction ................................................ ............ .... ....... ............. ............................. ........ 36
5.2 Interviews ... ........... ....... ...... ......... ..... ..... ................. .. ............... ... ................................ .. ....... 36
5.3 Demographic Characteristics of Interview Sample ..... ... ... .... .. .... ...... ........ ..... ....... ..... ........ 37
5.4 Theme 1: Outdoor Activities that Support a Lifestyle of Self-Sufficiency Can Foster
Development ofNature Connectedness ... .... ... ...... ............................. ...... .............. ................... 37
5.4.1 Cultivation ofNature Connection in Vanderhoof.. .... ........... .. ... .................................. 38
5.4.2 Nature Connectedness May Change Over Time ...................... .......... ............... .... ....... 43
5.4.3 Personality & Self-Identity Reinforce Nature Connectedness ..................................... 44
5.4.4 An Affinity for Self-Sufficiency Can Fortify Nature Connection ........................ .. ..... 45
5.4.5 Nature-Connected Individuals may be Less Materialistic .................... ... ....... ........ ..... 46
5.5 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to the Development of Environmental
Perspectives ............................................................................................................................... 47
5.5.1 Contrasting Views on Resource Extraction ..... .. .... ............................ ........ ................ .. 47
5.5.2 Modem Technological Advancements Can Disconnect People from Nature ........ ... .. 49
5.6 Theme 3: The Well-Being Outcomes of Self-Sufficient Lifestyles Can Reinforce Nature
Connectedness ..... ...... ....................................... .. ....................................... .... ... ...... .. ................. 50
5.6.1 Contact with Nature Offers Positive Well-Being Benefits ........ .... .. ..... ... ......... .... ..... .. 51
5.6.2 Overall Influence of a Rural Environment.. ................................................................. 54
5.6.3 Nature Connectedness Can Also Have Negative Impacts on Well-Being ..... .. ........... 55
5. 7 Conclusion of Findings ....................................................................................................... 56
Chapter 6: Survey Findings ..... ..... .............................................. ......... .... ................... ..... ............. 58
6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 58
6.2 Survey ............................ ............... .... .. ...... ....... ................. ........ .. ... .... ...... ........................... 58
6.3 Demographic Characteristics of Survey Sample .......... .... .. ......... ......... ......... ................ ... .. 59
6.4 Theme 1: Outdoor Activities That Support a Lifestyle of Self-Sufficiency Can Foster
Development ofNature Connectedness .. .... .. ... .... ............................... .... .......................... ........ 59
6.4.1 Outdoor Recreation Activity Participation .................................................................. 60
6.5 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to the Development of Environmental
Perspectives
.......... .. ..... ..... .. ........... ....... ... .... .... .. .......... .... ... ... .... .. ........ .... .... .. ....... ..... 64
6.5.1 Nature Relatedness and Activity Motivations ............................................ ........... ... ... 66
6.5.2 Nature Relatedness Can Contribute to Attachment to Nature Contact ... ........ ............. 67
6.5.3 Nature Relatedness and Amount ofNature Contact .................................................... 68

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6.6 Theme 3: Well-Being Outcomes Can Reinforce Nature Connectedness ........................... 68
6.6.1 Constraints to Experiencing Well-Being Benefits of Spending Time in Nature ......... 70
6. 7 Conclusion ........ ... ... ....... .... .... ... ......... ........ ........ .......................... ...... .... ..... ... ...... ............... 72
Chapter 7: Discussion oflnterview & Survey Findings ........................... .... ................................ 74
7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 74
7.2 Theme 1: Self-Sufficient Outdoor Activities Can Arouse Connection with Nature .......... 76
7.3 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to Environmental Perspectives ............. 78
7.4 Theme 3: The Well-Being Outcomes of Self-Sufficient Lifestyles Reinforce Nature
Connectedness ........ .. ... ........ ..... ...... ........ .. ........ ........................... .... .... ....... ....... ... ...... ... .. .......... 81
7.5 Conclusion ........... .......... ........ ........ ...... .. ..... .......................... ............ ..... .... .. ....................... 83
Chapter 8: Recommendations & Conclusion ................................................................................ 85
8.1 Introduction ................................. .. ........................ .... .... ........ .. ... .................. ... .......... .. ..... ... 85
8.2 Contribution of Findings to Research ................................................................................. 86
8.3 Recommendations for Further Research ............................................................................. 87
8.4 Recommendations for Practice ................... ............ ............ ............. ....... ..... ....... ...... .......... 89
8.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 91
References .. .......... ............... ................................ ...... ........ ..... ... ..... ... ...... ... ......... ... ........... .. ......... . 93
Appendix I: Online Questionnaire .............................................................................................. 102

List of Tables
Table 1 Overview of qualitative data collected and analyzed ............ ...... .................................. .. 29
Table 2 Mean scores (M) and standard deviation (SD) for overall NR and NR sub-dimensions. 64
Table 3 Rotated varimax factor analysis on nature relatedness (NR) items ... .... ............ ......... ..... 65
Table 4 Correlations (rs) between nature relatedness (NR) dimensions and activity motivations 66
Table 5 Mean (M) and effect sizes ofNR hardy outdoor enthusiast dimension based on
respondents spending as much time doing outdoor activities as they would like ........................ 67
Table 6 Correlations (rs) between nature relatedness (NR) dimensions and amount of nature
contact ................................................ ............... ............ ................... .. ....... .................................... 68
Table 7 Rotated varimax factor analysis on activity motivation items .... .... ... ....... ............ ... ........ 69

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List of Figures
Figure 1 Range of relationships that show the degree to which a person may experience
connectedness to nature (As presented by Shultz, 2002) ... ... ...... ....... ... ..... ....... ... ...... ......... .. ..... .. ... 6
Figure 2 Overview map of settlements in the N echako river watershed that Vanderhoof resides in
(Picketts et al., 2014) ...... .......... ..... .. ...... .. ....... ..... ...... .. ... ......... .......... ...... .. ..... ...... .... ..... ............. .. 15
Figure 3 Vanderhoof community trails within the town centre (District of Vanderhoof, 2014) .. 19
Figure 4 Qualitative data analysis process ...... ... ... ... ... ........ ...... .. ......... ....... ... .. ........ ......... .... .. .. .... 28
Figure 5 Outdoor recreation activity participation ... ...... ......... .... ....... .. ..... .... .... ...... .. .... .. ...... ... .. ... 61
Figure 6 Importance of nature in motivating outdoor recreation participation ............. .. ............. 62
Figure 7 General outdoor activity participation .. ......... ... ........ ... .... ........................ .. ........ ... ...... .... 63
Figure 8 Factors that influence time spent outdoors ..................... ....... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... .... .... .... ....... 71

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Acknowledgements
I wish to express my appreciation to my supervisor and committee members Dr. Pamela
Wright, Dr. Philip Mullins, and Dr. Margot Parkes for their individual and collective friendship,
passion and support. Each of you provided me with unique experiences and glimpses into your
research worlds. Each of you helped inspire my curiosity on this topic and influenced the
approach to my research. Particular gratitude to Pam for being the type of supervisor you only
wish to have as a confidant, encourager, and friend.
To the community of Vanderhoof, the Nechako Watershed, and the Nechako Watershed
Roundtable- thank you for both inspiring and backing my research. Gerry Thiessen, Wayne
Salewski, and Dr. Margot Parkes -thank you for being my gatekeepers.
Most of all I wish to thank my friends and family for their support and understanding
throughout the past three years. To my husband Max, thank you for your encouragement,
patience, and for sharing my love for the outdoors. I can 't wait to explore more of Jasper with
you and Jones this summer!

NATURECONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

Chapter 1: Introduction
In recent years there has been discourse on the two related topics of nature connectedness
and the well-being benefits of time spent in nature. Nature connectedness characterizes a
person' s awareness of their dependence on the natural environment through how much they care
for it and their desire to protect it. The well-being outcomes that a person may experience
through nature can vary according to how similar or dissimilar their personal and situational
differences are. Situations may differ based on quality of access to natural and other resources,
the basic means for a decent life, personal and environmental health, social connections, and
freedoms of choice. Time spent in nature in Canada most often occurs through nature-based
outdoor activities experienced as part of a daily routine or weekend pleasure. A person may
choose a nature activity from a desire within them to simply spend time in nature, or perhaps
they are driven by results and what can be achieved as a visible outcome of the activity. All of
these factors work together to develop a person ' s relationship with nature.
Recent interest in the topics of nature connectedness, and the well-being benefits of nature
contact, have been re-inspired in part by Richard Louv ' s (Louv, 2008) concerns over the impact
that a lack of time spent in nature has on children. Examining the topic of nature connectedness
in relation to outdoor activities and well-being can offer insight into which activities and
experiences best connect individuals to nature in a meaningful way that will increase their
overall well-being. Reviewing existing literature, these topics have been predominantly framed
from an urban perspective which potentially limits the applicability of the research to rural
communities. Interactions and relationships with nature in rural settings may offer new insights
into connections with nature.

1

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The community of Vanderhoof is located 1 hour west of Prince George, British Columbia,
and is an example of a rural community with more nature than people. Located on a plateau
overlooking the Nechako River valley, the community has agricultural roots that continue today
along with other resource-based activities. Abundant fish and wildlife make their homes amongst
numerous bodies of water, providing many opportunities for residents to connect with nature
from their backyards to the backcountry.
The research question that guided this project was what are the connections between outdoor
activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central rural community of
Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? More specifically the research objectives were to
explore: how rural residents view their relationship to nature; what types of outdoor activities
rural residents participate in; whether outdoor activities help cultivate connection with nature and
in what ways; and the well-being benefits rural residents experience as a result of contact with
nature.
Research in the Vanderhoof community allows a glimpse into how a group of people who we
know little about, individuals living in a northern, rural community, connect with nature.
Research that explores the concepts of well-being and nature connectedness from a rural
perspective could provide valuable contributions to the concepts of nature connectedness,
outdoor activities and well-being. Research insights could not only contribute to academic
literature, but could also help rural communities identify ways to improve well-being.
Furthermore, the research could deepen our overall understanding of the human/nature
experience to generate new insights (Salkind, 2010).With the support of local organizations,
well-being in rural communities could be enhanced through sustainable interactions with nature.

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This thesis has been organized into six major sections: 1) review of existing literature, 2)
detailed description of the methodology, 3) a description of the case study, 4) interview findings,
5) survey findings, 6) discussion and interpretation, and 6) recommendations for future
research/conclusion.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review
The research question that guided this project was what are the connections between outdoor
activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central rural community of
Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? Hence the purpose of this literature review was to
explore the individual topics of nature connectedness, nature-based outdoor activities, and wellbeing in greater detail.
2.1 Nature Connectedness
In an increasingly urbanized world, nature disconnection in industrialized nations has

occurred through social and economic changes, and a telecommunications revolution. Decreased
interaction with the natural environment may perpetuate environmentally destructive behaviours,
while connection with nature may lead to sustainable behaviours (Nisbet, Zelenski, & Murphy,
2011). Rural landscapes in Canada offer extensive access to natural landscapes. They provide a
home for numerous animal species, the provision of ecosystem services, and the opportunity for
humans to connect with nature through outdoor activities.
Rural landscapes can offer easy, affordable, and more frequent access to nature. Thus, they
are important landscapes for exploring the connection between humans and nature. Research
examining how human-nature relationships contribute towards conservation actions have
become more common (Allen & Ferrand, 1999; Iwata, 2001; Pooley & O'Connor, 2000;
Vining, Merrick, & Price, 2008). A potential reason for increased interest in the topic of the
human-nature relationship, is the potential connection between the deterioration of the bond
between humans and nature and the proliferation of environmental issues. Thus, the concept of
nature connectedness can offer insight into how to foster strong connections between humans
and nature for possible benefits to the environment.

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The concept of nature connectedness has been described using various terms including nature
relatedness, connectivity with nature, emotional affinity toward nature, and inclusion of nature in
self(Dutcher, Finley, Luloff, & Johnson, 2007; Kals, Schumacher, & Montada, 1999; Nisbet,
Zelenski, & Murphy, 2009; Schultz, 2002). The terms describing connection with nature refer to
the extent that an individual integrates nature as part of their identity, has a sense of care for
nature, and is committed to protecting the natural environment (Schultz, 2002). More simply,
nature connectedness could be described as a person's love for nature, or how emotionally
connected they feel to the natural environment.
Complexities of nature connectedness are better understood through the biophilia theory
which postulates that humans have an evolutionary need to connect with other living things
(Wilson, 1984). Urbanization represents a relatively new development in evolutionary progress;
thus, Kellert and Wilson (1993) argued that innate appreciation for ecological biodiversity
(biophilia) has not been lost from human memory. Research from numerous disciplines has
produced results reinforcing the biophilia hypothesis from an urban setting including the
popularity of outdoor recreation activities, gardening, love for animals, and preference for
natural versus urban scenery (Grinde & Patil, 2009; Kahn Jr. , 1999; O' Haire, 201 0; Regan &
Hom, 2005; Scott, 2012). Whether connections to nature have remained more strongly intact in
rural environments, where nature may be more accessible, is rarely studied.
Despite the idea ofbiophilia, the extent to which different people are attracted to nature can
vary; some people may feel very connected to an ecosystem, while others see their lives as
separate from nature, and others are somewhere in between (see Figure 1 below) (Schultz, 2002).

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

Self

Nature

Self

6

Nature

Figure 1 Range of relationships that show the degree to which a person may experience connectedness to
nature (As presented by Shultz, 2002)

When describing the range of relationships that individuals may experience, the term nature
generally encompasses elements of the natural or physical environment such as flowers, trees,
rocks, soil, plants, and animals, in places such as landscaped areas, buildings, streets, parks,
green spaces, forests, fields, rivers and lakes (Kaplan, 1984). Nonetheless, a subjective
interpretation of the word 'nature' must be followed given that there are many interpretations of
what it constitutes (e.g. , wild versus cultivated nature) (Regan & Hom, 2005).

Abstract representations of the relationships between nature and self in Figure 1 although
conceptually useful need to be more clearly elaborated on to fully understand the details of a
human-nature relationship. Differences in connection to nature may reflect whether biophilic
tendencies are supported or suppressed (Nisbet, 2011 ). Schultz (2002) and Howard (1997)
suggested that how deeply a person identifies with the natural world affects their valuation of
nature as worth caring for and protecting. Reduced contact with the natural world could suppress
the opportunity for a person to identify with nature and develop active environmental ethics
(Conn, 1998). Appreciation for the natural world may not be eliminated by an urban
environment, but awareness and appreciation for nature ' s contribution to well-being may be
reduced.

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A deeper understanding ofbiophilia or nature connectedness can be explored through Arne
Naess' (Naess, 1973) concept of ecological identity or ' ecological self. The ecological self
represents a perception of identity not just as the human self, but as an influential component of
the functioning of the entire earth. The ecological self perceives damage to the environment as
damaging to one ' s self and actions reflect this with stronger empathy for living things (Conn,
1998). Ecological identity reflects a "biospheric" attitude that indicates a strong connection with
the environment, whereas a fragmented connection and "egoistic" attitude where concern does
not extend beyond the self (Dutcher et al., 2007; Mayer & Frantz, 2004; Schultz, 2002).
Improving the human-nature relationship by increasing connection to natural environments may
cultivate the biospheric attitude and ecological worldview (Clayton, 2003). In other words,
environmental concern and behaviour could be reflective of a person ' s feeling of connection
with nature (Clayton, 2003 ; Nisbet, 2005; Nisbet et al. , 2009; Schultz, 2001 , 2002).
Several researchers have identified three components as influencing nature connectedness:
cognitive, emotional, and behavioural. Ecological identity represents a core cognitive component
of nature connectedness (Nisbet, 2011). The cognitive dimension describes a person ' s
worldview, beliefs, and attitude towards nature and can be identified through words such as think
or recognize (Perrin & Benassi, 2009). The emotional dimension relates to, or arises from,
internal emotions that generate subjective attachment to the natural environment (Hinds &
Sparks, 2009; Perrin & Benassi, 2009). The emotional component of nature connectedness can
be identified through words such as aggravated, embarrassed, guilty, happy, tense, and uneasy
(Perrin & Benassi, 2009) . Lastly, the behavioural dimension represents the outcome of cognition
and emotion; the environmental actions individuals are willing to take to express their beliefs and

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attachment (Nisbet et al. , 2009). Cognition, affect, and behaviour overlap and feedback on each
other and cannot easily be separated (Beringer, 2003; Nisbet et al. , 2011).
The Nature Relatedness Scale (Nisbet et al., 2009) is a relatively recent quantitative approach
to measuring nature connectedness that strives to assess cognitive, emotional, and behavioural
components as interconnected. The three components of the scale include ecological identity
(nature-related self), environmental worldviews (nature-related perspective), and familiarity,
comfort, and desire to spend time in nature (nature-related experience).
The first component, nature-related self, illustrates personal identification or connection to
nature and is reflected in someone who perceives their relationship with nature as an important
part of who they are. For instance, someone whose career has developed out of their connection
to nature might score high in the first dimension. The second component, nature-related
perspective, captures someone' s environmental worldview of how humans should interact with
the natural world. Environmental worldview represents an individual ' s beliefs about their role in
the environmental world, and what is right or wrong environmental behaviour (environmental
ethics). Past and present nature experiences are particularly helpful in predicting
environmentally-protective behaviours (Kals et al. , 1999). Environmental worldviews can vary
considerably given different assumptions and values, such as a human-centred or environmentcentred orientation. For instance, environmental worldviews can result in different views on
resource extraction and animal welfare. The third component, nature-related experience, reflects
the extent to which biophilia has been supported or suppressed through physical familiarity with
nature, and comfort and desire to spend time in it. Overall, nature connectedness nurtures
particular actions in people such as vegetarianism, love of animals, environmental activities,
long- versus short-term thinking, and pro-environmental behaviours (Nisbet et al. , 2009).

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Results from research by Nisbet et al. (2009) that tested the nature relatedness scale indicated
that an individual's level of nature relatedness is relatively stable over time and cannot be easily
influenced. The researchers predict that connection with nature can be cultivated by frequent
and long-term nature contact; however, research is needed concerning how connectivity with
nature can be meaningfully influenced (Nisbet et al., 2009). Exploring differences in nature
connection on an individual basis and from a rural context may help better understand the
biophilia hypothesis, and assist in the development of ways to foster human bonds with the
natural world (Nisbet, 2011). Nature experiences, such as outdoor recreation, are suggested as
one method that may increase nature connectedness (Nisbet et al., 2009).

2.2 Nature-Based Outdoor Activities
Nature-based outdoor activities encompass leisure, recreation, and cultural activities that
occur in natural settings and can be accessed as part of daily or weekend routines (Bell,
Tyrviiinen, Sieviinen, Probst!, & Simpson, 2007; Ibrahim & Cordes, 2008; Plummer, 2009). The
defining element of outdoor activities that differentiate it from other leisure activities is the
requirement for access to a natural space; hence, landscapes that often facilitate outdoor activities
include forests, lakes, rivers, mountains, and parks (Bell, Tyrviiinen, Sieviinen, Probstl, &
Simpson, 2007; Ibrahim & Cordes, 2008). Outdoor activities can meet a range of individual
needs determined by the participant (Ibrahim & Cordes, 2008). Dillard and Bates (2011)
discovered four core values or motivations for outdoor recreation include escape, enhancing
relationships, personal mastery, and winning. Activities can be self-directed and experience
driven (escape/personal mastery) or outwardly directed and results driven (enhancing
relationships/winning). Dillard and Bates' (20 11) results indicated that enhancing relationships
was the strongest motivation, and winning was the weakest motivation. Outdoor activities can

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10

range in intensity from a short walk on a flat neighbourhood trail, to a steep and time-consuming
hike up a mountain. Recreation can be enjoyed in solitary, with a community club or school
group, or with friends and family on vacation. Increasingly, outdoor activities are recognized as
having important implications for individual and community well-being including economic,
environmental, and health factors (Bell et al., 2007; Plummer, 2009).
Developing nature connectedness is not just a result of any time spent in nature; rather there is
evidence that intentionality and awareness of nature when doing an activity is key (Bruni &
Schultz, 2010). Outdoor activities can vary from incidental experiences (e.g., being physically
present in nature but interacting with nature only as the unintended result of another activity such
as cycling to work or downhill skiing in a park), to intentional experiences (e.g., intentionally
interacting with nature such as by hiking in a park, viewing wildlife or gardening). Intentional
interactions with nature have been identified as pivotal not only in the relationship to nature
connectedness, but also critical to the relationship with responsible environmental behaviours
(Keniger, Gaston, Irvine, & Fuller, 2013; Zylstra, 2014).
Research has also found that natural environments provide for "soft fascination" experiences
-that is experiences where sounds, sights and smells attract our attention while still allowing us
to function (Kaplan, 1984). There is evidence that these kinds of soft fascination experiences are
more restorative than hard fascination experiences such as participating in a sporting event or
watching TV, which take our full attention and don't allow us to think, react and restore. There is
potential to study the differences in outdoor activities, and the settings in which they take place,
based on the extent to which they provide soft fascination restorative environments (Kaplan,
1984; Olmsted, 1865).

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Initial research into the restorative functions of spending multiple days in natural
environments away from technology have demonstrated not only the capacity to restore a
person ' s decision-making capacity, but also showed promise in increasing creativity and problem
solving (Atchley, Strayer, & Atchley, 2012). Related research on the notion of mindfulness
(Kabat-Zinn, 2003) is focused on whether activities, particularly contemplative activities, will
strengthen a person 's feelings of nature connectedness (Chambliss, 2013 ; Howell, Passmore, &
Buro, 2013). Spending time outdoors has been shown to increase a person ' s feelings of nature
connectedness. At the same time, people who have stronger feelings of nature connectedness
have also reported more positive emotions, vitality, enthusiasm, increased attention, and greater
ability to focus on problems (Arnould & Price, 1993; R. M. Ryan et al. , 201 0).
Considering environments that facilitate hard and soft fascination raises questions about the
differences between rural and metropolitan areas and the relative access they provide to nature.
Natural environments and lifestyles in rural communities often foster participation in certain
outdoor activities. Research has found that recreation activity patterns differ between rural and
urban residents, with higher rates of participation in hunting, snowmobiling, and freshwater
fishing amongst rural residents (Heintzman & Dawson, 2010). Sieviinen et al. (2007) found that
the way-of-life recreation style in rural Finland was distinctly different than occasional
recreationists. Lifestyle outdoor activity users participated in more traditional recreation
activities, while occasional users were more sports-oriented, spent more money, and were more
apt to use commercial services.
Jackson (1986) writes that, "Each type of society (consumer, conserver) is characterized by
shared values and attitudes which are expressed in, among other things, recreational preferences
and participation." Components of the relationship between nature connectedness and outdoor

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12

recreation that remain to be explored include what influence a rural community with a resourcedependent economy has on nature connectedness and recreation choices.

2.3 Well-Being
In the past 30 years the term health in the western world has been interpreted in a more

holistic and inclusive way including social and environmental components (Kingsley, Townsend,
Phillips, & Aldous, 2009). Exchanging the word health for well-being widens the focus further
to include the natural environment, the built environment, social factors, and human mindfulness
(Kingsley et al., 2009). Well-being varies based on context, situation, geography, ecology, age,
gender, and culture (Prescott-Allen, 2001). Sustainable interactions with ecosystems have been
recognized as enhancing human well-being (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003). While
there can be great variability in how well-being is experienced based on personal and situational
differences, five interconnected components that make up well-being are repeatedly mentioned
(Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003):
•

Security (secure and safe access to natural and other resources)

•

Basic material for a good life (the basic resources for a decent life such as secure
livelihood, food, and shelter)

•

Health (personal and environmental)

•

Quality social connections

•

Freedoms and choice (self-sufficiency or self-determination)

The five components of well-being are interconnected and can strengthen each other or weaken
each other depending on whether their interactions are positive or negative (Millenium
Ecosystem Assessment, 2003). For instance, having the basic resources for a good life and a

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

13

healthy natural environment facilitates physical health, enhancing freedom of choice (or selfdetermination) to do what you value. If the basic resources for a good life over-accumulate and
are attained at the cost of the environment, this can result in trade-offs for individual well-being
in the present, and the well-being of others in the future (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment,
2003). An ecosystem stewardship approach to well-being means that negative effects on wellbeing could arise through overconsumption and ecological degradation. Positive effects on wellbeing could arise through sustainable human-nature relationships and provision of the
environment for the well-being of future livelihoods.
Various studies reinforce the positive influence contact with nature can have on well-being
such as quicker recovery rates from surgery (Ulrich, 1984), improved social interaction
(Sullivan, Kuo, & Depooter, 2004), improved cognitive functioning (Berman, Jonides, &
Kaplan, 2008), reduced mental fatigue (Kuo, 2001), lower crime rates (Kuo & Sullivan, 2001),
opportunities for reflection (Fuller, Irvine, Devine-Wright, Warren, & Gaston, 2007), stress
reduction (Parsons, Tassinary, Ulrich, Hebl, & Grossman-Alexander, 1998; Ulrich et al. , 1991 ;
Yamaguchi, Deguchi, & Miyazaki, 2006), psychological benefits (aliveness, contemplativeness,
self-discovery, and ,confidence) (Hinds, 2011), and increased satisfaction with one' s life in
general (Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St Leger, 2005). However, few studies have
explored why nature has a positive effect on well-being. Wilson ' s (1984) biophilia hypothesis
suggests that by spending time in nature people are satisfying an innate need. Thus, of particular
interest are studies that address the influence of nature connectedness on the well-benefits people
experience through contact with nature.
Preliminary research suggests that connectedness to nature may be playing a prominent role in
whether individual well-being benefits are experienced in nature. For example, analyses from

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

14

Mayer et al. (2009) indicate that the positive effects of nature contact are partly mediated by
nature connectedness. Significant positive associations between nature connectedness and
psychological and social aspects of well-being have also been noted (Howell, Dopko, Passmore,
& Buro, 2011). Howell et al. (2011) suggest several antecedents that may moderate nature

connectedness and well-being, including one' s immediate environmental context. The WHO
also identifies socio-ecological environments as the support systems for well-being, and the links
between humans and their environments as interconnected (WHO, 1986).

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15

Chapter 3: Description of Case Study
The research question that guided this project was what are the connections between outdoor
activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central rural community of
Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? Given that the research question was focused solely on
the rural community of Vanderhoof, the following chapter describes the community of
Vanderhoof in great detail.
Situated on a plateau overlooking theN echako River valley, Vanderhoof is a district
municipality located at the geographic centre of British Columbia within the Nechako river
watershed (see Figure 2 below) (Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, 2011 ; Picketts et al, 2014;
Saik' uz First Nation, 2013).

Settlements
•

MajorCity

•

Smaller Towns

•

Incorporated Villages

Elevation
Max: 2569 m a .s .l.
Min: 550 m a.s .l.

Elevation data · WWF I USGS HyclroSheds
Other St>Btial data. BC Govt

0

0

100
km

Figure 2 Overview map of settlements in the Nechako river watershed that Vanderhoof resides in (Picketts et al. ,
2014)

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16

The Vanderhoof townsite began to develop when miners, telegraph operators, and railway line
surveyors began passing through the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s (Destination BC
Corp., 2015; Payne & Welch, 2007). The word Vanderhoof originates in the Netherlands and the
Dutch word van der Hoeven meaning 'of the farm or farmstead' (The Vanderhoof Project, 2015).
The town is named after one of its founders, Herbert Vanderhoof, an American publicist and
employee of the Grand Trunk Pacific Development Company, who envisioned a creative
economic community of artists and writers (Destination BC Corp., 2015; Payne & Welch, 2007).
However, with inexpensive, fertile farmland and dense forest, agriculture and logging emerged
and remain the prevailing economies (CNC Press, 2011; Destination BC Corp., 2015). The
coniferous forests that surround Vanderhoof contain spruce, pine and fir (CNC Press, 2011). On
rural lands you can find cattle, bison, sheep, rabbit, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and other livestock,
as well as crop production including hay, alfalfa, wheat, barley and canola (CNC Press, 2011).
The district boundaries contain a population of roughly 4,840 people, but serve as a regional
service centre for almost twice that population (District ofVanderhoof, 2010). Many oftoday's
residents descend from settler ranchers and loggers (Destination BC Corp., 2015).
The Vanderhoof municipality is approximately 95km west of Prince George at the junction
of Highways 16 and 27. North on Highway 27 is the District of Fort St. James, and west on
Highway 16 is the Village of Fraser Lake. The Canadian National Railway runs through the
centre of the District parallel to Highway 16. Vanderhoof is the second largest community in the
Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, a land area of approximately 78,000 square kilometres with
only a population of 40,387 (Province of British Columbia, 2015a, 2015b). The area is sparsely
populated allowing access to expansive nature, yet is well-serviced and accessible (Province of
British Columbia, 2015b).

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3.1 The Lay of the Land
Vanderhoof also lies at the heart of the gently rolling plateaus of the Sub-Boreal Spruce BioGeoclimatic Zone of British Columbia' s interior. On the western horizon lies the Coast Mountain
Range, to the east the Rocky Mountains, and north and south an expanse of rivers, lakes, and
forests (CNC Press, 2011).
Vanderhoof is the largest community located entirely within the Nechako River Watershed
(Picketts, Dery, & Parkes, 2014) . The Nechako (from the Carrier word Nichakoh meaning big
river), the second largest tributary to the Fraser River, flows through the heart of the community
and is home to several fish species including rainbow trout, chinook salmon, and a genetically
unique population of white sturgeon (CNC Press, 2011; Picketts et al., 2014). Just north of the
town site on the shores of the Nechako is a 180 hectare bird sanctuary at Riverside Park, where
thousands of birds migrate through on the Pacific Flyway including Canada geese, trumpeter
swans, and white pelicans (Eh Canada, 2015; Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce, 2013c).
Thousands of geese can be seen and heard in the valley, with their goslings in the Nechako river,
or flying overhead; hence, the iconic bird is the symbol and mascot for the community (CNC
Press, 2011). Abundant forage and small wetlands in the interior plateau also help create suitable
conditions for terrestrial mammals including moose, elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, black bears,
grizzly bears, wolves, martens, fishers , and great homed owls (B.C. Ministry of Forests, 1998).
The climate of Vanderhoof is characteristic of the north-central interior with long, cold winters,
and short, hot summers (B.C. Ministry of Forests, 1998).
The Vanderhoof landscape has experienced several changes since establishment of the town
in 1926. The 1950s construction of Kenney Dam 91 km south of Vanderhoof on the N echako
River, built to provide electricity to Alcan ' s aluminum smelter further west in Kitimat, had

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18

devastating social and ecological impacts (Hartman, 1996; Wood, 2013). The dam dramatically
altered the hydrology of the Nechako and ultimately the entire ecosystem (Hartman, 1996). More
recently, the mountain pine beetle epidemic has had devastating impacts on the area and is
ultimately expected to kill up to three quarters of mature pine trees (British Columbia Ministry of
Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 2012). Vanderhoof is also the reference site for
a New Gold Inc. mining exploration project in the Nechako Plateau (Vanderhoof Chamber of
Commerce, 2014). While the landscape has and continues to change, it provides an excellent
setting for the enjoyment of a wide range of outdoor activities and lifestyles.
3.2 From the Mountain to the Valley: Outdoor Activity Opportunities
In addition to the Nechako River, lakes of all sizes mark the landscape for fishing and other
recreational opportunities (District of Vanderhoof, 2007). Wildlife viewing, hunting, trapping,
and birdwatching opportunities abound throughout the area. Numerous hunting and angling
resorts are located in what is known as ' Big River Country' south of Vanderhoof (Vanderhoof
Chamber of Commerce, 2013b). Hiking opportunities can be found on Sinkut Mountain which
looms over Sinkut Lake from the gently rolling terrain of the Nechako plateau at an altitude of
1,483m (4,864 feet) (CNC Press, 2011; District of Vanderhoof, 2007). Sinkut comes from the
Dakelh (Carrier) name Tsink' ut which means Ochre p eak (CNC Press, 2011). From the top of
Sinkut Mountain the Nechako River and its valley can be seen almost in its entirety, and for
many this mountain and this river are the area' s major landmarks. Other popular hiking trails
include Cheslatta Falls, Waterlily Nature Trails, Omineca Trail, and Telegraph Trail (District of
Vanderhoof, 2007). In recent years an interconnected network of accessible walking and biking
trails with interpretive signs have emerged within the town centre itself (see Figure 3 below)
(District of Vanderhoof, 2014).

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19

N

t

Figure 3 Vanderhoof community trails within the town centre (District of Vanderhoof, 2014)

In the winter months the community trails remain excellent for walking, snowshoeing, and even
cross-country skiing. While there is no downhill ski facility in Vanderhoof, the Nechako Valley
Sporting Association (NV SA) maintains 40km of hiking and cross-country ski trails northeast of
town at Waterlily Lake (Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce, 20 13a). Outside the town centre on
rural properties Vanderhoof residents often recreate in their own backyards from creating trails
while cutting firewood, gardening, birdwatching from the kitchen table, watching deer eat from
the same troughs as cattle, listening to bats under the moonlight, or snowshoeing through a hay
field.

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20

3.3 Healthy-By-Nature Community Initiatives
In recent years a range of new community initiatives have emerged to promote health and

well-being in Vanderhoof. The Nechako Waste Reduction Initiative, along with the Nechako
Valley Food Network, are part of the umbrella non-profit society the Nechako Healthy
Community Alliance (Nechako Waste Reduction Initiative, 2010). The goals of these
organizations are to support a way of life that seeks a balance among humans and nature through
environmental health and community well-being (Nechako Healthy Community Alliance, 2015).
A seasonal Farmer' s Market was also founded in 2009 to provide the community with locally
produced products at Riverside Park every Thursday from June to September, as well as three
Saturdays in the summer. Idle free zones and the annual expansion of the community trail
network are also helping make the community more pedestrian friendly (CNC Press, 2011). An
initiative from the Good Neighbours Committee has also sought to create a more respectful and
inclusive community by promoting growth and understanding amongst the place, people, and
nature that comprise Vanderhoof, Saik' uz, and outlying areas (CNC Press, 2011; Striegler,
2011).
Although Vanderhoof is a small town, community members are involved in three
interrelated watershed stewardship initiatives including the N echako Environment and Water
Stewardship Society (NEWSS), the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (NWSRI), and
the Nechako Watershed Roundtable (NWR). Since 2006 NEWSS has been leading stream
rehabilitation initiatives through the Nechako agricultural belt by advising landowners and
government (Nechako Environment & Water Stewardship Society, 2013). The NWSRI operates
a conservation aquaculture facility in Vanderhoof and seeks to return a pre-historic, endangered
white sturgeon fish species (Acipenser transmontanus) to a self-sustaining population (Nechako

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21

White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, 2015). The NWR includes a group of volunteers from all
four orders of government, health, environmental groups, academia, and the general public
(including representatives from NEWSS and the NWSRI) seeking to strategically work together
to improve the health of the Nechako watershed for future generations. The opportunity to
conduct this research was developed with the inspiration and assistance of members of the NWR.
3.4 Grounding Research in Rurality

The following section will briefly describe the quantitative and social dimensions of rurality
in Vanderhoof and surrounding areas.
3.4.1 The Numbers Game: Bounding Rurality by Census Population & Commuting Zones

In the 2011 census the population of the district municipality ofVanderhoofwas 4,480 at a
density of 81 .7km2 (Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 20 12). Vanderhoof is designated
as a district municipality because the incorporated land area is over 800 hectares (8 km 2) with an
average population density less than 5 persons per hectare (Government of British Columbia
Queen ' s Printer, 1996). However, population densities are not evenly distributed in Vanderhoof
and someone may argue that like much ofNorthern BC Vanderhoofs town centre contains an
urban island. A group of people live in dense neighbourhoods next to the town centre
indistinguishable from any urban street lot. To distinguish between population land densities an
overarching rural and small town (RST) definition was used only as a benchmark for
understanding the Vanderhoof population. The RST definition includes the population living in
the municipality of Vanderhoof outside the commuting zone of a larger urban centre (i.e. outside
the commuting zone of a centre with population of 10,000 or more) (Statistics Canada, 2001 ).
From here the RST population can be disaggregated into two sub-groups/building blocks based
on the size of commuting flows to the small urban settlement/town centre of Vanderhoof:

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

22

1) Individuals living in the small urban settlement ofVanderhoof outside the commuting
zone of the large urban centre of Prince George (Population of 10,000 or more), and
2) Individuals living in the countryside within the commuting zone of the small urban
settlement ofVanderhoof
While population and commuting zones help delineate rural areas for census purposes, of more
interest is how space and access to nature reflects how people live their life.

3.4.2 Beyond Numbers: Social Representations of Rurality
While the entire population of the District ofVanderhoofmay be defined as rural by the RST
definition, the social aspects of rurality are highly contextualized and may differ between
residents. People living in Vanderhoof may or may not identify as ' rural people' following a
'rural way of life. ' Factors that may affect levels of rurality include differences in occupation
(particularly agriculture), transportation, residence, and use of leisure time (Halfacree, 1995). For
example Halfacree (1995) proposes that someone with an agricultural occupation who lives in
the countryside may be less concerned with materialism (e.g. fashion) , be closer to and
appreciate birds, wildlife and open space, experience less noise and traffic, and have a slower
pace of life. Contextualizing experiences of rurality and their effect on the interplay between
nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and well-being enriches the research and understanding
of these concepts.

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Chapter 4: Methodology
4.1 Introduction
The methodology chapter presents the process selected to answer the research question and
objectives and the methods employed. The theoretical approach and research design sections will
outline the theories and strategies chosen to answer the research question/objectives. The data
collection section provides details on the research instruments used to collect information, and
the data analysis section describes how that information was analyzed and will be presented in
the findings chapters. Finally, the limitations section clarifies the boundaries set for the study, as
well as factors that have placed restrictions on the methodology, results, and conclusions.
4.2 Theoretical Approach
Informing the research design are underlying theories in nature connectedness, well-being,
and nature-based outdoor activities contextualized by a rural setting. The research question and
objectives did not seek to examine these theories as separate entities, but looked at the
intersections and relationships between them. A range of topics comprising nature connectedness
theory informed the research process including nature relatedness, connectivity with nature,
emotional affinity toward nature, inclusion of nature in self, the ecological self, and biophilia
(Dutcher et al. , 2007; Kals et al. , 1999; Naess, 1973; Nisbet et al. , 2009, 2009; Schultz, 2002;
Wilson, 1984). Nature-based outdoor activity theory included the motivations for participation
(Dillard & Bates, 2011 ; Ibrahim & Cordes, 2008), incidental and intentional (Nisbet et al., 2009)
experiences (Keniger et al. , 2013 ; Zylstra, 2014), and restorative environments (Kaplan, 1984;
Olmsted, 1865). The Millenium Ecosystem Assessment' s (2003) approach to well-being was
adopted because of its holistic understanding of well-being. Lastly, definitions of rurality were

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24

bound by Canadian census requirements (Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 2012), and
social representations of rurality (Halfacree, 1995).

4.3 Research Design
4.3.1 Exploratory Case Study
An exploratory case study approach was used to examine intersections amongst nature
connectedness, outdoor activities, and well-being in the rural Vanderhoof community. A case
study approach was compelling as it allowed me to derive an in-depth and up-close
understanding of relationships with nature in their rural context (Yin, 2012). Yin (2012)
provides two situations where a case study is appropriate that applied to the research study.
First, a case study is appropriate based upon the type of question the research addressed; research
directions can be descriptive, explanatory, measure the effectiveness of an outcome, or evaluate
the frequency of an event. The research question asked was what are the connections between
nature connectedness, outdoor recreation, and well-being in the rural context of Vanderhoof,
BC? Arguably, the research question was descriptive as it asked, "What is happening or has
happened?" Second, case studies are especially important, " ... when the boundaries between
phenomenon and context are not clearly evident" (Yin, 2012, p.4). The boundaries between the
phenomenon (the complex interactions between nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and
well-being) and the context (rural Vanderhoof) had not been explicated before and were
therefore exploratory. Further, connection with nature represents a subjective lived experience in
a specific environment; thus, a research approach that will allow the details of these stories and
emotional connections to be captured was implemented through semi-structured interviews
(Hinds, 2011). Hartig et al. (2011) identified a need for research that examined "the feelings that

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

25

people have when they are in nature as well as the feelings that they have toward nature" (p.
157).

4.3.2 Mixed Methods
A pragmatic mixed methods approach to this research appeared to best suit the research
question and objectives. Past research on nature connectedness was largely quantitative (and
quantitative tools were easily available), but the research question and objectives involved
exploratory integration of topics that a qualitative approach was well-suited for. Literature to
date suggests there may be strengths in integrating a mixed method approach. By themselves
each method had its limitations, but together the different approaches were complementary.
Nature connectedness has been explored using quantitative survey collection in an urban
setting. A survey in itself does not provide the depth of interviews, but can be a useful tool for
identifying regularities, differences, and trends (McGuirk & O'Neill, 2010). Given that a tool
was already established, the unique purposes of this research utilized the existing quantitative
tool that measured nature connectedness and enriched it by integrating it with qualitative
techniques. Thus, semi-structured interviews informed the distribution of an online survey.
Applying two different methods to the research question expanded the dimensions and scope of
research in Vanderhoof, collected a larger range of assumptions and worldviews, and could help
develop a more accurate understanding of nature connectedness, outdoor recreation, and wellbeing (Salkind, 2010). Qualitative fmdings helped with the development ofthemes in narrative
form, and quantitative data enriched those results further. Combining the two approaches
complemented each process and made the study more resourceful and thorough.

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4.4 Interview Data Collection Methods & Analysis

The mixed method approach to data collection began with semi-structured interviews which
informed the distribution of an online survey.
4.4.1 Semi-Structured Interview Sample Design & Selection

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants from the non-aboriginal
community of Vanderhoof. Interview participants were identified through purposeful and
snowball sampling to represent information-rich cases. Gatekeepers that I was acquainted with
through UNBC helped develop an initial pool of interviews, and additional participants were
suggested by the interviewees. To develop an initial group of interviewees, direction was sought
from two long-time community-oriented Vanderhoof individuals. Each individual was provided
with a letter outlining the details of the study requesting suggestions of people they would
identify as spending time outdoors, with emphasis on the breadth of the word ' outdoors '. From
that point forward snowball sampling was used. At the end of an interview participants suggested
fellow community-members who they identified as spending time outdoors, and who would be
comfortable providing an interview based on the questions they had just been asked. Three
individuals were suggested for an interview by several participants and were interviewed
accordingly. Each additional interview was chosen to extend the information already obtained, to
gather information that contrasted it, or to fill information gaps. The interview sample size was
based upon the quality and depth of the interviews, rather than statistical considerations.
Therefore, a sample size was not predetermined. Reflexive journaling and discussion of
transcripts with my thesis supervisor helped gauge when a range of perspectives appeared to
have been captured and theoretical saturation had been achieved.

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4.4.2 Semi-Structured Interviews Method
Participants were given the choice of where they wanted the interview to be conducted. I
strove for an interviewing style that was structured but relaxed to build rapport, follow the
natural trajectory of a conversation, and to help make the interviewees comfortable sharing their
stories and perspective. All interviews were conducted in Vanderhoof except one which was
completed over the phone. Interviews occurred at the kitchen tables of participant homes,
Riverside Park, community trails, and workplaces (indoor and outdoor).
Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, member-checked, and participants remained
anonymous. Initially 16 interviews were completed in June, 2014 and transcribed in July, 2014.
Unfortunately, in August, 2014 the audio and transcription files of 11 of the 16 interviews were
irretrievable after an electrical hard-drive failure. Five of the audio files were recovered andretranscribed. In September and October of 2014 six additional interviews were completed and
transcribed. Participants were provided the opportunity to review the transcripts, and one of the
participants chose to withdraw from the study. The final tally of completed and memberchecked transcripts was 10, with detailed journal entries and field notes for the remaining 11, for
a total of 21. Interviews focused on what types of rural outdoor activities interviewees
participated in, their perspective and relationship to nature in a rural environment, details on
their connection to nature and how it has been cultivated, as well what, if any, well-being
benefits they experience as a result of contact with nature.

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4.4.3 Interview Analysis
Data analysis began the day interviews started and was a constant, immersive, incessant
process. The general structure of interview data analysis followed the pathway indicated in
Figure 4 below.

Figure 4 Qualitative data analysis process

Applied thematic analysis was adopted and involved an iterative process of segmenting text,
identifying themes, and creating codes that represented a textual description within the
boundaries of a theme (Guest, MacQueen, & Namey, 2011). Themes were classified under two
categories, those imposed by the research question (nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and
well-being), and emergent themes that evolved as a result of the research question and
objectives. The early stages of analysis began immediately following the interviews through
reflection of field notes and interviews in detailed journal entries. Additional analysis directly
involved transcripts with highlighting of interesting or unanticipated text, compiling marginal
notes, and thinking about the emerging concepts in relation to my field notes and journal. The
transcripts were then read through a second time for an initial coding, then re-read and refined

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29

multiple times. Interviews where transcripts were lost are not represented in verbatim text but
still contributed towards, and are included in, the overall analysis process through the reference
of field notes and journal entries.
The depth of the interviews was compromised with the loss of data that occurred. In part this
was made up for by the keeping of a reflexive journal. I had also transcribed the lost interviews;
thus, the context of recalling conceptual and interviewee-specific information was stronger than
solely the person-to-person conversation. Reflection of how interview skills progressed as
subsequent interviews were conducted, as well as the thought process of the unfolding of major
themes, was documented. As the reflexive interview process evolved, stronger interviewing
skills made for stronger interviews. Interviewees were challenged to delve deeper than
descriptive answers. The loss of data also created a two month break between the first and
second rounds of interviews. However, the interview skills that were developed if anything were
strengthened as during the time gap all interviews were transcribed allowing for deeper
development of themes that could be probed for. Determination to have quality interviews to
make up for the data loss also fostered unwavering motivation to encourage interviewee selfawareness. The below table clarifies the qualitative data that was collected and analyzed:
Table 1 Overview of qualitative data collected and analyzed

Phase of Data
collection
I- Summer 2014

No.

Type of Data

11

Field notes and journal

Member
Checked
No

Analysis

II - Summer 2014

5
5

No
Yes
No
Yes

Thematic analysis

III- Fall2014

Field notes and journal
Interview transcription
Field notes and journal
Interview transcription

IV- Fall 2014

-1

Interview transcription

Yes

Participant withdrew from study

Total

21

Thematic analysis

Thematic analysis

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A codebook was developed that included a short, descriptive label, a full definition, when to
use the code, and when not to use the code. The codes were categorized under varying levels of
themes. The guiding definition for a theme was, "a phrase or sentence that identifies what a unit
of data is about and/or what it means" (Saldana, 2009, p. 139). To determine whether something
was a theme or not, an answer to the question, ' What is this expression an example of?" was
required (G. W. Ryan & Bernard, 2003 , p. 87). Verbatim text was used in the narrative to enrich
the data as it "reminds the researcher and the reader of the lived experience that has been
divulged; it reminds [researchers] that there are people behind the data" (Dunn, 2010, p. 135).
4.5 Online Survey Data Collection Methods & Analysis

Complementary to the interviewing process, a survey was adapted from an online
questionnaire conducted in Prince George as part of a larger project investigating perspectives on
the well-being/nature connection and nature-based recreation patterns (Wright, Mullins, &
Parkes, 2013). The original survey focused solely on outdoor activity participation and wellbeing/nature dynamics identified through community workshops in the respective communities
of Mackenzie and Dawson Creek. I developed the original survey to be piloted in the
communities of Mackenzie and Prince George with input from the principal investigators. The
outdoor activity and well-being components of the survey were rigorously tested in Mackenzie
and Prince George. In addition to adaptations made to the survey according to the pilot results,
the survey was adjusted based on my literature review and interview results. Major components
added to my survey included the nature relatedness scale and rurality components. The survey in
its entirety was also customized for the community of V anderhoof1.

1

Refer to Appendix I for full questionnaire.

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The goal of the survey was to collect results from a wider Vanderhoof population. The
survey collected online responses from July 18, 2014 to October 9, 2014 with 93 participants.
The survey consisted of 24 predominantly close-ended questions, focusing on the following
topics:
•

Rural outdoor activities that respondents participated in

•

Nature connectedness

•

Self-assessed physical and mental well-being.

In the first section of the survey eleven Likert and yes or no questions were asked to gain a
sense of how participants spend their time outdoors, how important that time is to them, who
they do the activities with, and the underlying motivations for that participation. Next, the
twenty-one item nature relatedness Likert scale rigorously developed by Nisbet et al. (2009) was
included. The scale was reviewed for wording and in item sixteen the word city was exchanged
for Vanderhoofto read, 'Even in the middle of [Vanderhoof} I notice nature around me.' The
subsequent section included a Likert-scale question on constraints to participation, a
dichotomous either-or question asking participants to identify themselves as rural- or urbancentred, and indoor- or outdoor-oriented. Participants were also asked to self-assess their
physical and mental well-being, followed by demographic questions, and involvement in
Vanderhoof community groups.

4.5.1 Online Survey Sample Design & Selection
The questionnaire was an electronic survey using the FluidSurveys platform
(FluidSurveys, 2015). A hyperlink for the survey was distributed to email addresses collected
during the interviewing process in Vanderhoof, or sent by the interviewees themselves to their
personal networks of outdoor groups or individual connections. Awareness in the community

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about the survey and research was achieved through various means. Early in the interview
process participants suggested posting research updates and the survey link on the Vanderhoof
Facebook Community Message Board, which proved successful in survey analytics. Other ways
awareness was spread included sharing updates from my research blog to the Facebook board 2 ; a
survey invitation was included in the September newsletter for the District ofVanderhoofwhich
was mailed to every household, available online, and also promoted on their Facebook page; the
local radio station and newspaper conducted an interview with me, and promoted the survey on
their Facebook pages and websites. Awareness in the community about the research was evident
through support from community members on Facebook, and when additional interviews needed
to be arranged in September participants were already familiar with the research. In the end, the
survey sample population was attained through email, the District newsletter, social media, and
websites, with constant emphasis that time spent outdoors was a requirement for participation.
Survey respondents were screened to ensure participants resided in Vanderhoof.
4.5.2 Survey Analysis
Using SPSS Version 21.0 software survey results were analyzed with a mix ofnonparametric
and inferential statistics. Given the relatively small sample size, and non-random sample, nonparametric statistical tests were used where available. In addition to frequency tables, rotated
varimax factor analyses, Spearman's rank order correlations, and Mann-Whitney U Tests were
used. Relationships reported were significant at the .05 level. Non-parametric statistics are
limited in the number of parameters and assumptions that can be made, and the accuracy and
precision of those assumptions. However, non-parametric results are considered to have wider
applicability, and are more robust than parametric models as they rely on fewer assumptions

2

The research blog for this research is viewable at http://matl 007.wix.com/carlingsblog

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leaving less room for error and misinterpretation. Unfortunately for the correlational tests a nonparametric equivalent did not exist; thus, parametric analysis had to be followed. The survey was
limited to participants with access to the internet, and to those who self-identified as someone
who spent time outdoors.

4.6 Issues of Trustworthiness
Field notes and a hand-written journal were kept to document the interviewing process. Field
notes documented interview descriptives such as the date, time and length of interview, type of
day, setting, and evidence of nature in the house or office space. A hand-written journal was also
kept to reflect upon the learning process of being an interviewer, and to document the
development of research decisions, directions and insights. My journal provided a space for me
to debrief at the end of the day, and to reflect upon my role and influence as a researcher, the
research participants, the social context of the community of Vanderhoof, and was invaluable in
developing emergent themes.
Applying two different data collection methods triangulated the dimensions and scope of
research in Vanderhoof, collected a larger range of assumptions and perspectives, and perhaps
has led to a more accurate understanding of nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and wellbeing in the community. Qualitative findings contextualize data in narrative form, and
quantitative data added breadth to those results. Combining the two approaches complements
each process by making the research more resourceful, and exploring both the creative and the
scientific.
Trustworthiness was demonstrated by following the four criteria of credibility, transferability,
dependability, and confirmability (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Credibility was sought through

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prolonged engagement, persistent observation, triangulation, and member-checking. Prior to the
research beginning, time was spent learning about the community and being present within it.
Three visits to the Vanderhoof community occurred before the research began and I subscribed
to an electronic edition of the local newspaper. Triangulation of methods was achieved through
a combination of semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Lastly, a member-checking
structure occurred where all interview transcripts were reviewed and edited by participants. In
addition, trustworthiness of the survey instrument was increased by adapting questions from
previous questionnaires, review of the entire survey instrument by my thesis committee,
pretesting the survey in Prince George through an upper level UNBC research methods course,
and multiple revisions before and after the interview process.
Transferability was sought by providing thick descriptions of qualitative fmdings so sufficient
information is available for someone wishing to determine whether the context-specific
dynamics of Vanderhoof are applicable to another community. Dependability and confmnability
were followed through peer scrutiny, iterative questioning, member-checking, and the keeping of
a reflexive journal (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Peer scrutiny was achieved through external review
of the data, fmdings , interpretations, and recommendations by my thesis supervisor to ensure that
the outcomes have been logically reached and are grounded in the data. In addition, iterative
questioning was implemented as this method ensures complex topics are approached from
different angles and directions; thereby, confirming ideas by asking the same questions to each
interviewee, and repeat analyses of interview data.
4. 7 Limitations

The research design was exploratory and context-specific; thus, limited in scope, breadth, and
generalizability (Cunsolo-Willox et al., 2013 ; Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Sa1kind, 2010). Since I

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35

was the human instrument for interviewing, interpretations were subjective (Lincoln & Guba,
1985; Salkind, 2010). Interviews were conducted face-to-face; however, due to interviewee
work constraints one interview was conducted over the phone. To accommodate participants
they were given the option of where to meet and at what time. I found that interviews conducted
in participants' workplaces did not provide as comfortable of an environment as someone ' s
home. Interviews completed outside the workplace were longer, more personal, and provided a
more comprehensive understanding of personalities and perspectives.
Survey respondents self-selected based on whether they spent time outdoors, rather than a
surveyor screening them. As a result three participants who were not Vanderhoof residents
completed the survey and were subsequently removed from the sample. The survey was also
limited to participants who had the required accessibility and knowledge of a computer and
internet.
4.8 Conclusion
This chapter outlined the design and methods used to complete this research. In-depth
interviews informed the distribution of an online survey in the community of Vanderhoof. Semistructured interviews were completed with 22 participants in June, September, and October of
2014 alongside reflexive joumaling. Initial interviews informed the structure and distribution of
an online survey from July to October of2014. Analysis was completed using applied thematic
analysis, frequencies, and nonparametric statistics. The results from the thematic analysis of the
interviews will be interpreted and discussed in the following chapter.

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Chapter 5: Interview Findings
5.1 Introduction
The research question that guided this project was what are the connections between outdoor
activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central rural community of
Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? Mixed methods involving quantitative and qualitative
data collection was adopted. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21
individuals from the Vanderhoof community in the summer and fall of 2014 to explore the
research objectives: how rural residents view their relationship to nature; what types of outdoor
activities rural residents participate in; whether outdoor activities help cultivate connection with
nature and in what ways; and the well-being benefits rural residents experience as a result of
contact with nature. Interviews were targeted towards individuals who community members
identified as spending time outdoors and had a connection with nature. This section presents
results from these twenty-one interviews.
5.2 Interviews
Interviews focused on what types of outdoor activities interviewees participated in, their
perspective and relationship with nature, how that connection has been cultivated, and well-being
benefits from nature contact. Respondent names are indicated by numbered abbreviations from
Respondent 1 (R1) to Respondent 21 (R21 ). Direct quotes from respondents are used to support
themes, supplemented by respondent abbreviations where complementary data from lost data
(Rl1 to R21 represent lost data) has been drawn upon from field notes and journal entries. The
number of participants associated with a particular theme is indicated by opening statements
such as 'several participants ... ,' or 'a few participants .... ' Quotes have been transcribed

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verbatim and represent the way we speak in everyday life and thus are not as well articulated as
written prose.

Interviews were analyzed for structural themes imposed by the research design and for emergent
themes related to nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and well-being. The three major
themes found in my research are as follows:

•

Outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of self-sufficiency can foster development of
nature connectedness

•

Nature connectedness can contribute to the development of environmental perspectives

•

Well-being outcomes can reinforce nature connectedness

Given the mixed methods approach to this thesis, the aim of the following chapter is to
contextualize the data in the narrative; thus, verbatim quotes will be used to not only describe the
data collected but provide insight into the lived experiences of the people behind the analysis.

5.3 Demographic Characteristics of Interview Sample
Females represented slightly more than half of the sample, males representing the remaining
and the majority of respondents were 40 to 60 years of age. The majority of respondents held
post-secondary education and resided in Vanderhoof for 20 to 60 or more years.

5.4 Theme 1: Outdoor Activities that Support a Lifestyle of Self-Sufficiency Can Foster
Development of Nature Connectedness
Before the research began I wondered how nature connectedness in Vanderhoof would
deviate from fmdings uncovered in urban landscapes. The major discoveries that participants
shared with me included how connectedness was cultivated in the north by living off the land,
lifestyle activities, the type of outdoor activity, through their partners' interests, and development

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of an intimate relationship with the land over time. The interview fmdings showed that more than
60 years ago in Vanderhoof farm families living off the land had important characteristics of
self-sufficiency producing practically everything they needed. Years later some Vanderhoof
residents descend from settler ranchers, and some have similar regional roots. Other residents
grew up in urban centres or different countries and moved to Vanderhoof desiring a life more
connected to the land. Interview participants communicated aspects of their outdoor-based
lifestyles that helped substantiate the theme of self-sufficiency connecting individuals with
nature. Activities particularly motivated by self-reliance were found to nurture all dimensions of
connectedness: cognition, emotion, and behaviour. Individuals living a self-reliant way of life
had purposefully chosen to live that way, and put a high level of thought and passion into it. A
second message of self-sufficiency emerged not as an activity in itself, but as what may be
considered more traditional ' outdoor recreation ' activities. For instance, self-propelled outdoor
recreation activities have characteristics of self-sufficiency (e.g., canoeing, walking, and crosscountry skiing). Activities where self-sufficiency was not the main goal appear not to connect a
person to nature as profoundly as those that are done primarily for the purpose of sustaining the
body, mind, and spirit through subsistence. However, if a person were to combine these two
activities, say foraging for berries while walking, or using a canoe to hunt, the potential for that
activity to connect one with nature could be stronger.

5.4.1 Cultivation of Nature Connection in Vanderhoof
Self-Sufficient Living
Participants described how self-sufficiency through hunting, growing a garden, raising goats,
or foraging for berries and edible plants, provides an experience of communion, appreciation,
and connection with the local environment. Hunting and living off the land can foster deep

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connections and respect between the land, the animals, and humans. R2 describes how growing
up on her parents' trap line and hunting cultivated connection with nature by making her an
expert in animal species and life cycles.

I know there 's lots ofpeople, oh well what kind of animal is that? And for me sometimes
because I grew up with it and was around it so much I'm like well that 's I know what that
animal is, and I 've been around them and seen them in the wild, and have caught them on the
trap line, or hunted them. So I guess the connection is different than you know seeing a deer
on the side of the highway.
Several participants (including Rll, Rl4, Rl9, and R20) expressed how hunting stimulates deep
connection with nature because it requires communion with the natural world through
concentration and stillness, as described below by R6:

R6 - So we kind of have these vestiges I think of that kind of human instinct, like when
you 're sitting in a little swamp because you hope to shoot a moose or something, and
you 're sitting on the ground and feeling the ground underneath you and sitting there for
2 or 3 hours without moving at all, and a small creature like a weasel comes running
along the log you're sitting on, or beside, puts its paws on your pant leg and sort of looks
up at your eyes, and then goes across your lap and carries on. But I find that kind of
thing only really happens when I'm hunting because that's the only time I'm particularly
motivated to be completely still and in the moment. And to be alert but still, not resting,
not dozing, but also not moving.
R6 goes on to describe how he developed these connections later in life, that he " ... never had

those experiences before [he] became a hunter, and [he hasn't] always been a hunter." R4
echoed thoughts similar to others by describing that the hunting experience is special not because
you harvest an animal, but because of the reprieve nature provides:

R4- I've been out bear hunting in the spring, not because I want to get a bear because I
don't care, for me it 's a bit of a break from the office, a break from the hospital, and just
a chance to kind ofpheeeww it 's my escape I guess.
A few participants (including Rl5) expressed their desire to be self-sufficient through gardening.
R8 explained that even when she and her husband lived in the Arctic that they maintained a
garden, " ... we want to aim more to be more self-sufficient for ourselves, so we 've always tried

to; even in Norman Wells we had a garden." R9, who lives off her garden all winter long,

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describes how a meaningful morning for her is spending time in her garden, watching the birds
on the lake and enjoying the sunshine:

R9- If the sun is shining, I 'm out in my garden ... I mean weeding is a good time for me,
I know that sounds silly ... How I like to start my day in the summer time is we have our
breakfast, and I have table and chairs out in the flower garden by the lawn there, and we
take our breakfast out there. We have pelicans on the lake in the summer time, and
they 're swimming around out here. And we have nesting geese now that are staying here
over the summer.
A few respondents (including Rl5) described outdoor lifestyles taking care of a variety of farm
animals, including goats. R8 describes how taking her goats for a walk on the trails her and her
husband build fills her with ' something':

R8- I associate it with being refilled, as though all the busy stuff that happened in my life
was way far away, and I was just in that moment, and that I think is what nature does
when I go for a walk with goats same thing.
Several female interviewees (including R21) described foraging for berries and edible plants as
some of their strongest nature connection moments. R3 described what an ideal day foraging for
berries entails:

The very best days I go in August and pick huckleberries on the Nulki Hills, we leave in the
morning and just stay up there all day and it 's so nice, you can 't hear any traffic, it 's just the
wind and mosquitoes, and berries, then we stop and have lunch and talk together a bit, and
then go back.
Rl describes the pride she feels in nurturing connection with nature by observing the foraging
skills her young daughter has developed:

Rl -She loves being outside, she has been eating wildflowers since she was able to walk,
and she 's, as soon as things start growing outside she just picks them and eats them. I'm
glad that we 've nurtured that in them and that they appreciate that as well, and that they
can see that you can go in the bush and you can sustain yourself
Rural Outdoor Way of Life May Motivate Activity Choices Rather Than Physical Fitness
In describing the underlying motivations for time spent outdoors, several participants

(including Rl5) noted that they were intrinsically motivated to participate in activities that

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integrated into their lifestyles, rather than for other means such as physical fitness. R 7 describes
how his dependence on nature for subsistence facilitates an outdoor way of life:

R7- I spend a lot of time living out there, I say a lot of time staying alive but that's I'm
basically semi-serious about that because you know my fishing and my hunting is all
about eating, putting food on the table. It is very much a lifestyle.
R8 describes how nature and the changing of the seasons dictate her and her husband's outdoor
activity choices on their large acreage with goats, an orchard, large greenhouse, ducks, and an
extensive trail network they have created in their forest while gathering firewood:

R8- I think it rules everything we do here. The climate as it changes throughout the year
determines what we're going to do, so I think the connectedness with nature is 100% of
what we do ... because of the lifestyle we chose, we are totally ruled by the work that
needs to be done based on the time ofyear that it is. So I would say I'm 100% connected
just about all the time.
R6 explicitly states that fitness does not motivate his outdoor activity choices:

R6- Right so motivations are not, it's never fitness. I don't know, I'm just not geared that
way, or I don't think that way, I don't know what it is, but I don't go for a run, or a hike,
or a fast walk, or a bicycle ride to maintain or build fitness, it isn't exercise ever.
A long-time resident of Vanderhoof, Rl, describes how rural life in Vanderhoof means a way of
living that fundamentally connects you to the outdoors:

R1 -I think rural to me means ... I think that there's a certain self-sufficiency to living
rural life, rural I think you know connects you to what 's going on outside, whether that's
the pigs you're feeding or the cows you're feeding, or that you get on your horse and you
ride out in the bush, or it's kind of an outdoor life maybe.
Some Outdoor Activities May Facilitate Stronger Connection than Others
Participants also noted that characteristics of specific activities help them connect with nature
in a meaningful way. R5 describes the importance of non-motorized activities for her:

R5 -Maybe I am scared because I have never experienced that. They go pretty fast and it
is cold, I don't, when I go outside I like to do something for my body and not sit on a
machine and drive around.
Rl describes that what she enjoys most about canoeing is that you are relying on yourself to
move forward and not a motor:

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Rl- Well it 's not noisy. It's quiet. Well unless it 's windy (laughs) . It 's self-propelled, so I
feel like I'm self-sufficient. You know I don 't need to have any fuel; I can just get in the boat
and have a paddle and go.
Who You Spend Time with Outdoors May Increase Your Awareness
Several participants described how spending time outdoors with someone else can enrich
the experience by increasing their knowledge and awareness of surroundings, or imparting
knowledge and a love for nature in others, particularly children. Rl explains how her husband's
knowledge has nurtured her awareness of the natural world:

Rl - I joke that before I met him I could identify a robin and a goose; you know a Canada
goose, and a swan I guess ... he kind of woke up, opened my eyes, or made me be able to
see stuff ... it's kind of exciting to be aware of what 's going on around you. And not just
be stomping all over the place and driving all over the place. It's kind of like there's this
other world that 's going on that I haven 't been part of until meeting him and having his
interest in it nurture that in me and that awareness in me, which is great.
Long-Term Residency Can Facilitate Learning of Landscape
Several participants who have lived in Vanderhoof for many years describe that by
spending time outdoors the landscape becomes a part of them; they have an intuitive
understanding ofthe land ' s characteristics such as changing scents and changing seasons. R7
compares his knowledge of the changing of seasons in the interior to a coastal person's
subconscious awareness of the tides:

R7- But you know the issues here are the never-ending changing seasons, and !find that
really exciting because I grew up with it, and you know it's what I remember as a kid, always
noticing these changes, so to me that 's just part of me right ... Ifyou live on the coast those
tides become part ofyour, psyche or whatever it is. Subconsciously you are always aware of
the tides. I imagine ifyou lived in the desert, the issues would be different again.
R4 describes his excitement for autumn and the advent of ' hunting' season as being bred into
him through the scent of wild cranberries:

R4- Hunting 's a great excuse, partly it's been bred in me that you smell the cranberries in
the fall and that kind of moist earth and the crisp in the air, oh man I can feel it coming when
it starts getting close to August, September it's been bred into me there's no question about
it, I love it.

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Rl describes the nostalgic experience that the scent of wild strawberries evokes in her:

Rl - The first time I smelled, when I smell wild strawberries in the sun, that wonderful aroma
and I didn't, now as an adult 1 can identify, it takes me back to being a kid, and being out in
the field by our place where there was wild strawberries and we 'd go pick wild strawberries
... Sometimes when I'm walking up the hill here a certain time ofyear and I can smell
strawberries, and I can 't see them but I can smell them. It takes me right back to a childhood
memory, a happy time in my childhood, which I really appreciate.
R3 describes her acute awareness that her connection to the landscape is local:

R3 -I mean I think a lot of my connection is pretty local, I don 't feel, also I 'm really happy
to go wherever I am, like in the mountains or in Penticton or wherever, I'm still happy to go
outside, on the coast, but my connection is really to here to this place where I live, so that 's,
and I learn more about it all the time, it 's a little bit more like what is this stuff, or I didn 't
realize that this was growing here too ...
5.4.2 Nature Connectedness May Change Over Time
Just as a person does not remain the same throughout their life, neither does connectedness
with nature. Indeed, some participants had an innate appetite for nature from childhood, while
others expressed how their connection has evolved. Rl describes how her connection changed
when she moved back to Vanderhoof as an adult and was at a different point in her life that
cultivated an appreciation and awareness of the local landscape.

Rl - Until I was 29 y ears old, I had looked at it my whole life, we lived on the side of the
river, our big picture window looked right across the valley at Sinkut Mountain, but I had
never been up it. My dad and my brother had, but I hadn 't. So I was working with some kids
and we took them up Sinkut Mountain, and I stood up there and I looked over the valley, and
I thought this is awesome! ... I can see everywhere ... And there's just something for me
spiritual about that.
R2 described how her connection could change, "Even just different times in your day or the

year, where it's not really related as much to what you 're doing or where you are." R5 explains
how her connection changed after a major life event provided her more time to enjoy the
outdoors near her new home:

R2 - [My connection with nature} is more intense here. Because I have time to do these
things, yeah this is, to go, just to go around the hay field, to walk around, and to enjoy this
quiet area, and it 's so beautiful, and it 's so giving and so it feels so healthy to do that and
enjoy the fresh air. It 's unbelievable still how fresh the air is.

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5.4.3 Personality & Self-Identity Reinforce Nature Connectedness
Introverts & People Who Can Be Alone May Connect with Nature More Easily
When asked what it was about who they are that allowed them to connect with nature, a
number of participants pointed to the reclusive aspects of their personality and aptitude for being
alone. Rl 0 describes how he and his sister shared an interest in the back to the land movement in
the 1960s because they shared a more reserved personality:

Rl 0- The little undercurrent I mentioned, the back to the land thing, was I think that my
sister and I were both sort of, not loners, liked other people, but not in huge doses.
Maybe a bit introverted. So I think we saw this mythical cabin in the woods, away from
everything.
R3 explains how for her nature provides an effortless space for her to dwell compared to social
situations:

R3- Well I'm sort of shy and awkward so it 's difficult for me to relate to people so I
think that 's one, and nature is just easy, and being social is always an effort, so I think
that's one reason.
R3 expands on the characteristics that draw her outdoors such as the capacity to be alone and
observance of the infinite patterns and colours of nature:

R3 -Even just people who don 't mind being alone, cause that 's a lot of it, ifyou can't
stand your own company, than it's going to be hard for you to be in nature because that 's
the only company there is. Part of it is observant too, because I think I'm very observant,
I try to see all kinds of stuff, and that 's part of my artistic job is to pay attention to details
and point them out to other people, that 's my job as an artist ... ifyou just look a little
more there 's lots more to see than just even how the trees make patterns, the colours,
which kinds there are, how they 're growing. It 's endless, and you can go in more and
more detail, you can stop and sit and look at one little spot for awhile. And just look
closer and closer and there will be more and more and more, it's like infinity almost.
R4 also pointed out unassuming artistic and introverted aspects of his personality:

R4- There 's still times where the artistic side of me comes out and I'll be more the
rationale emotional side. And I'm the kind ofperson who, introvert versus extrovert, I
love being around people but I'm not the life of the party, I love to be in a party sitting
quietly watching. So I don't know, but ifyou asked anybody that has known me they'd
100% say I 'm an extrovert. But I feel more of an observer and a participator ....

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A long-time teacher in Vanderhoof, R7, identifies his childhood of spending hours and hours in
the forest by himself created a strong sense of sureness and individuality within him:

R7- One of the things I noted kind of that I think made my childhood really different
from most of the kids I 've seen, and most of the people I know, is I really did spend a lot
of it alone. We were out of town, we didn 't have a car, I couldn't get into town to hang
out with my friends which I would dearly have loved to do, but being alone you get way
more chance to figure out what 's going on in your head and sort out the questions that
you have.

5.4.4 An Affinity for Self-Sufficiency Can Fortify Nature Connection
Another personality trait several participants shared was an affinity for self-sufficiency in
activities and in their self-image. Rl describes that what she enjoys most about canoeing is that
you are relying on yourself to move forward and not a motor:

Rl- Well it's not noisy. It 's quiet. Well unless it 's windy (laughs) . It 's self-propelled, so I
feel like I'm self-sufficient. You know I don't need to have any fuel; I can just get in the boat
and have a paddle and go.
R2 describes the sense of accomplishment she feels being able to sustain herself through hunting:

R2- I definitely like to eat what we get. It 's a sense of accomplishment as well, and being
able to provide for yourself, you know you 're hunting it and then we always do all of the
processing ourselves whether we 're cutting steaks or grinding it or whatever.
Rl 0 describes the impetus for him moving to Vanderhoof from Vancouver was the romanticism
of the back-to-the-land movement of the 1960s:

Rl 0 - Well I came here when I was about 2 5, but what made me come here might be of
interest because it was the 60s, and there was a sort of a back-to-the-land thing, we wanted
to reject the values of our parents, probably the most affluent parents ever, although we were
rather poor. They wanted to get back to nature in a way, live off the land, build things with
their own hands, grow things with their own hands, and be in a more natural environment.
R6 describes how being self-reliant and resourceful reinforces the image he has of himself,
generating pride and self-worth.

R6- Well I think, again this notion of self-image, it 's like I think that we think of ourselves or
I think of myself as maybe more resourceful or down-to-earth to use a tired phrase, but more
I don't know than people who live an urban lifestyle ... a feeling of being like I'm resourceful
enough to manage this whole stuff, fix my own equipment, and deal with having to spend the
night in the bush unexpectedly, or not be afraid of the dark, or get a fire going and put up a

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shelter, I don't know those sort of manly mountain man kind of things, and use my chainsaw
and cut down a tree safely, scare away a bear and whatever else.
R 7 goes into detail describing how his autonomy permeates several aspects of his life and
generates a sense of accomplishment:

R 7- It's a sense of independence, it 's a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, achievement,
of being able to do that, and feeling that you're at least partially free of being dependent on
the rest of the world for even Mickey Mouse minimum little things right. Anyway, and I'd say
so I extend that same thinking to hunting, I would rather eat meat that I've hunted myself
than meat that I buy out of the grocery store.
R8 describes the reason her and her husband go to great lengths to live a self-sufficient lifestyle
as taking responsibility for themselves:

R8- Yeah and the idea that we can be responsible for ourselves, I think that's part of it, just
more so than the world is responsible for providing everythingfor us, we are responsible for
some of what happens to us, we may not be responsible for everything, but we certainly can
be more responsible than most of us in North America. So I think that probably was part of it
as well.
R9 traces her love of gardening, saving seeds, keeping a root cellar, and trying to live off the
land, to her childhood growing up in Vanderhoof:

R9- We have always lived off the land and we still try to. I used to go grouse hunting and
moose hunting with my brother and my dad, I never tasted beef until I was about 10. We
always had moose meat or deer meat, and we never had turkey at Christmas time it was
always probably a roast moose. And you know we just lived a very simple, different lifestyle,
we didn 't depend on the grocery store so much.

5.4.5 Nature-Connected Individuals may be Less Materialistic
Perhaps parallel to being self-sufficient, a few participants also shared non-materialistic traits
such as reusing or repairing things to reduce environmental impacts, rejecting societal trends that
bigger means better, and not buying into the multi-million-dollar outdoor gear industry. R3
describes her obsession with repairing and reusing everyday resources:

R3- I try to do what I can myself to make stuff better, and you know I try not to use up stuff,
and to repair stuff whenever possible. You know that kind ofstuff, just not get new stuff, try to
get second hand stuff, and make my own whenever I can, cause then whenever you 're not
buying in the store stuff resources aren 't being used.

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Living in the house he built for over 30 years, R7 describes how inhabiting the same space for
many years can be good for a person and illustrate more modest values:
R 7- Moving around and around and around is you kind of there 's something you lose in
that. You know I know a lot ofpeople they buy a house and they say well that 's a starter
house, then they 're going to buy a bigger one and a better one and a more expensive one,
and they keep moving around. And then sometimes I think to myself, so ifyou have kids, and
you 're taking these kids from this house to that house to the next house each time more
successful and bigger and more expensive and better, ifyou ask your kids someday, where
did they grow up, where would they point at?
In describing himself, R6 explains that his outdoor lifestyle can be reflected in his serviceable
rather than fancy gear:

R6- Like you feel more comfortable, like you don 't, maybe you think things, not too casual
about things, but you don't necessarily really think about it when you pack to go on some
kind of an outdoor thing, you don 't necessarily have the latest and greatest from Mountain
Equipment Coop, you have serviceable gear, but you don 't have the frills and you don 't look
quite like a picture out of a catalogue, and it comes back to that smugness, you feel/ike you
kind of belong there as opposed to you 're visiting there.
5.5 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to the Development of Environmental
Perspectives
Amongst interview participants, several individuals identified as introverted and grew up with
exposure to self-sufficient living. Exposure to self-sufficiency varied from being an example of
their parents, self-taught, or learned through books and counter-culture. Other than these
similarities, participants had unique stories of how their environmental perspectives had
developed. A research participant's willingness to act on environmental perspective was
influenced by the surrounding resource-based economy, accessibility and awareness around
recycling, and active transportation infrastructures.
5.5.1 Contrasting Views on Resource Extraction
Vanderhoof is part of the resource extraction frontier for the province of British Columbia,
and the occurrence of these activities in north-central BC has likely influenced environmental

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perspectives. Some participants worked at a mill as a summer job, have family member(s) who
are loggers, or work within the resource industry themselves. Other participants had negative
views of the industry through their involvement in public hearings and political initiatives. R4
describes his view that nature should be used for the resources it provides:

R4- Hmm .. . that 's a tough one to answer because for instance my wife is much more
conscientious about recycling and that kind of stuff being "green " than I am, not that I 'm
destructive or wasteful or littering or throwing things away, but she 's just much more
bothered by it if she can 't do it, recycle and stuff. And I think also too, this is an interesting
question, there 's a bit of an element of having grown up in the bush you know living in a
house made up of the trees that we grew around where we built it, and all that, there 's an
element of nature 's more there to use and take from ....
R6 describes how his perspective on resource extraction has somewhat changed as a result of his
career change, but in the end environmental issues don 't influence his outdoor endeavors:

R6- I 'm quite apathetic and not very political. And so, but I 'm finding that I 'm becoming
more political, or less apathetic. With regards to environmental issues for example, and part
of that is through my work now, I'm not as insulated from it because it 's kind ofpart of what
I'm doing as a career now, and so I can feel that developing more and more.
R6 goes on to describe how he thinks the resource extraction industry has changed over time for
the better:

R6- I 'm used to working with loggers and I don 't know people like that, the company is very
conscientious, they have a recycling program in place, they are very careful about all their
garbage, their official policies are quite conscientious in that regard ... it 's not 1980
anymore where people would just dig a hole in the ground with an excavator and change oil
and pour oil into the ground, you know they used to do that right.
R9 describes how Vanderhoofs history with Rio Tinto Alcan and the construction of the
Kemano Dam has made her cynical of efforts to protest resource extraction:

R9- I think of the problems we 've had with the Nechako river, I think the federal government
has made up its mind, and I think that we can have our protests and opinions and sign our
petitions until we 're blue in the face, and the federal government has made up its mind and
when they 're ready they 're going to do as they please. That may be negative thinking, but I
think that 's how the government works.

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Rl explains that she has to be careful about how active she is against environmental degradation,
but that she does her best to preserve what she can in her own life:

Rl - I have to be careful what news I listen to because there's so much stuff going on right
now that is out of my control that hurts me, not hurts me, but makes me feel so sad, the
degradation to the environment. And I'm not very active at all because I would get too angry,
and I don't know how productive that is. So !just do my best to preserve what I can on my
own.
5.5.2 Modern Technological Advancements Can Disconnect People from Nature
Several participants alluded to advancements in food production, such as agriculture, as
disconnecting people from nature. In contrast, those who remained closer to the production of

food cited more awareness and connection to nature. Rl 0 describes his opinion on how the
invention of agriculture and modem technology has created a psyche in Canadian society that
humans are separate from nature:

Rl 0- ... that's the only other thing I discovered with all those wilderness wanderings was
everything's connected, and that 's the biggest single problem that modern man has is that we
think we're here and nature is over there, but of course it's in everything we have, your
socks, my shirt, that piece ofpaper there, it's like John Muir said, ifyou try and take one
single thing out that stands alone, you find it hitched to everything in the universe, which is
true of everything, but it seems somehow we've gotten away from that. The key thing that did
it for us, that separated us from nature, is the invention of agriculture in the Middle East
10,000 years ago.
R5 describes how her and her husband ' s negative experiences owning a non-organic farm forced
them to a breaking point because of the impact the unnatural treatment of the animals and the
land had on them:

R5- We didn 't have an organic farm, and we couldn 't change it, this was not possible for us
... we couldn 't work anymore, on this high level to see our animals just to be there to
produce lots of milk and nothing else, they have to feed, they have to be healthy, and they
have to have lots of milk coming out of the cows, and that is it ... our whole life was changing
with all the different things that we were thinking about, and we didn 't want to do that
anymore, we didn't want to treat animals like that, and we didn't want to treat the land like
that..

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R 7 describes the connection to nature created through direct involvement in harvesting your food
source:

R 7- Well let me give an example that 's a little different from that. So, you're exactly right,
so I hunt, or !fish, and when I eat that I remember the experience, I remember where it came
from ... and usually when we're sitting around as a family, when the kids are home they're
all grown up now of course, you know you kind of relate those experiences, you remember
those experiences along with hundreds of others ... I've never seen that happen around a
McDonald's hamburger, people do not have that experience or connection, or joke around
where this hamburger came from or how it got there. And it just doesn 't give you that whole
experience right? I 've seen people eat half of a McDonald's hamburger and then throw the
rest in the garbage, and say, "This is shit. " I have not seen people do that with the fish that
they caught, that they eat half of it, and throw the rest in the garbage. It's just a whole
different attitude, different approach, different every thing. And I think it 's a positive thing.
... I don 't think it 's very much better when you go to the grocery store and get it there either
because you don 't have a personal connection and you know you can poke at the different
packages of meat, and make some show ofpicking the best one, but I don 't think that most
people can really tell a good one from a bad one anyway. There 's a difference between you
getting a card from your boyfriend out of the drug store with his name signed on the bottom
and some little poem on there, versus getting a card that he wrote the whole poem from
beginning to end .. . And I think that's exactly the same with the hunting and the fishing, and
growing your own garden, and you know doing that.
5.6 Theme 3: The Well-Being Outcomes of Self-Sufficient Lifestyles Can Reinforce Nature
Connectedness
Interview findings highlighted a variety of positive and negative well-being outcomes of
connectivity with nature in a rural community. Positive outcomes included escape, social
connection, complete rest, heightened taste buds, sense of accomplishment, mental wellness,
resiliency, positive self-image, empathy, peacefulness, appreciation for space, and inclusiveness.
Negative outcomes included anger and intentional ignorance of environmental degradation; the
effort it takes to connect with nature can make returning to everyday life exhausting; and long
winters make spending time with nature challenging with negative impacts on connected
individuals.

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5.6.1 Contact with Nature Offers Positive Well-Being Benefits
Numerous studies document the well-being benefits of contact with nature (c. f. Maller et al.,
2005). Almost every participant reiterated several of these benefits, but with a rural northern
complexion.
Escape from Daily Life

Rl noted the escape from daily life that her family cabin on a popular leisure lake near
Vanderhoof provides, despite their permanent residence on a small, mostly uninhabited lake:
Rl -So that's out back, but the cabin is still the cabin and it's I mean, this is nice, I mean
this is beautiful, and when we do canoeing here, and we go out in the paddle boat, and
we skate on the lake in the winter time, but this is still, the phone still rings, the laundry
still needs to get done, there are things that are still home here. When we go to the cabin
at the lake, it's recreation, it's down time.

Rl also described the social benefits of visiting a less secluded setting from their everyday home:
Rl -And it's different. It's also a lot of visiting because the lots aren't very big and we
have a lot ofpeople who have cabins along there, and so weekends are quite social and
busy, whereas this is private.

Social Connection

The majority of respondents also mentioned how spending time in nature facilitates social
interaction amongst both family and friends. R6 describes how hunting helps him stay
connected with both his father and father-in-law:.
R6- I do value hunting as a connection between me and my father because he has, I told
you that he hadn 't been hunting for a long time, but he 's gotten back into since I have
gotten into it, so it 's something we have in common, we make a trip together, we set up
camp together and hang out and that kind of thing. And it 's also a way that I've been
able to get a bit closer to my father-in-law because he 's a long-time hunter and I'm kind
of late in the game as far as husbands or significant others ....
Sleeping Outdoors Can Provide Complete Rest

A few interviewees mentioned the rest they experience after a day spent outdoors,
followed by sleeping in the outdoors, which for Rl was beneficial as she struggles with anxiety:

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Rl -I was rested, and I have trouble with getting a good sleep because I'm a bit anxious,
and that, I can still remember the visceral feeling in my body of complete rest and
relaxation. And I thought wow is that how hard I have to work every day in order to get
a good sleep (laughs)?
Food Tastes Better
A few interviewees mentioned that not only does one sleep better, but, " . . .food is better,

everything tastes better, you know?" (Rl).
Outdoor Activities Combined with Fresh Air Can Provide a Sense ofAccomplishment
Several respondents mentioned the sense of accomplishment they experience when
connecting with nature, particularly when doing physical outdoor activities. R9 describes her
attachment to her wheelbarrow:

R9- Oh I think it keeps me very active, I like going out and paddling with the canoe,
walking, skiing, I mean we go outside because when you exercise you feel fantastic, and
it 's really good for you to get all that fresh air and exercise is better than going to the
gym and lifting weights, like I'm really attached to my wheelbarrow (laughs), big metal
wheelbarrow we 've had for 40 years. You get that thing full of a whole bunch of stuff, it 's
heavy, it 's good for you, you feel good at the end of the day, you 've got a sense of
accomplishment and that you 've done something.
Connecting with Nature in Various Ways Can Improve Mental Conditions
Several respondents mentioned how connection with nature creates a sense of mental
wellness, such as the feeling of natural wood against your skin, providing balance in stressful
periods, or just creating a sense of peace. Rl describes the mental well-being she experiences
connecting with nature in her home by choosing not to overlay the wood floors with plastic:

Rl -I hardly ever wear socks ... even this wood, we've oiled it instead of covering it with
a coat ofplastic so that when we walk on it we 're feeling wood, and we 're not feeling
plastic. This is our house. It 's as natural, it 's not as natural as it could be, but it's as
natural as we could make it you known for our long winters living inside right. You know
I love going like I said I like touching things, it 's like I'm connected to this thing, this
thing is part of this life is part of me, and that awareness and understanding helps
maintain and often brings me back to a place of wellness because I can get off track, I
can get off balance, and I 'm an anxious person, but I can go outside and I just feel better.

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R5 describes how she was drawn to spend time in her garden to help unwind from a stressful
day:

R5- ...After the course, this was on Saturday, I was so tense, it was lots of sitting, and
Sunday morning the first thing after brealifast I said I have to go in my garden, and I just
did nothing else, I picked up some beets, and looked how my garden is growing, and to
have fresh air, and to release all the tension .. ..
Resiliency ofNature Can Be Reaffirming
One respondent described how observing the resiliency of nature provided her with a
sense of relief:

R3 - Where I usually go is just to the fire site because I'm so interested to see how the
new growth is coming up. It's just reaffirming how resilient the forest is, I think ifpeople
went away nature would recover.
Connection with Nature Can Reinforce a Positive Self-Image
One respondent's connection with nature helped reinforce his positive self-image as a
resourceful, humble individual:

R6- Well I think, again this notion of self-image, it 's like we I think that we think of
ourselves or I think of myself as maybe more resourceful or down-to-earth to use a tired
phrase ... I don 't know if other people feel this way, but I have this kind of, I think it 's a
smugfeeling, a feeling of being like I'm resourceful enough to manage this whole stuff,
fix my own equipment, and deal with having to spend the night in the bush unexpectedly,
or not be afraid of the dark, or get a fire going and put up a shelter, I don 't know those
sort of manly mountain man kind of things, and use my chainsaw and cut down a tree
safely, scare away a bear and whatever else.
Everyday Settings That Connect You with Nature May Foster Empathy & Peacefulness
One interviewee mentioned the benefits of eliminating constant urban commotion, such as
sirens, from your life can increase your sense of empathy and foster a more relaxing and peaceful
everyday life:

R7- ... Jfyou hear a siren, it 's somebody 's being stopped by the cops, or it 's afire, or it 's an
ambulance, one of those three, so you know that somebody is having not a very good time,
and maybe a seriously bad time. And ifyou can spend your time just eliminating the notice of
that in your life, then what you've eliminated is that I don 't know empathy with the other
people around you ... people will tell you it 's relaxing to be outside, and part of that is the

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quality of the noise, it's not quiet necessarily, but it's that mechanized predictable repetitive
noise is not what you 're getting, people like sitting by waterfalls it makes them feel good, it's
not quiet, but it's different.

5.6.2 Overall Influence of a Rural Environment
Rural Life Can Foster a Deep Appreciation for Space
A prominent theme amongst participants was appreciation for the space that rural life
provides. R4 describes how not having space bothers him:

R4- Needing space, appreciating space, not requiring ah that's a tough one. I think space is
a big thing personally for me, we owned a house in Prince when we lived there and the fact
that you step out your back porch and somebody 's looking out over the fence, or people
across the street would sit out on their front lawn drinking beer in the evenings in the sun.
That kind of stuff, I can't handle that.
R5 describes why they chose a rural Vanderhoof property for the space it could provide in
contrast to their life in Europe:

R5 - ... we came here and we really were attracted to this place because of the space that
was, we needed, we needed space around. Because in Europe the neighbours are so close
around you and they complain about maybe the smell from the silage and from the cows and
yeah that is Germany.
R3 succinctly states that there is simply," ... just a lot more space between buildings and there's

more nature than buildings, more nature than built-up stuff " R2 describes her affinity for the
space rural life provides as both natural and man-made spaces are less crowded:

R2- It means I don't mind when there's no traffic (laughs) or you know lots of crowded
areas or and I think easier access to places where there aren 't other people or there 's nature
that 's accessible.
For Rll the accessibility of nature to wildlife was the essence of rural life:

Rll -Rural, it means when I have an urge to capture some photography, I can literally
go out the door here and within 10 minutes of driving I'm right in the midst of it. I can
find an elk, a bear, a moose, gazillions of birds, swan trumpeters, ducks and geese, I
know of two crow nests right beside us here, you can see across the way the amount of
goslings that hatched. Pretty soon the hummingbird feeder will only last about a day.
That's living here. That 's what it 's all about. Last week ifyou sat at the bird house in
Riverside Park you could actually see the sturgeon spawning.

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Rural Settings Can Be More Inclusive
Some participants also felt rural settings are more inclusive. R8 describes how she is able
to connect with people and be herself:

R8- Even here in Vanderhoof, I don 't know everybody here, I only know a certain amount of
people, but I know enough people that every time I go to town I can nod and smile and
recognize familiar faces, which I couldn 't always do in the city. And the pace is different, in
the city I feel as though I 'm being judged more on what I wear, I tend to be the kind ofperson
who looks at people and smiles, and you sort of see people clutch their purse when you do
that, and it's an odd feeling to me that I can 't just be who I am in the city, or I don 't feel that
I can be, whereas in Vanderhoof I am who I am and when I was up north I was who I always
was, or I thought I was.

5.6.3 Nature Connectedness Can Also Have Negative Impacts on Well-Being
Connectedness to nature and an outdoor way of life can also have negative impacts on wellbeing. Degradation to the environment is felt more strongly, spending lots of time outside can be
tiring, and the long winters can be mentally challenging.

Degradation of the Environment Can Be Felt More Strongly
By having a closer relationship to nature, a few participants noted that when the environment
is abused it triggers an emotional reaction within them. Rl explains how she has to be careful to
what she listens to in order to avoid ineffective anger:

Rl -I have to be careful what news I listen to because there 's so much stuff going on
right now that is out of my control that hurts me, not hurts me, but makes me feel so sad,
the degradation to the environment. And I'm not very active at all because I would get
too angry, and I don 't know how productive that is.
R7 explains the emotional reaction he experiences when resource extraction occurs:

R 7- But it works both ways, you know if I feel that connection of being part of that, and
when a logging company comes in and rips a piece of ground to splinters and slivers. You
know !feel very strongly about this that it 's not a real good feeling, it feels like something
is being ripped out of me.
The Effort to Connect with Nature can make Returning to Everyday Life Exhausting
While time in nature can be restorative, a few participants (including R13) described how
spending time outdoors on the weekends offers multiple benefits, but the effort that goes into

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those trips can be exhausting. R2 described how she feels before, during, and after spending time
outside:

R2- So before [spending time outdoors] I'd say [/feel] more I don 't want to use the
word normal, but like you would day to day and you're, like a regular day, I don 't know
what that is. And then when you 're outside I'd say relaxed and mostly free to not worry
about other things, it 's also kind of a place just to go and so you're there to do whatever
activity you 've come to do rather than think of all the home stuff. After I would say it's
tiring though being outside, it's tiring. Especially if it 's for longer periods of time. I don 't
know sometimes I fee/like we need a day after the weekend after spending all weekend
out camping and we 've been fishing and paddling around and going from one lake to
another lake, but I don 't know it's still, even though it's like that you still continue to go
out. I think because of the other benefits and experiences that you enjoy about it.
The Barriers Winter Creates Can Have a Negative Impact on Nature-Connected Individuals
The north-central interior has characteristically long, cold winters, which can offer
challenges to spending time outdoors for some participants (including R21 ). R3 describes the pep
talks she gives herself to take that step out the door:

R3 -Sometimes it's a little hard, in the winter I actually I have to actually give myself a
pep talk (laughs), "Come on, this will be good, you'll enjoy it once it 's over, or once
you're there. "
R7 describes the impact not going outdoors in the winter can have on a person's well-being:

R7- Oh absolutely, and you know we do get as much as six months of snow here, and if
you don 't spend your time in the snow, doing something you enjoy doing, or ifyou let that
snow prevent you .from doing what you like doing, you're going to have a long miserable
winter. You 're going to spend all the time indoors with your nose pressed against the
window wishing it was spring, that's not a good way to lead your life, spending half of a
year wishing it was anything other than what you've got is not a healthy way to spend
your time.

5. 7 Conclusion of Findings
The Vanderhoof exploratory case study suggests nature connectedness in the rural north has
distinct characteristics from the connectedness one might build in urban settings. Cultivation of
nature connectedness in Vanderhoof has occurred in various ways including self-sufficient living
for subsistence, leading an outdoor way of life, participating in activities that deepen connection,
spending time with people who evoke environmental awareness, and learning about a landscape

I

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over time. Specific personality characteristics were found to reinforce nature connectedness
including introversion, self-sufficiency, and non-materialism. Environmental perspectives that
surfaced included contrasting views on resource extraction, and consensus that modem
technological advancements, particularly in food production, can disconnect people from nature.
Numerous well-being benefits of connection to nature were found, particularly as a result of the
rural setting. However, negative impacts were also found such as the emotional impact of
environmental degradation, exhaustive efforts, and the barrier of long winters.

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Chapter 6: Survey Findings
6.1 Introduction
Personal interviews helped inform further exploration of the research question: what are the
connections between outdoor activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central
rural community ofVanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? As part of the mixed methods
approach to the research question, the development and distribution of a community-wide online
survey collected quantitative responses from Vanderhoof residents to explore the research
objectives: how rural residents view their relationship to nature; what types of outdoor activities
rural residents participate in; whether outdoor activities help cultivate connection with nature and
in what ways; and the well-being benefits rural residents experience as a result of contact with
nature. The survey was open to the Vanderhoof community at large. A hyperlink for the survey
was distributed to email addresses collected during the interviewing process, sent by the
interviewees themselves to their personal networks, posted to the VanderhoofFacebook
Community Message Board, District communications, the local radio, and local newspaper.
Emphasis that time spent outdoors was a requirement for participation was constant and
respondents were screened to ensure they resided in Vanderhoof. This section presents results
from those who completed the survey (n = 91) while it was accessible online from July 18, 2014
to October 9, 2014.
6.2 Survey
The survey began with questions seeking comprehensive understanding of the role of outdoor
activities in participants' lives such as the types of activities carried out, how often, with whom,
their importance compared to other activities, and the relative importance of nature in motivating

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that participation. The remaining sections of the survey probed for nature relatedness, physical
and mental well-being, and demographics.
Surveys were analyzed for themes imposed by the research design. The three major themes
found in survey findings are as follows:
•

Outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of self-sufficiency can foster development of
nature connectedness

•

Nature connectedness can contribute to the development of environmental perspectives

•

Well-being outcomes can reinforce nature connectedness

6.3 Demographic Characteristics of Survey Sample
Females represented 73% of the sample, males representing the remaining 27% with an
average age for both genders ranging from 40 to 49 years of age. The majority of respondents
held post-secondary education and resided in Vanderhoof for 20 to 29 years. Most respondents
worked in the education and forestry sectors or were retired. Almost one quarter of participants
were involved in the Nechako Valley Sporting Association or community gardens, and very few
were involved in stewardship groups such as the Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship
Society (NEWSS) and the Nechako Healthy Community Alliance.

6.4 Theme 1: Outdoor Activities That Support a Lifestyle of Self-Sufficiency Can Foster
Development of Nature Connectedness
A strong message of self-sufficiency was not as prominent amongst survey participants as
interview participants but still surfaced. The highest participation rate amongst outdoor
recreation activities were with those that were self-sufficient or represented a way of life that was
integrated with the outdoors. For example, a large number of people indicated membership with

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60

the Nechako Valley Sporting Association, the cross-country ski club, the Fish and Game Club, as
well as the archery club, all of which have qualities of self-sufficiency. Almost one quarter of
participants were involved in the Nechako Valley Sporting Association or community gardens.
6.4.1 Outdoor Recreation Activity Participation
Respondents were asked to indicate the frequency of their participation amongst a list of
outdoor recreation activities using a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (very
frequently). Most frequent participation included activities that integrated as part of a person's

everyday life, or with elements of self-sufficiency in terms how a person propelled themselves
during the activity, or sustain themselves with food. Popular activities include walking,
camping/RVing, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing or photography, and road biking or cycling
(see Figure 5).

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Figure 5 Outdoor recreation activity participation
3.67

Walking
Camping/RVing
Hiking

· - - - - - - - - 2.85
2.76

Other Beach Activities Including Picnicking

2.63

Fishing

2.63

Swimming and Other Water-Related Sports

2.57
2.45

Wildlife Viewing or Photography
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

2.18

Road Biking or Cycling

2.12

Running

2.08

ATV -ing/4-Wheeling/Dirt Biking

1.92

Hunting

1.89

Motor boating, jet skiing

1.84

Cross Country Skiing

1.79

Snowshoeing

1.77
1.63

Snowmobiling

1.54

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

1.42

Mountain Biking
Horseback Riding

1.33

Orienteering or Geo-Caching

1.31

Rock or Mountain Climbing
1.00

2.00

3.00

Mean score on a scale of 1 (never) to 4 (very frequently)

4 .00

62

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

When asked how important nature was in motivating participation in outdoor recreation activities
on a 3-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (totally unimportant) to 3 (very important), the top
activities were camping/RVing, fishing, wildlife viewing or photography, hiking, and other
beach activities including picnicking (see Figure 6).

Figure 6 Importance of nature in motivating outdoor recreation participation

Camping/RVing

2.73

Fishing

2.62

Wildlife Viewing or Photography

2.58

Hiking

2.58

Other Beach Activities Including Picnicking

2.52

Walking

2.48

Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

2.39

Swimming and Other Water-Related Sports

2.30

Hunting

2.25

Snowshoeing
Cross Country Skiing

I

ATV -ing/4-Wheeling/Dirtbiking
Road Biking or Cycling
Motor boating, jet skiing
Running

:'

Rock or Mountain Climbing
Snowmobiling

:I

Horseback Riding

'

Mountain Biking
Orienteering or Geo-Caching

---•I

i

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

1.00

1.79
2.00

3.00

Mean score on a scale of 1 (totally unimportant) to 3 (very important)

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

63

In addition to outdoor recreation, participants were asked to indicate the frequency of
participation in additional outdoor activities that are not necessarily classified as recreational. On
a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (very frequently) the most frequent activities
integrated with a person ' s everyday life or self-sufficiency including relaxing outside and
gardening (see Figure 7).
Figure 7 General outdoor activity participation
Relaxing outside (e.g., sitting on patio, having a fire)

3.40

Gardening
Backyard birdwatching
Spending time at a cabin/cottage
Other outdoor work (e.g., forestry etc)
Farming
1.00

2.00
3.00
4.00
Mean score on a scale of I (never) to 4 (very frequently)

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

64

6.5 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to the Development of Environmental
Perspectives
Amongst survey respondents nature connectedness was found to potentially contribute to
development of environmental perspectives as nature relatedness was associated with more
ecocentric than utilitarian environmental perspectives. Participants rated 21 nature relatedness
(NR) statements using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (disagree strongly) to 5 (agree
strongly) where higher scores indicate deeper connection with nature (Nisbet et al., 2009).
Rotated varimax factor analysis was conducted to examine the structure of the items, and items
were reverse-scaled where appropriate. Six factors were extracted, and three items loaded in
multiple factors (see Table 3 on following page). The six factors were examined for themes and
names were created for each and their mean scores were calculated along with the overall score
for the 21 NR items (see Table 3). On a scale of 1 to 5, ecocentric environmental perspective,
wilderness contentment, and hardy outdoor enthusiast computed means above 4.0, emotional
nature attachment and overall NR scored between 3.0 and 4.0, and anthropocentric
environmental perspective and resource conservation/utilitarianism perspective scored below 3.0
(see Table 2). These results indicate that ecocentric environmental perspectives are more
common amongst survey respondents than resource conservation or utilitarian perspectives.
Table 2 Mean scores (M) and standard deviation (SD) for overall NR and NR sub-dimensions

NR Dimensions
Overall NR
Emotional Nature Attachment
Hardy Outdoor Enthusiast
Wilderness Contentment
Ecocentric Environmental Perspective
Anthropocentric Environmental Perspective
Resource Conservation/Utilitarianism Perspective

Mean
3.39
3.91
4.10
4.17
4.27
2.56
1.37

SD

0.37
0.84
0.70
0.79
0.68
0.55
0.56

Table 3 Rotated varimax factor analysis on nature relatedness (NR) items
NR Factors

NR Items

Emotional Nature Attachment

Hardy Outdoor Enthusiast

Wilderness Contentment

Ecocentric Environmental Perspective

Anthropocentric Environmental
Perspective

Resource Conservation/Utilitarianism
Perspective

I enjoy digging in the earth and getting dirt on my hands 3

.568

My connection to nature and the environment is a part of my spirituality

.725

My feelings about nature [do not) affect how I live my life*
My relationship to nature is an important part of who I am

-.563
.687

I think a lot about the suffering of animals

.637

I feel very connected to all living things and the Earth

.686

I enjoy being outdoors, even in unpleasant weather

.690

My ideal vacation spot would be a remote, wilderness area

.428

I enjoy digging in the earth and getting dirt on my hands

.508

I take notice of wildlife wherever I am

.607

I [don't] often go out in nature*

-.667

Animals, birds and plants should have [fewer] rights than humans*

-.526

My ideal vacation spot would be a remote, wilderness area

.585

The thought of being deep in the woods, away from civilization, is frightening*

-.762

Even in the middle of Vanderhoof, I notice nature around me

.583

I always think about how my actions affect the environment

.678

I am very aware of environmental issues

.684

I am not separate from nature, but a part of nature

.673

Some species are just meant to die out or become extinct

.598

Nothing I do will change problems in other places on the planet

.449

My feelings about nature do not affect how I live my life

.536

The state of non-human species is an indicator of the future for humans *

-.708

Humans have the right to use natural resources any way we want

.766

Conservation is unnecessary because nature is strong enough to recover from any human impact

.746

*Item was reverse-scaled.

3

Note: Boldface type in table indicates items that loaded in multiple factors.

6.5.1 Nature Relatedness and Activity Motivations
A Spearman's rank-order correlation was run to determine the relationship between the
activity motivation items and the nature relatedness items (see Table 4 below).
Table 4 Correlations (rs) between nature relatedness (NR) dimensions and activity motivations

Natural Relatedness Dimensions

Activity Motivation Dimensions
Restorative
Active
Experiential
Nature
Fitness
Escape

rs
Overall Nature Relatedness

.556*

.433'

.468'

Emotional Nature Attachment

.689*

.301 '

.329'

Hardy Outdoor Enthusiast

.439'

.346'

.33 8'

Wilderness Contentment

.270*

.305'

.291'

Ecocentric Environmental Perspective

.399'

.199

.117

Anthropocentric Environmental Perspective

-.116'

.010

-.010

Resource Conservation/Utilitarianism
Perspective

-.257'

.000

•

o-,,

: J.

*Correlation is significant at the 0.05/evel (2-tailed).

A moderate positive relationship was found between restorative nature motivated activities and
emotional nature attachment (indicated by boldface type). A weak positive relationship was
found between restorative nature motivated activities and overall nature relatedness (indicated by
boldface type) . Weak positive relationships were found for all remaining relationships where a
significant correlation was found except for two relationships. Weak negative relationships were
found between the restorative nature dimension and an anthropocentric environmental
perspective, as well as the restorative nature dimension and a resource
conservation/utilitarianism perspective. These positive and negative relationships suggest that
nature connectedness can contribute to the development of emotional attachment to nature. The
results also reiterate that individuals with higher nature relatedness score may have more
ecocentric environmental perspectives than anthropocentric.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

67

6.5.2 Nature Relatedness Can Contribute to Attachment to Nature Contact
Individuals who feel more connected to nature may develop more ecocentric environmental
perspectives because of emotional attachment to nature, and viewing themselves as hardy
outdoor enthusiasts. The mean nature relatedness scores of people who answered yes or no to the
question of whether they spend as much time outdoors as they would like were 3.97 and 3.92
respectively. A Mann-Whitney U test was run to evaluate the difference in the responses for the
5-point Likert scale nature relatedness question and there was no significant difference (p >
0.05). To further explore this concept I tested the individual NR dimensions based on whether
people participated in outdoor activities as often as they would like. Two dimensions (NR
Emotional Attachment and NR Hardy Outdoor Enthusiast) were significant at the .05 level (see
Table 6).
Table 5 Mean (M) and effect sizes ofNR hardy outdoor enthusiast dimension based on respondents spending as
much time doing outdoor activities as they would like

NR Emotional
Attachment

Yes (41%)

M
3.58

No {59%}

4.13

Mean
Rank
31.19
45 .28

NRHardy
Outdoor
Enthusiast

Yes (41%)

3.90

32.66

No {59%)

4.25

44.26

u

z

1!.

470.00

-2.712

0.007

517.00

-2.237

.025

Those who indicated that they did not spend as much time in nature as they would like had
stronger emotional attachments to nature and were hardy outdoor enthusiasts. Those who
indicated that they did spend as much time outdoors as they would like had weaker emotional
attachments to nature and were less hardy outdoor enthusiasts.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

68

6.5.3 Nature Relatedness and Amount of Nature Contact
A set of spearman' s rank-order correlations was run to determine the relationship between the
amount of nature contact items and the nature relatedness dimensions (see Table 7).
Table 6 Correlations (rs) between nature relatedness (NR) dimensions and amount of nature contact

Nature Relatedness Factors
Emotional
Nature
Attachment

Hardy
Outdoor
Enthusiast

Wilderness
Contentment

Ecocentric
Environmental
Pers£ective

Anthropocentric
Nature
Orientation

Resource
Conservation
Ethic/Utilitarianism

Overall
NR

-.090

.074

.395*

rs
Amount
of nature
Contact

.383*

.353*

.165

.347*

*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05/evel (2-tailed).

Significant weak positive relationships were found between amount of nature contact and
emotional nature attachment, hardy outdoor enthusiast, ecocentric environmental perspective,
and overall nature relatedness. The results suggest that nature relatedness contributes to
ecocentric environmental perspectives through contact with nature.

6.6 Theme 3: Well-Being Outcomes Can Reinforce Nature Connectedness
The survey fmdings highlighted three major well-being benefits related to nature
connectedness including the restorative benefits of spending time in nature, physical activeness,
and experiential escape. Restorative benefits were particularly linked to survey respondents'
overall nature relatedness score and emotional nature attachment. Participants rated 11
statements describing motivations for participating in outdoor activities using a 5-point Likert
scale ranging from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (very important) . Rotated varirnax factor analysis was
conducted to examine the structure of the items and to identify related items. Three factors were

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTNITIES, & WELL-BEING

69

identified and one item loaded in two factors 4 . The three factors were examined for themes and
headings were created for each (see Table 1).
Table 7 Rotated varimax factor analysis on activity motivation items
Factors

Items
Solitude and quiet

.580

To be together with family/friends

.530

Opportunity to see wildlife

.758

To be closer to/experience the natural environment

.860

To rest, relax and recuperate

.595

To achieve spiritual rejuvenation

.769

Restorative Nature

To learn new skills/activities

.490

To exercise

.891

To be together with family/friends

.548

To keep fit and healthy

.788

Active Fitness

To escape the daily routine

.840

To experience challenge and excitement

.737

Experiential Escape

4

Note: Boldface type indicates the item that loaded in two factors.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

70

6.6.1 Constraints to Experiencing Well-Being Benefits of Spending Time in Nature
Participants rated 16 possible factors that decrease the opportunity to gain well-being benefits
from spending time outdoors. Friends and family members, someone to do the activity with, and
proximity to residence was cited as having the most positive influence. Poor maintenance of
facilities, and wildlife and other natural hazards were cited as having the most negative influence
(see Figure 8).

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

71

Figure 8 Factors that influence time spent outdoors

Friends/family members

-3°

Someone to do the activity with

;
.l'l

How close it is to my home -4•

7%

32%

57%
ht:fM1l!'iit1!"Wl!ii!iiliW1iMI!iwt<ll!:

tiU

1,

.

20%

41%

-34%~t~:

Part of my daily routine
I

Accessible facilities -1 •

21%

44%

29%

The atmosphere or culture in the community
Good maintenance of facilities
(e.g., trails roads, parks)

I

-1 o;.

Safe, secure setting

Confidence in skill level
Wildlife and other natural hazards

sz•;., !'!&lili!ll%

25%
'

27%

41% ~~ HI%

"'
~

®
26%

na.p.
41%

~ •

33%

Local club or organization _3

, ,

Range and quality of facilities _3 .

.

Cost

30% 101;16%
46%

38%

42%

I

t;g
18%

31%

-

E lo% ·-'

41% •

16%

26% a 12%

Doctor or other health professional
Available transportation
Poor maintenance of
facilities (e.g., trails,

11 Very Negatively Influence

• Somewhat Negatively Influence

II Neutral

• Somewhat Positively Influence • Very Positively Influence

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

72

6.7 Conclusion
Surveys were collected in the summer and fall of2014 from 91 survey participants who selfidentified as spending time outdoors. The majority of the sample resided in Vanderhoof for over
20 years, was middle-aged, and was female. Respondents associated their identities with the
following words: nature-oriented, rural, country, and outdoor. Outdoor activities most frequently
partaken in were walking, camping/RVing, and hiking. The top activities that were motivated by
nature were camping/RVing, fishing, and wildlife viewing or photography. The most popular
leisure outdoor activities were relaxing outside, gardening, and backyard birdwatching. Factor
analysis of the motivations for participating in outdoor activities produced three overarching
dimensions: restorative nature, active fitness, and experiential escape. Friends and family
members had the most positive influence on time spent outside, and poor maintenance of
facilities had the most negative influence. Factor analysis of the nature relatedness scale
produced six overarching dimensions: emotional nature attachment, hardy outdoor enthusiast,
wilderness contentment, ecocentric environmental perspective, anthropocentric environmental
perspective, and resource conservation/utilitarianism perspective. On a scale of 1 to 5 the highest
mean score was 4.27 for ecocentric environmental perspective, and the lowest score was 1.37 for
resource conservation/utilitarianism perspective. The overall NR mean was 3.39. The
relationship between the NR dimensions and activity motivations was examined. Restorative
nature motivated activities and emotional nature attachment had a moderate positive relationship.
Restorative nature motivated activities and overall nature relatedness had a weak positive
relationship. The relationship between the NR dimensions and gender was examined. One
dimension (emotional nature attachment) was significantly different and females had a higher
overall mean score. Significant relationships were also found between NR emotional attachment,

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

73

NR Hardy Outdoor Enthusiasts, and whether respondents spent as much time outdoors as they
would like. Finally, correlations between nature relatedness dimensions and amount of nature
contact were run. Significant weak positive relationships were found between amount of nature
contact and emotional nature attachment, hardy outdoor enthusiast, ecocentric environmental
perspective, and overall nature relatedness.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES , & WELL-BEING

74

Chapter 7: Discussion of Interview & Survey Findings
7.1 Introduction
The following chapter will interpret and explain the research themes in the context of
existing literature. The themes are rooted in the research question and objectives in combination
with emergent findings. The research question that guided this project was what are the
connections between outdoor activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the north-central
rural community ofVanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada? The research objectives were to
explore: how rural residents view their relationship to nature; what types of outdoor activities
rural residents participate in; whether outdoor activities cultivate connection with nature and in
what ways; and the well-being benefits rural residents experience as a result of nature contact.
The three major themes found in my research in relation to the research question and
objectives are as follows:
•

Theme 1: Outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of self-sufficiency can foster
development of nature connectedness
o

•

Related research objectives:
•

How rural residents view their relationship to nature

•

What types of outdoor activities rural residents participate in

•

Whether outdoor activities help cultivate connection with nature

Theme 2: Nature connectedness can contribute to the development of environmental
perspectives
o

Related research objectives:
•

How rural residents view their relationship to nature

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
•
•

75

Types of outdoor activities rural residents participate in

Theme 3: Well-being outcomes can reinforce nature connectedness
o

Related research objectives:
•

The well-being benefits rural residents experience as a result of contact
with nature

•

Whether outdoor activities help cultivate connection with nature and in
what ways

This chapter will begin with a discussion of the overall story my research is telling, followed by
an in-depth discussion of three major themes. Each theme will be described, followed by a
reminder of the interview and survey findings, and explanation of the theme in the context of
existing literature.
First, outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of self-sufficiency were common amongst
highly nature-connected individuals. Self-sufficient lifestyles connected people with nature in a
holistic way through their mind, body, and spirit. They express their connection to nature by
sustaining themselves in a way that reflects ethical awareness and responsibility towards the
environment. An outdoor lifestyle takes people outdoors every day, facilitating consistent contact
with nature and the well-being benefits that connecting with nature provides. Second,
environmental perspectives as identified through the nature connectedness scale and in-depth
interviews were emotionally rooted in a person ' s sense of nature connectedness, as well as
identities that were intrinsically introverted and simply part of who they were. Beyond the
dimension of nature connectedness and introversion, environmental perspectives diverged with
variation based on lived experiences, and the identities and opinions that continue to develop in
response to the world and events around someone. Third, my research suggests that rural

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES , & WELL-BEING

76

northern lifestyles reinforce nature connectedness as a result of well-being outcomes experienced
through a self-sufficient lifestyle of connecting with nature. Well-being benefits from time spent
in nature seem to occur at some level for all individuals. However, my research suggests that the
depth and breadth of those benefits may vary according to a person ' s level of nature
connectedness, which directly relates to the types of activities they chose to participate in as a
result of their connection. A person 's level of nature connectedness that results from a rural
environment and self-sufficient lifestyles, and is reinforced through well-being outcomes, has a
major contribution to a person ' s environmental perspectives. While nature connectedness
contributes greatly to environmental ethics, a person' s perspective on the environment ultimately
is based on their unique lived experiences.
7.2 Theme 1: Self-Sufficient Outdoor Activities Can Arouse Connection with Nature
The pathway to a way of life deeply connected to nature can perhaps be reached through
outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. Self-sufficient lifestyles may
connect people with nature in a way that extends beyond the outdoors touching several aspects of
their being. Self-sufficiency in this study is considered the competence to rely on your own
resources and provide for yourself through nature. Traditional examples of self-sufficient
activities may include gardening, farming, or hunting. My research suggests the potential for
self-sufficiency to foster a stronger nature connection through lifestyle-based outdoor recreation
activities. The relationship between the user and nature through self-sufficient actions perhaps
foster authentic interdependence between nature and the user.
Theme in the Context ofLiterature
Looking internationally, in the United States (Warnick, 2002) found double the amount of
participation amongst rural residents in resource-based outdoor activities, such as hunting and

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

77

fishing, compared to urban residents. Urban residents on the other hand had twice the amount of
participation in more sports-oriented activities such as ice skating and downhill skiing. Pohl,
Borne, and Patterson's research (2000) found that self-sufficient backcountry recreationists
experienced numerous transferable outcomes to their everyday lives as a result of selfsufficiency including heightened self-confidence, problem solving, independence, challenging of
norms, self-trust, and freedom. Rural residents in Vanderhoof fit within this overall framework
of gravitating towards more self-sufficient activities.
Self-sufficiency adds more depth to the categorization of outdoor activities than, for example,
simply motorized or non-motorized. Examining activities based on their ability to facilitate selfsufficiency helps us understand how, and why, persons are participating in an activity, the
opportunity for the activity to connect persons with nature, and the transference of those values
to their overall way of life. However, the details of Warnick' s findings , such as the mode of
transportation with which the activities were conducted, and the passion and thought that guides
those activity choices is unknown (i.e., the cognitive and emotional aspects of nature
connectedness).
Oncescu and Robertson (2010) note that the unique social and ecological environments in
rural communities often foster unique lifestyles. Interview participants in particular expressed a
unique way of life through their passion for self-sufficiency. They expressed that their
relationship with the outdoors was not a sports-oriented, purposeful effort to conduct a specific
activity for a certain period of time for physical exercise. Rather, their time outdoors emerges
more organically as an integration of their lifestyle that they express through their home, how
they sustain themselves, and through the changing of the seasons. Self-sufficiency represents one
key aspect of this unique outdoor lifestyle. Everyday integration and connection with the natural

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

78

world helps foster a cohesive relationship with nature that is more constant and symbiotic than
sporadic and separate.
Amongst the broader survey population an outdoor way of life was evident in activities
reflective of everyday connection to nature such as sitting on the patio, spending time in the
garden, or birdwatching from the kitchen table. These non-traditional outdoor recreation
activities indicate contact with natural environments that is more of a routine and a lifestyle.
Similarly, a lifestyle approach to rural outdoor recreation was found amongst the Finnish
population (Sieviinen et al., 2007). The findings suggested a more holistic perspective of viewing
people's everyday outdoor lives as one entity rather than separate activities. For instance, the
way-of-life perspective includes all aspects of the everyday life from essential activities to
leisure to social interactions. The lifestyle perspective aligns with the research in Vanderhoof,
and also offers further insight (Sieviinen et al., 2007). The researchers found that homeowners
who actively spent time outdoors participated in more traditional rural recreation activities, while
homeowners who occasionally spent time outdoors participated in more sports-oriented
activities, spent more money, and gravitated towards more commercial recreation services.
7.3 Theme 2: Nature Connectedness Can Contribute to Environmental Perspectives
The two preceding themes, that self-sufficient outdoor lifestyles are contributing to a person's
connectedness with nature which is reinforced by the contribution such a lifestyle makes towards
their well-being, the next theme highlights how these experiences influence a person ' s
environmental perspective. Environmental perspective includes an individual's sense of care for
nature, how much they integrate nature into their identity, and how committed they are to
protecting the natural environment (Schultz, 2002). Environmental perspectives are perhaps

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

79

emotionally rooted in a person's sense of nature connectedness, as well as identities that are
intrinsically a part of who someone is. Beyond the dimension of nature connectedness and
introversion, environmental perspectives perhaps vary based on lived experiences, and the
identities and opinions that continue to develop in response to the world and events around
someone.

Theme in the Context ofLiterature
Literature suggests that connection with nature can lead to more sustainable behaviours
(Nisbet et al., 2011). Schultz (2002) and Howard (1997) suggest how much a person identifies
with the natural world affects their valuation of nature as worth caring for and protecting. My
research affirms that indeed environmental perspectives are embedded in the value systems that
develop through the social and cultural contexts of a person's life. Several studies suggest that
environmental attitudes correlate with the types of outdoor activities a person participates in. An
ecocentric attitude espouses humans are a part of nature, and that human actions affect the health
of the environment. The contrary technocentric attitude takes on a more anthropocentric
perspective that humans are separate or superior to nature. Both the surveys and the interviews
reflect ecocentric and technocentric environmental worldviews. Activities that reflect an
ecocentric perspective are perhaps more nature-appreciative such as self-propelled or selfsufficient activities, while activities that reflect the technocentric attitude may include more
motorized activities (Dunlap & VanLiere, 1978; Thapa, 2010).
Contrary to literature findings, my research suggests that the human relationship with nature
can be ecocentric and technocentric at the same time. For instance, growing up in a rural
environment a person may have a strong connection and love for nature, but also be heavily
influenced by anthropocentric views reflective of a resource-based economy. Some people who

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

80

were deeply connected with nature did not necessarily have ecocentric perspectives or practice
mainstream sustainable behaviours such as recycling, composting, and active transportation. In
many situations a lack of action in these more mainstream activities was due to a lack of
awareness and infrastructure. Self-identity and personality also played a role, the more someone
saw themselves as emotional individuals, introverted, resourceful, and aware of environmental
issues, the more they were willing to act on behaviours. Thus, the relationship between nature
connectedness and environmental ethic is integrated with other individual and societal factors.
The resource-based setting of Vanderhoof may have reinforced the technocentric
perspective through views that nature was there to be used. The economy of Vanderhoof, as well
as most rural communities, is based upon resource extraction (Bjamason & Thorlindsson, 2006;
Goetz, 2000; Oncescu & Robertson, 2010; Smithers, Joseph, & Armstrong, 2005; Wotherspoon,
1998). The resource setting influenced those who had very strong ecocentric perspectives to have
underlying technocentric tendencies. Experiences with the resource industry led to compromises
and acceptance of extractive activities. On the other hand, the resource industry also reinforced
ecocentric views. Controversial events such as expansion of the Kemano Dam served as negative
experiences for some who had existing ecocentric views; thereby, reinforcing those ecocentric
views and the desire to protect nature. Controversial events also created bitterness amongst
inherently ecocentric people making them less hopeful that outward expression of their views to
protect nature were useful. A few individuals purposefully avoided awareness of environmental
degradation through resource activities because of the negative impact it had on their well-being
and emotional connection to nature. Most individuals with both ecocentric and technocentric
views did not express their views through activism.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

81

My research supports literature that nature connectedness and environmental perspectives are
relatively stable over time, but that environmental education or experiences may cultivate
connectedness (Nisbet et al. , 2009). For several research participants spending time in nature in
Vanderhoof as a child fostered a lifelong connection, and for others who grew up in Vanderhoof
the connection came later in life. For some, the ebb and flow of the seasons and the landscape
have integrated into their way of life, imprinting upon their identity and memories. For others
their connection came later as an adult, or they felt that their connection changed based on their
age, the city they lived in, or the season. Some individuals needed more time to find their nature
niche. For instance, a child who grew up in Vanderhoof might return after living in the city and
become interested in wilderness canoe trips, which kick starts a connection to the natural world
as an adult. Nature is infinitely awe-inspiring and ecocentric perspectives can develop or regress
at different periods in life.
7.4 Theme 3: The Well-Being Outcomes of Self-Sufficient Lifestyles Reinforce Nature
Connectedness
Any person may experience well-being benefits from spending time in nature. However, my
research suggests that the longevity and the genuine quality of those benefits may be reflective of
a person' s connectedness with nature. As described in the previous section, participation in selfsufficient activities can foster nature connectedness in a profound and lasting way.
Well-being is comprised of five interconnected components including security, basic
resources for a decent life, personal and environmental health, quality social connections, and
self-sufficiency or self-determination (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003). There can be
variability in how well-being is experienced based on personal and situational differences such
as context, geography, age, gender, and geography. I was particularly interested in how nature

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82

connectedness influences well-being with a rural northern complexion. My research suggests that
rural northern lifestyles reinforce nature connectedness as a result of well-being outcomes
experienced through a lifestyle of connecting with nature.

Theme in the Context ofLiterature
In some ways my research challenges the notion that well-being varies based on personal and

situational differences (Prescott-Allen, 2001). The well-being benefits that result from nature
connectedness were expressed amongst participants despite differences in age and gender.
Perhaps the unifying factor that transcended these personal differences was the common
environment of a rural lifestyle. On the other hand, participants expressed desires to connect with
nature that may also be found amongst their urban counterparts. For instance, the notion of
needing to escape to nature was described despite participants living in nature in their everyday
life. They still needed to escape from the reality of laundry, bills that need to be paid and so on.
Removing themselves from their everyday environment and into nature provided rest and a
heightened appreciation for simple things like the way food tastes.
Mayer et al. (2009) indicated that the positive effects of nature contact may be partly
mediated by nature connectedness. Significant positive associations between nature
connectedness and psychological and social aspects of well-being have also been noted (Howell
et al., 2011). My research supports the notion that the opportunity for these well-being benefits to
occur is related to someone' s connectedness with nature, but contact also reinforces that
connectedness. Some well-being benefits were simply for the individual, and the deeper the
connection the more they moved beyond the individual to also benefit the world around them.
For instance, connecting with nature helped reinforce positive self-images of resourcefulness,
modesty, and appreciation for the non-monetary privileges that nature provides. Arguably the

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83

deeper the connection, the greater the well-being benefits are for not just the individual but for a
broader community of people.
Howell et al. (2011) suggest that one's immediate environmental context may moderate
nature connectedness and well-being. The WHO identifies socio-ecological environments as the
support system for well-being, and the links between humans and their environments as
interconnected (WHO, 1986). Research investigating the impact of rural environments on wellbeing is limited (see for example Cunsolo-Willox et al., 2013; Moore, Townsend, & Oldroyd,
2007). My research highlights the enormous impact that living in a rural environment has to not
only provide opportunities to connect with nature on the weekend or during specific activities,
but also during everyday life. Everyday well-being benefits appear to be particularly related to
the fifth component of well-being suggested by the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2003) of
freedoms and choice that allow self-sufficiency or self-determination. Rural environments can
support lifestyles of self-sufficiency and self-determination through connection to nature on a
daily basis. Self-sufficiency through connection can vary from growing a garden to simply
having the opportunity to step onto one's porch in the morning and inhale a deep breath of fresh

arr.
7.5 Conclusion
Analysis of interview and survey findings identified three central themes rooted in the
research question and objectives including that outdoor activities that support a lifestyle of
self-sufficiency can foster development of nature connectedness; well-being outcomes can
reinforce the connectedness with nature developed through self-sufficient lifestyle-oriented
outdoor activities; and nature connectedness is a strong component of environmental
perspectives in combination with a person's lived experiences. The recommendations for

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
further research and practice in relation to these themes will be discussed in the proceeding
chapter.

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Chapter 8: Recommendations & Conclusion
8.1 Introduction
Discourse in recent years explored the two related topics of nature connectedness and the
well-being benefits of nature contact. As existing literature had been predominantly framed from
an urban perspective, studying interactions with nature in rural settings could offer new insights
into connections with nature. Thus the research question for this project was what the
connections are between nature connectedness, outdoor activities, and well-being were in the
rural context of Vanderhoof, BC? More specifically, the study was guided by four explorative
objectives: to identify how rural residents view their relationship to nature; types of outdoor
activities rural residents participate in; outdoor activities that cultivate connection with nature
and in what ways; and what well-being outcomes rural residents experience as a result of contact
with nature. An exploratory case study approach and mixed methods were used to examine the
connections between the research topics. Semi-structured interviews and an online survey were
used to collect information from Vanderhoof residents who spend time outdoors.
The interviewees represented a group of people who specifically stood out to others as
people who spent time outdoors. The interview sample sought depth of understanding with those
who were intensely connected with nature. The survey population represented the wider
community of Vanderhoof as people who self-identified as spending time outdoors, but did not
necessarily stand out to others as someone who was connected to nature. The survey sample
sought breadth over depth within the broader Vanderhoof community but still targeted
individuals who self-identified as being involved in outdoor activities. Study results were limited
to these individuals but may be transferable to other rural contexts and potentially even urban
contexts. While this study affirmed that rural environments provide the characteristics for people

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to connect with nature, examples of people who grew up in and lived in Vanderhoof, and were
disconnected from nature, were also included. Growing up in a rural environment does not
guarantee a deep connection with nature. A rural person could be alienated from nature, be
physically or mentally unable to spend time indoors, and be highly connected to technology.
Three interrelated themes were discussed including self-sufficient ways of life foster nature
connectedness, well-being benefits experienced during those activities reinforce connection, and
in tum a person ' s level of nature connectedness contributes towards environmental perspectives.
While a person's level of nature connectedness contributes to what that person ' s environmental
perspective will be, it does not predict that perspective due to the irrational nature of situational
factors. Weaving throughout these concepts was the influence of rurality on the relationship
between the participants and nature. Rurality supported the pursuit of self-sufficient outdoor
activities leading to well-being outcomes. Rurality also highlighted the importance of situational
factors on environmental perspectives such as the local resource economy and lack of sustainable
infrastructure.
8.2 Contribution of Findings to Research
My research contributes to the three bodies of literature on outdoor activities, nature
connectedness, and well-being. Self-sufficiency in particular was a fascinating fmding with
intersecting connections and contributions amongst the three topics. Other research on outdoor
recreation, particularly adventure recreation, discusses concepts of self-sufficiency. However,
outdoor recreation research discusses self-sufficiency from a perspective of autonomy where the
adventurer must be self-sufficient with nothing else to rely on. In these contexts the environment
is something to be survived and conquered. In my research the theme self-sufficiency while
perhaps touching lightly on those elements was different. My research focused on modes of

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87

activity (sometimes activities were self-sufficient because they were 'self-propelled'), as well as
the intent or purpose of the activity. Interviewees were doing these activities like berry picking
and hunting, activities others might treat as recreational activities, as a way of sustaining life as
opposed to merely recreating. In these contexts the environment was not something to be
survived or conquered but rather something that could nurture and provide. At a broader level
outdoor activities were not time and space limited 'recreation' activities but were part of a
broader way of life integrated into daily living.
My research and the finding of self-sufficiency contributes to the bodies of literature on
outdoor activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in the following examples. Selfsufficiency adds to outdoor recreation literature by providing a tangible example of how to
practice intentionality and mindfulness when participating in outdoor recreation activities
through self-sufficiency. Through self-sufficiency outdoor recreation activities become less of an
activity and more a way of life connected to nature. Self-sufficiency contributes to nature
connectedness research by highlighting the important role self-sufficiency can play in facilitating
connection. Self-sufficiency capitalizes on our innate need to connect with the nature by
providing a means where you can become an active component of the natural world through your
everyday life. Lastly, my research highlights the positive benefits experienced amongst each of
the five interconnected well-being components, when a person achieves the basic materials for a
good life through self-sufficiency and a lifestyle connection to nature.

8.3 Recommendations for Further Research
Below are four recommendations for further investigation given the themes of my research.
The four recommendations include an overall increase in research on nature connectedness in
rural and urban environments; integration of a self-sufficiency measure into future research

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88

methods exploring nature connectedness; exploration of the intricacies and contradictions of
nature connectedness and environmental perspectives; and investigation of the dynamics of
nature connectedness contributors to positive and negative well-being outcomes.

Increase Research on Nature Connectedness in Rural & Urban Environments
A strong component of the research question and objectives was to explicitly explore rural
relationships with nature. A rural approach to the research allowed for the collection of data that
offers a meaningful contribution moving forward studying the complicated relationship between
humans and nature. Future research should be done in both rural and urban communities to
understand this topic more thoroughly. More understanding of the impact natural and man-made
spaces can have on the connection between humans and nature can lead to more awareness,
recognition and appreciation of natural spaces.

Integrate Self-Sufficiency Measure into Nature Connectedness Research Methods
Self-sufficiency proved to be a strong component between the elements of the research
question (outdoor activities, nature connectedness, and well-being in rural communities), as well
as amongst the research objectives. Emergent themes are intriguing as they suggest avenues for
further research. Self-sufficiency was a strong emergent topic that provides a valuable
contribution to guide further research on nature connectedness. Exploration of nature
connectedness should integrate self-sufficiency as a measure in quantitative scales and
qualitative discussions. Further research could provide insight into whether there are
subcategories of self-sufficiency and outdoor lifestyles that were not captured from the
Vanderhoof population. Although beyond the scope of this study, the self-sufficiency aspects of
nature connectedness could be approached from a transdisciplinary perspective in relation to
parallel topics such as community well-being, economic development, and food security.

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Explore the Intricacies & Contradictions of Nature Connectedness & Environmental
Perspectives
My research contributes to the important topic of environmental perspectives. Further
research could explore in more detail the relation between introversion, nature connectedness,
and ecocentric perspectives. In addition, research could examine why people who are connected
to nature can have technocentric views. The influence of the primary economy in areas, and
accessibility of sustainable infrastructures such as recycling programs and active transportation
are also potential variables to examine.

Explore the Dynamics of Nature Connectedness & Environmental Perspectives on Positive &
Negative Well-Being Outcomes
Further research could further explore how the restorative benefits of nature are felt more
strongly the more connected and emotionally attached a person is to nature. In addition, it would
be interesting to explore whether people in urban environments lead lifestyles that connect them
to nature through self-sufficiency. More detailed exploration could occur on the interaction
between negative well-being outcomes in relation to an over-accumulation of materialistic
resources at the cost of natural resources, and the impact of nature connectedness for urbanites
and ruralites.

8.4 Recommendations for Practice
Below are three recommendations related to the research themes that could be integrated into
practice in organizations and communities.

Include Self-Sufficiency in the Framing of Outdoor Activity Facilitation
A slight shift in our understanding of outdoor activities could have enormous practical
implications. Self-sufficiency frames outdoor recreation from a new depth, for both the
individual and the masses. The doing, facilitating, promoting, or designing of infrastructure for

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90

outdoor activities shifts from simply doing an activity for an hour, to doing an activity to
facilitate self-reliance and a lifestyle connected to nature. For instance in outdoor recreation
activities provided for children in schools or summer camps self-sufficiency could be positioned
as the goal for the activity rather than the activity itself. Current practices would need to be
approached from a fresh perspective.

Position Nature Connectedness at the Forefront of Well-Being Promotion
Greater understanding of the importance of nature connectedness in supporting individual
and societal well-being benefits offers practical implications. Especially in rural communities
nature is abundant and free, often just out one ' s back door. Acknowledging and utilizing the
wellspring ofbenefits connecting with nature offers for a person' s being is applicable for
numerous initiatives such as health promotion, environmental stewardship, natural resource
extraction plans and so on. The grassroots organizations in Vanderhoof that seek to enhance
community and environmental well-being could promote their programs as a way of connecting
with nature. Perhaps a new position could be created at Northern Health Authority or the District
Municipality to raise awareness about the importance of nature connectedness towards wellbeing in the community of Vanderhoof.

Facilitate the Development of Programs & Infrastructure that Reflect Ecocentric Perspectives
Particularly in rural environments with resource-based economies, technocentric attitudes can
influence viewpoints and challenge someone ' s ecocentric views. Facilitating actions from a
community planning and infrastructure perspective could encourage ecocentric actions despite
the presence of a technocentric economy. For example, awareness and promotion of recycling
and composting programs such as door-to-door recycling pick-up programs, or several recycling
transfer stations. Support from municipalities in such endeavors and not just grassroots initiatives

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could perhaps nudge a wider group of people towards nature connectedness points of view.
Municipalities and other organizations could provide monetary and human resources to support
these efforts.

8.5 Conclusion
Relationships with nature influence people' s daily lives through the well-being impacts to
themselves and their communities, as well as the impacts to ecosystems. Although we may tend
to view the relationship between individual relationships with nature and wide scale events such
as climate change as separate issues, it is imperative that we begin to think of these issues as
connected. Human-nature relationships need to be thought of as connected not just for the wellbeing of the planet, but for the well-being of individuals and communities now and in the future.
Nature connectedness and the well-being benefits of time spent in nature continue to be
important topics in research and society. Municipalities, protected areas, health authorities, and
other entities throughout the western world are increasingly recognizing and implementing
initiatives related to nature connectedness. Thus, research on the topic of nature connectedness
must keep questioning and prodding assumptions, and communicating those fmdings in an open
discussion with fellow researchers and community organizations. Meaningful understanding of
nature connectedness, especially in under-researched rural communities, can help maintain
momentum on the topic to continue moving forward with successful initiatives. As my research
demonstrates, the benefits of nature connectedness research extend to well-being and
environmental perspective dimensions, which can benefit wider scales than just the individual.
Lastly, a large portion of nature connectedness research has been quantitative. While such
studies have provided a strong foundation on the topic of nature connection, more studies with a
qualitative approach could be conducted to seek more emergent findings . My research in

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
Vanderhoof has provided new findings and impetus for researchers and practitioners to be
proactive in considering what nature connectedness looks like, and to prioritize ways we can
enhance the human and nature connection.

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Appendix I: Online Questionnaire
Connections Between Nature & Well-Being in Vanderhoof, BC

INTRODUCTION
Vanderhoof provides a great setting for spending time in the outdoors, from walking and
gardening to hunting and fishing. For many residents, getting outside is part of their identity and
can provide a wide range of benefits from relaxation, spending time with family, or keeping fit
and healthy. This survey is part of a study conducted by graduate student Carling Matthews at
the University ofNorthem British Columbia. The intent of this research project is to understand
the nature and type of participation in nature-based activities in Vanderhoof, and the well-being
benefits experienced.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANT INFORMED CONSENT
We greatly appreciate the time you are about to give us in completing this survey. The survey
should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Please read through the below information about a) the purpose of this study, b) what you are
being asked to do, and c) your rights as a survey participant. If you have any questions about the
study or what is requested of you, please feel free to ask any questions you may have before
participating.

Title of Study Exploring the connections between outdoor recreation, nature connectedness, and
well-being in Vanderhoof, BC.
Principal Researcher Carling Matthews, MA Candidate
Affiliation Master of Arts Student, University ofNorthem British Columbia: Natural Resources
& Environmental Studies Program.
Contact by email matthe7@unbc.ca or telephone (250) 301-5476.
Thesis Supervisor Dr. Pamela A. Wright, Ph.D.
Affiliation Associate Professor, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Management, Ecosystem
Science & Management Program.
Contact by email pwright@unbc.ca or telephone (250) 960-6353 .
The research being proposed will emphasize nature connectedness and its well-being benefits in
relation to outdoor recreation. Nature connectedness is largely an emotional and cognitive
phenomenon that can potentially be physically expressed through participation in outdoor
recreation activities. The goals of this thesis research are to explore how various people in the
community of Vanderhoof view their relationship to nature, what types of outdoor activities rural

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

103

residents participate in, what outdoor activities help cultivate connection with nature and in what
ways, and what (or do) well-being benefits do rural residents experience as a result of contact
with nature.

How You Were Selected & What You Are Asked to Do As a resident of the Vanderhoof
community, you were selected as a result of your ideal position to provide valuable information
from your own perspective. You will be asked to participate in an online survey, if you decide to
participate in the survey, we invite you to respond to a set of questions about your relationship
with the outdoors.
Confidentiality and Anonymity No names or identifying information will be collected or
included in the dissemination of the survey results. They survey results will be stored on
Carling' s computer and will be encrypted and password protected. Please note that results may
be accessible to persons and/or institutions ouside of Canada.
Right to Decline or Withdraw Your participation is completely voluntary and you may choose
to withdraw at any time during the study. If you decide to withdraw at any point before the study
is complete, the information that you have provided thus far will be destroyed.
Disposal of Data All data will be securely stored on Carling' s computer. The data will not be
destroyed but will be remain password-protected on an encrypted hard-drive accessible only to
Carling.

Potential Risks There are no known or anticipated risks to you by participating in this research.
Dissemination of Results Once the study is complete, a thesis will be presented and published
for availability in the UNBC library. Any information that you offer in terms of your responses
in the survey will be summarized in the thesis; however, your responses will not be personally
identifiable. Overall fmdings from survey will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for
publication.
Debriefing At the end of the study, participants can request a copy of the thesis by contacting
Carling Matthews by cellphone at (250) 301-5476 or via email at matthe7@.unbc.ca. Following
completion of the thesis, a community presentation will be organized and a fact sheet
summarizing the research fmdings will be distributed amongst the Vanderhoof community.
Other important Information and Contacts If you would like to verify the ethical review of
this proposed study, or raise any concerns that you may have, please contact the Office of
Research at the University ofNorthem British Columbia at (250) 960-6735 or via
emailreb@unbc.ca.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

104

CONSENT FORM
Please read the following information carefully. If you consent to participate, select 'Yes' at the
bottom of the page and then click 'Next.'
Your participation is completely voluntary and you may choose to withdraw, without penalty of
any kind, until you submit the survey. If you decide to withdraw at any point before the survey is
submitted, the information that you have provided thus far will be deleted.

Before you begin the survey please read the following consent statement and
choose one of the options below.
•

I have read the information provided in the email invitation and cover sheet to this survey

•

I understand that my participation is voluntary and confidential

•

I understand any risks and benefits

Do you consent to participate in this survey?
0

Yes

0

No

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

105

Outdoor Recreation and You
Throughout this survey we will be asking about outdoor activities. By outdoor activities we are
referring to a wide array of ways that you can spend time in natural or semi-natural
settings.While some of these questions ask about the time that you spend outside, we are
interested in hearing from you even if you don't, or no longer, spend time outside.

1. First, we would like to know how important outdoor activities are to you.
How would you rank outdoor activities compared to your other interests?
Mark the most appropriate response.
0

Totally unimportant

0

Unimportant

0

Somewhat important

0

Important

0

Very Important

2. On average, how often do you participate in outdoor activities?
Mark the most appropriate response.

o
o

Daily

0

Once a week

0

Once every two weeks

o
o
o

Once a month

Once a year

0

I don't, or no longer, participate in outdoor leisure activities

A few days a week

Several times a year

3. Would you say you participate in outdoor activities as often as you would
like?

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
0

Yes

0

No

4a. With whom do you mostly do outdoor activities with?
Mark the most appropriate response.
0

Alone (Yourself)

0

Immediate family (Partner, children)

o

Extended family (Parents, brothers and sisters, cousins)

0

Friends or colleagues

o
o

With a club or special interest group
Other, please specify ... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

4b. Do you usually do these activities with a pet?
0

Yes

0

No

5. What town or local area do you live in?
0

Vanderhoof

o

Other. If you identify with a local area or neighbourhood other than Vanderhoof, please
provide the name here: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

6a. How often do you participate in the following outdoor activities?
Never

Very frequently

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

0

0

0

0

Cross Country Skiing

0

0

0

0

Snowshoeing

0

0

0

0

Snowmobiling

0

0

0

0

106

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
Hiking

D

D D

D

Orienteering or Geo-Caching

D

D D

D

Horseback Riding

D

D D

D

Mountain Biking

D

D D

D

Road Biking or Cycling

D

D D

D

Camping/RVing

D

D D

D

Fishing

D

D D

D

Hunting

0

0

0

0

ATV-ing/4-Wheeling/Dirt Biking

D

D D

D

Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

D

D D

D

Motor boating, jet skiing

D

D D

D

Swimming and Other Water-Related Sports

D

D D

D

Other Beach Activities Including Picnicking

D

D D

D

Wildlife Viewing or Photography

0

D 0

0

Rock or Mountain Climbing

D

D D

D

Walking

D

D D

D

Running

D

D

0

0

6b. How important is being in nature a motivation for participating in this
activity?

Totally
Unimportant

Somewhat
Important

Very Important

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

0

0

0

Cross Country Skiing

D

D

0

Snowshoeing

D

D

D

Snowmobiling

D

D

D

Hiking

D

D

D

Orienteering or Geo-Caching

D

D

D

107

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
Horseback Riding

D

D

D

Mountain Biking

D

D

D

Road Biking or Cycling

D

D

D

Camping/RVing

D

D

D

Fishing

D

D

D

Hunting

D

D

D

ATV-ing/4-Wheeling/Dirt Biking

D

D

D

Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle
Boarding

D

D

D

Motor boating, jet skiing

D

D

D

Swimming and Other WaterRelated Sports

D

D

D

Other Beach Activities Including
Picnicking

D

D

D

Wildlife Viewing or Photography

D

D

D

Rock or Mountain Climbing

D

D

D

Walking

D

D

D

Running

D

D

D

Other, please specify ...

-

7. Which of the above would you consider to be your favourite summer and
winter activities?
Please choose the name of the activity for 'Summer' and 'Winter' from the dropdown options
below:
Summer

0

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

0

Cross Country Skiing

0

Snowshoeing

0

Snowmobiling

0

Hiking

108

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

Winter

0

Orienteering or Geo-Caching

0

Horseback Riding

0

Mountain Biking

0

Road Biking or Cycling

0

Camping/RVing

0

Fishing

0

Hunting

0

ATV-ing/4-Wheeling/Dirt Biking

0

Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

0

Motor boating, jet skiing

0

Swimming and Other Water-Related Sports

0

Other Beach Activities Including Picnicking

0

Wildlife Viewing or Photography

0

Rock or Mountain Climbing

0

Walking

0

Running

0

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding

0

Cross Country Skiing

0

Snowshoeing

0

Snowmobiling

0

Hiking

0

Orienteering or Geo-Caching

0

Horseback Riding

0

Mountain Biking

0

Road Biking or Cycling

0

Camping/RVing

0

Fishing

0

Hunting

0

ATV-ing/4-Wheeling/Dirt Biking

0

Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

109

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

o Motor boating, jet skiing
0

Swimming and Other Water-Related Sports

0

Other Beach Activities Including Picnicking

o Wildlife Viewing or Photography
o Rock or Mountain Climbing
0

Walking

o Running
8. Why are these your favourite activities?
Please explain.

9. How often do you participate in the following activities?
Never 2

3

Very Frequently

Gardening

0

0

0

0

Farming

0

0

0

0

Backyard birdwatching

0

0

0

0

Other outdoor work (e.g., forestry etc)

0

0

0

0

Relaxing outside (e.g., sitting on patio, having a fire)

0

0

0

0

Spending time at a cabin/cottage

0

0

0

0

Other, please specify.. .

In addition to the activities in the previous questions we are interested in
learning how much interaction you have with nature ?
10. How often do you make contact with nature per week?
Please choose the most appropriate response:

110

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

0

Less than 2 hours

0

2- 5 hours

0

6- 10 hours

0

11 - 15 hours

0

16- 25 hours

0

More than 25 hours

111

11. People do outdoor activities for a number of reasons. What are the most
important reasons to you in choosing the activities you participate in?
Please choose one response for each item:
Unimportant Of Little
Importance

Moderately
Important

Important Very
Important

To learn new
skills/activities

0

D

0

D

D

To exercise

D

D

0

D

D

Solitude and quiet

D

D

D

D

D

To be together with
family/friends

D

D

D

D

D

Opportunity to see
wildlife

D

0

D

D

0

To be closer
to/experience the
natural environment

D

0

D

D

0

To rest, relax and
recuperate

D

0

D

D

D

To keep fit and healthy

D

D

D

D

D

To escape the daily
routine

0

D

0

D

0

To experience
challenge and
excitement

D

D

0

D

D

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
To achieve spiritual
rejuvination

0

0

0

112

0

0

Other, please specify .. .

12. Nature Connectedness
For each of the following, please rate the extent to which you agree with each statement, using
the scale from 1 to 5 as shown below. Please respond as you really feel , rather than how you
think "most people" feel.
Disagree
strongly

Disagree a
little

Neither
agree or
disagree

Agree a
little

Agree

I enjoy being outdoors, even in
unpleasant weather

0

0

0

0

0

Some species are just meant to die
out or become extinct

0

0

0

0

0

Humans have the right to use
natural resources any way we want

0

0

0

0

0

My ideal vacation spot would be a
remote, wilderness area

0

0

0

0

0

I always think about how my actions
affect the environment

0

0

0

0

0

I enjoy digging in the earth and
getting dirt on my hands

0

0

0

0

0

My connection to nature and the
environment is a part of my
spirituality

0

0

0

0

0

I am very aware of environmental
Issues

0

0

0

0

0

I take notice of wildlife wherever I
am

0

0

0

0

0

I don 't often go out in nature

0

0

0

0

0

Nothing I do will change problems
in other places on the planet

0

0

0

0

0

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

113

I am not separate from nature, but a
part of nature

0

0

0

0

0

The thought of being deep in the
woods, away from civilization, is
frightening

0

0

0

0

0

My feelings about nature do not
affect how I live my life

0

0

0

0

0

Animals, birds and plants should
have fewer rights than humans

0

0

0

0

0

Even in the middle of Vanderhoof, I
notice nature around me

0

0

0

0

0

My relationship to nature is an
important part of who I am

0

0

0

0

0

Conservation is unnecessary
because nature is strong enough to
recover from any human impact

0

0

0

0

0

The state of non-human species is
an indicator of the future for humans

0

0

0

0

0

I think a lot about the suffering of
animals

0

0

0

0

0

I feel very connected to all living
things and the Earth

0

0

0

0

0

13. Below are some possible factors that may influence the time you spend
outside.
Fill in the most appropriate response for each item.
Very
Negatively
Influence

Somewhat
Negatively
Influence

Neutral

Somewhat
Positively
Influence

Very
Positively
Influence

Friends/family
members

0

0

0

0

0

Someone to do the
activity with

0

0

0

0

0

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

114

Local club or
organization

0

0

0

0

0

Accessible facilities

0

0

0

0

0

The atmosphere or
culture in the
community

0

0

0

0

0

Doctor or other health
professional

0

0

0

0

0

Available
transportation

0

0

0

0

0

How close it is to my
home

0

0

0

0

0

Range and quality of
facilities

0

0

0

0

0

Confidence in skill
level

0

0

0

0

0

Cost

0

0

0

0

0

Safe, secure setting

0

0

0

0

0

Wildlife and other
natural hazards

0

0

0

0

0

Part of my daily
routine

0

0

0

0

0

Good maintenance of
facilities (e.g. , trails,
roads, parks)

0

0

0

0

0

Poor maintenance of
facilities (e.g. , trails,
roads, parks)

0

0

0

0

0

Other, please specify...

14. How do you view yourself!
Slide the bar between the pair of words to the point that describes you the best.

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

115

Urban vs Rural

Country vs Town

Outdoor vs Indoor

Nature vs Urban Oriented

15. What changes in your community would diminish the enjoyment of or
ability to do outdoor activities?

16. Self-assessed physical and mental well-being:
Poor Fair Good

Very
Good

Excellent

Would you say that in general your physical wellbeing is :

0

0

0

0

0

Would you say that your level of mental well-being

0

0

0

0

0

lS:

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116

The following questions ask about you. Your answers to these questions will
not identify you in any way. Please remember, your answers will be kept
confidential.
17. Do you identify as?

o
o

Male
Female

18. Which category below includes your age?
Please choose only one of the following:
D

18-20

D

21-29

D

30-39

0

40-49

D

50-59

D 60 or older

19. Which of the following categories best describes your household?
Please choose only one of the following:
D

Single person

0

Children in household under 18

0

Children in household over 18

0

Two or more adults

o

Other, please specify... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

20. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Please choose only one of the following :

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING

D

Less than high school

0

Some high school

0

High school diploma

0

College/trade/technical degree

0

Some university

0

University degree (bachelors)

D

Graduate degree (master's Ph.D. etc.)

21. What industry or sector do you work in (e.g. forestry, oil & gas, mining,
government, education, services, tourism, etc.)?
0

Health care

0

Education

0

Business

0

Government

0

Information technology/communications

0

Student

0

Unemployed

0

Retired

0

Legal

0

Sales and Service

0

Agriculture

0

Forestry

0

Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

0

Fisheries

0

Oil and Gas

0

Mining

0

Construction

0

Transportation

117

NATURE CONNECTEDNESS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, & WELL-BEING
0

118

Other, please specify ... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

22. For how many years have you lived in the Vanderhoof area?

23. Are you involved in any local clubs or community groups?
Please choose all that apply.
D

Community Garden

D

Girl Guides of Canada

D Nechako Valley Sporting Association
D

Scouts Canada

D

Highpoint Hikers

D

Masters Running Club

D

Vanderhoof Fish & Game Club

D Nechako Valley Search & Rescue
0

Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society (NEWSS)

0

Other, please specify... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

24. Where did you hear about this survey?

Thank you for participating in this survey, please click 'Submit' to send in
your answers!
Upon completing the survey you will be redirected to the blog for this research. Please feel free
to follow along and stay updated as this project progresses.