REFRAMING HUMANS IN NATURE AS A TOOL TO CREATE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: LESSONS FROM SPANISH SPEAKERS.

Author

• Rebecca Gutshall, Central Washington UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Cultural and Environmental Resource Management

Committee Chair

J. Hope Amason

Second Committee Member

Rodrigo Rentería-Valencia

Third Committee Member

Karisa Terry

Abstract

Outdoor education is an underutilized tool in climate advocacy and environmental awareness. With current US policy lifting environmental protections, it is clear that more effective climate education is necessary. This study illustrates why outdoor education is an effective tool for inspiring environmental stewardship. The study also shows the effectiveness of audience-led outdoor education across multilingual settings catering to different cultural groups (in this case, bilingual English and Spanish speakers), producing a similar degree of “Care For the Environment” (CFE) across these groups. This consistency shows the value of expanding access and accommodating Spanish speakers. At the same time, however, the study hints at the fact that Spanish speakers may think differently about care for the environment (CFE), and that difference may be valuable for climate advocacy. In this study, Spanish speakers and English speakers are both shown to be in favor of conservation efforts, but upon further interviews, Spanish speakers typically saw themselves as a cohesive part of the environment; whereas their English-speaking counterparts often defined “environment” in opposition to human presence. This perceived difference can inform educators about how these different groups of speakers relate to environmental policies and advocacy.

Recommended Citation

Gutshall, Rebecca, "REFRAMING HUMANS IN NATURE AS A TOOL TO CREATE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: LESSONS FROM SPANISH SPEAKERS." (2026). All Master's Theses. 2306.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/2306