Experiences of adolescents on an expedition to New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic: results from the use of photo-elicitation

A groundbreaking study reveals that expeditions to remote polar regions can profoundly shape adolescents' perspectives and behaviors, acting as powerful advocates for environmental conservation. The research, involving 12 New Zealand teenagers on the 2014 Young Blake Expedition to the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, identified five key themes: experiential learning, the uniqueness of the setting, the distinctiveness of the experience, sharing with others, and a sense of adventure and accomplishment. These findings align with previous studies on wilderness-based outdoor education, suggesting that such expeditions can be life-changing for participants. The study used auto-driven photo-elicitation, a novel method to capture personal experiences through participant-selected images.

Orams, M. (2015). Experiences of adolescents on an expedition to New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic: results from the use of photo-elicitation. The Polar Journal, 5(2), 446–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896x.2015.1075747