OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM INSTITUTIONAL CARE

Abstract

Children and youth in institutional care settings face compounded developmental risks, including trauma histories, attachment disruptions, and limited access to protective factors supporting resilience. Outdoor activities and experiential learning represent potentially accessible, cost -effective interventions addressing these gaps, yet evidence specific to institutionalized populations remains fragmented. This review synthesizes peer -reviewed literature from academic databases (2000–2026) examining outdoor activities and experiential learning interventions for institution alized youth, encompassing adventure therapy, care farms, forest school models, and place -based learning approaches across North American, European, and international contexts. A comprehensive narrative review identified and synthesized qualitative and qua ntitative research examining outdoor interventions with children and youth in residential care, foster care, alternative educational placements, and related institutional settings. Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates moderate to large effect sizes for adve nture therapy interventions (d = 0.47 –0.65), with strongest effects on self - concept and resilience. Short -term outcomes show 23 –36% improvements in well -being and resilience, largely sustained at one -month follow -up. Benefits span mental health, social - emotional development, physical health, and environmental connection. Critical implementation factors include trauma -informed facilitation, culturally responsive design, facilitator competence, and systematic attention to equity and access. Significant resear ch gaps persist regarding long -term outcomes, cross -cultural effectiveness, cost -effectiveness, and mechanisms of change specific to institutionalized youth. Evidence supports expansion of outdoor activities and experiential learning as complements to trad itional institutional care. With appropriate design, facilitation, and trauma -informed practice, outdoor programs hold promises for supporting institutionalized youth in developing resilience, belonging, and competence essential for healthy development and community engagement.