Developing the Outdoor & Program Adventure activities for International Participants within the “NatureWave Outdoor Ry” Association
Dang Vo, Bao Ngoc; Kuchinskii, Dmitrii (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112429399
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112429399
Tiivistelmä
This development-oriented thesis details the founding and initial operational phase of NatureWave Outdoor Ry, a non-profit association established to address a gap in accessible nature-based activities for international residents in Helsinki. International participants often face significant barriers—including a lack of practical skills, safety knowledge, logistical information, and cultural familiarity—that prevent them from engaging with Finland’s rich outdoor environment. These barriers can hinder social integration and well-being.
The primary objective of this thesis was to design, implement, and evaluate tailored outdoor and adventure education programs that serve as practical tools for building community, fostering integration, and enhancing participants' confidence.
The project employed a methodological framework combining Constructive Research, Action Research, and Service Design. A needs assessment was conducted through semistructured interviews with field experts and surveys with members of the target community.
The development process resulted in the successful establishment of the NatureWave Outdoor Ry association and a portfolio of pilot programs, including instructional kayaking day trips and a workshop on hiking, foraging, and outdoor cooking. These activities were implemented in collaboration with community partners like Adventure Time. Participant feedback, gathered through post-activity discussions, was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting an increased sense of safety, improved technical skills, and a stronger connection to both nature and the community.
The thesis concludes that place-based and adventure-based education are highly effective models for supporting the integration of international residents. The project confirms a distinct demand for these services and provides a practical, replicable framework for developing community-focused outdoor programs, recognizing however its inherent limitations in both research and development work.
The primary objective of this thesis was to design, implement, and evaluate tailored outdoor and adventure education programs that serve as practical tools for building community, fostering integration, and enhancing participants' confidence.
The project employed a methodological framework combining Constructive Research, Action Research, and Service Design. A needs assessment was conducted through semistructured interviews with field experts and surveys with members of the target community.
The development process resulted in the successful establishment of the NatureWave Outdoor Ry association and a portfolio of pilot programs, including instructional kayaking day trips and a workshop on hiking, foraging, and outdoor cooking. These activities were implemented in collaboration with community partners like Adventure Time. Participant feedback, gathered through post-activity discussions, was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting an increased sense of safety, improved technical skills, and a stronger connection to both nature and the community.
The thesis concludes that place-based and adventure-based education are highly effective models for supporting the integration of international residents. The project confirms a distinct demand for these services and provides a practical, replicable framework for developing community-focused outdoor programs, recognizing however its inherent limitations in both research and development work.