Left to right, back row: Kara Veazey, Cleveland community member and future biology major at DSU; Michelle Johansen, Quality Enhancement Plan coordinator, study abroad coordinator, and adjunct instructor of history; Britnee Smith, health, physical education, and recreation instructor and physical education teacher prep coordinator; Krista Davis, adjunct instructor of nutrition and dietetics; and Sydney Street, former Delta State student, X-ray and CT tech at North Sunflower Medical Center. Left to right, front row: Stevie Malone, senior physical education teacher education major; Katie Gennarelli, co-research lead, guide, and graduate assistant for outdoor programs; Rachel Stephens, senior marketing major; Emily Thompson, senior speech and hearing sciences major; Taylor Street, sophomore; and Kayleigh Lindsey, first-year.An all-female group from the Outdoor Recreation Education Program at Delta State University will depart on Thursday, Nov. 15 on a cross-country journey to backpack the Hermit Trail and other trails in the Grand Canyon National Park. The 18.6 mile trek is part of a 10-week, university-funded research project and a first for the program.
Katie Gennarelli, graduate assistant for outdoor programs in the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER), and Britnee Smith, HPER instructor and coordinator of the physical education teacher prep program, will lead the expedition. They are receiving guidance from Dr. Todd Davis, assistant professor in HPER and director of the outdoor recreation education program.
The group of 11 will assess skill acquisition, group dynamics, and motivational factors in gender-centric outdoor adventures in relation to leisure-time physical activity training. The group has met on five occasions over the semester to learn the proper use of outdoor gear and equipment associated with backpacking and hiking, such as trekking poles, portable camp stoves, food and nutrition preparation, tent set-up, and sleeping gear for cold temperatures. In addition, participants learned about ethical and conservation concerns in hiking the backcountry to remote locations with fragile ecosystems. The group also learned to assess risks in case of an emergency and developed an emergency action plan.
The researchers hope to analyze group dynamics and perceived benefits and barriers in outdoor recreation and adventure. They also are measuring participants’ fitness routines and assessing the effectiveness of leisure-time physical activity as a fitness tool. The researchers hope the data will provide insights for other outdoor recreation programs across the country and will help develop more gender-centric opportunities.
The group will post regular social media updates on DSU Outdoor Recreation and Delta State HPER platforms.
Contact: Dr. Todd Davis, program director, (662) 846-4570 or tdavis@deltastate.edu.
