Term
Spring 2023
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Jennifer Carlson
Content Expert
Erin Francke, Erika Senyk, Ginny Udelhoven, and Bonnie Hoover
Abstract
Whale watching (WW) is a growing business in the ecotourism industry. Two main goals of this industry is to support local conservation efforts and increase pro-environmental behaviors by altering participant environmental attitudes and beliefs. This capstone answers the research question: How can whale watching experiences contribute to the conservation efforts of ecotourism, educate youth on the importance of whales, and enhance the human-nature connection during early childhood? Research concludes that education plays a vital role in affecting participant environmental attitudes and beliefs. In addition to providing unique experiences to observe whales in their natural habitat, whale watching companies also have the opportunity to increase pro-environmental behaviors among participants through education. This project involved working with an ecotourism whale watching company, Eco Migrations, to create an activity book aimed to educate youth on the importance of whales: in balancing marine health, their role in climate change mitigation and how humans impact population levels.
Project Type
Interpretive Activity Book
Keywords
Early Childhood, Environmental Studies, Ecotourism
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Victoria, "Whale Watching in Early Childhood" (2023). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 921.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/921
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects