Characteristics and Motivations of Docents in Wildlife Education
| Autor: | Aline H. Kidd, Robert M. Kidd |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1997 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Psychological Reports. 81:383-386 |
| ISSN: | 1558-691X 0033-2941 |
| DOI: | 10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.383 |
| Popis: | Because childhood experiences with pets and wildlife help develop positive attitudes toward animals, educators who can teach the importance of protective maintenance of wildlife and environment to coming generations are needed. The characteristics and motives of 55 volunteer docents in wildlife education (9 men, 46 women) were assessed through telephone interviews. The data indicate that such actively involved docents had great concern for wildlife, had experienced positive role models, peer support, and rewards for specific behaviors involving animals, and had positive experiences with owning pets during childhood. Notably, however, these trained educators focused on teaching more about animal care and protection and less on specific interactions with animals, and they stayed in wildlife education because they liked raising children's enthusiasm for protecting the environment and wildlife. Recruitment of docents for wildlife education should take these latter distinctive characteristics into account. Over-all, the data suggest that children, adolescents, wildlife, and environment could benefit greatly if these docents could extend their suburban outreach programs to inner city primary and intermediate schools as well. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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