“That’s Just a Part of My Soul”: Analyzing Outdoor Childhood Experiences and the Development of an Outdoor Ethic Among Women Who Climb
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2026-13289Keywords:
Leave no trace, rock climbing, ecological identity, women who climbAbstract
Leave No Trace (LNT) trains recreation users to minimize their environmental impacts. Recent work indicates gender may shape this outcome among rock climbers. While rock climbing presents unique LNT issues, this community has also been receptive to LNT education efforts. This study explores how early formative experiences influence LNT knowledge through qualitative interviews with women who climb. Respondents highlighted childhood camps, being equal participants in family trips, and guided outdoor recreation experiences in developing LNT knowledge. Climbing gyms also represented an introduction into LNT for those with limited childhood outdoor experiences. Furthermore, narratives reflected an ecofeminist care ethic by validating other living beings in nature and identifying community-based solutions to impacts. The study provides land managers and recreation organizations evidence of LNT efficacy while recognizing nature as a living part of the recreation experience and therefore deserving care.
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