Date of Award

Spring 2024

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Recreation Management and Policy

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Cindy L Hartman

Second Advisor

Jayson Seaman

Third Advisor

Andrew Coppens

Abstract

It is a tale as old as time; rural youth have a well-developed pattern of outmigration from their hometowns, largely driven by aspirations of achieving education or specialized career opportunities available elsewhere. This qualitative study explores the positive youth development (PYD) experiences of youth living in rural, northern New England communities, including how interactions with rural school, community and work engagement, and experiences out in nature are described as important in future orientation in rural spaces. Virtual interviews were conducted with 18 youth (ages 14-19). Qualitative themes were developed through an inductive coding strategy, alongside a deductive structured coding strategy utilizing the Developmental Systems Model of PYD. Three themes emerged from the data: 1) an overfocus on school experiences as a context for PYD, 2) an under focus on the potential PYD outcomes of community and work engagement, and 3) a need for a variety of developmental models and pathways among rural youth. These findings suggest that diversifying avenues of rural positive youth development beyond the school system into the greater community might broaden youth future aspirations, strengthen community connections, and diversify necessary skills of youth as they develop enter adulthood while addressing larger issues of outmigration in rural communities.

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