Virginie Gargano, assistant professor at the School of Social Work and Criminology at Université Laval, wants to know. So she undertook a series of studies, notably by meeting with enthusiasts of these three activities.
“In the idea of integrating more adventure activities into group intervention in social work as a means to achieve objectives, it is important to know what these activities generate in the participants,” says She.
She explains that outdoor programs with educational or intervention aims have often developed from vacation camps or adventure schools. We offered a variety of activities.
Virginie Gargano knows her way around the outdoors. She is a trained guide, holding a bachelor’s degree in outdoor and adventure tourism, then a master’s degree in social work and a doctorate in social work.
“My research always revolves around the outdoors,” she says.
She obtained a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to study the impact of three specific activities: rock climbing, river canoeing and hiking.
“As part of this grant, it was important to connect our projects to the Canadian population,” explains Ms. Gargano. In Canada, we have several outdoor climbing sites, a variety of rivers and lakes, and networks of hiking trails throughout the country. This is the reason why I started with these disciplines. »
She conducted interviews with dozens of participants, collected the data with a colleague and is now at the writing stage. She hopes to have these studies published in scientific journals in French and English, with open access, therefore accessible to the population.
Virginie Gargano has just started presenting preliminary results at conferences and has prepared video clips, offered on her YouTube channel, particularly regarding climbing.
“People who climb have a perception of being in better physical shape, of aging well,” she says. Climbing is a driving force for staying in shape for a long time. Physically, what emerges a lot from the benefits perceived by the participants is strength, flexibility, endurance. »
In terms of psychological effects, the participants talk about self-confidence, surpassing oneself, a feeling of competence, and pride. On a social level, they talk about the special relationship with their climbing partner.
“A deep connection is created between two individuals because they experience similar challenges, they have to solve different sections of the wall together. »
On a more spiritual level, participants talk about the need to connect to nature.
Ultimately, Virginie Gargano would like to compare the results obtained for each of the three disciplines.
“There’s a difference,” she says. Whitewater canoe people talk more about a community than the relationship between partners. This is also the case for people who hike. »
This is information that can guide organizations that set up psychosocial intervention activities. These organizations will thus be able to choose the disciplines that best correspond to their objectives.
“In Quebec, we are a leader,” says Ms. Gargano. We have several organizations that stand out in terms of intervention in nature and adventure contexts. »
We are talking in particular about the Fondation Sur le pointe des pieds, which offers therapeutic adventure expeditions to young people suffering from cancer, about Face aux vents, which targets a clientele monitored in mental health, and about Maïkana, which also works in the field mental health.
