Family discourse on a nature trail

Every year millions of families visit arboretums and botanical gardens. Little research has been conducted into the complex processes at play on a family nature hike. The research questions that guided this study were: (a) what discourse occurs on a family hike, (b) what elements do family members discuss, (c) at what cognitive level do family members ask questions, and (d) what are the roles of family members on a nature hike. This qualitative study followed nine families on hikes at a local arboretum. Data sources included audio recording, behavioral observations, and other documents and records including signs along the trails and my researcher’s journal. Key findings included that questions asked on the nature trail tended to be low level while discourse overall showed higher levels of rigor. Families most frequently discussed animals. Family members took the roles of reminder, explorer, and protector during their hikes. An implication for institutions to consider would be to have unobtrusive ways of delivering information to guests while on the trail. Parents and educators should have children explain their thinking rather than accepting simple factual answers.