Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Barry Garst
Committee Member
Bob Powell
Committee Member
Ryan Ganon
Committee Member
Brad Daniel
Abstract
Seasonal employment in outdoor programs—encompassing camps, guiding services, and similar organizations—plays a vital role in delivering structured outdoor experiences, yet little research has explored its enduring effects on staff over the course of their lives. This dissertation examined the long-term significance and influence of seasonal outdoor work during emerging adulthood. Guided by Significant Life Experience and Life Course Theory, an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used. In the qualitative phase, interviews revealed that seasonal work influenced life trajectories by contributing to identity formation, career discovery, ways of relating to others, and the navigation of trade-offs. Seven mechanisms—opportunities for growth, connection with others, adversity, support, identity framing, immersion in nature, and religious or spiritual experiences—emerged as central drivers of long-term impact. In the quantitative phase, data showed that participants generally regarded their employment as highly significant. This was the case regardless of differences in employment histories, though working more summers did predict increased perceived influence. Participants recalled experiences of moderate fatigue and burnout during their seasonal work, but these experiences were not strongly linked to perceived significance. Findings suggest that seasonal outdoor work is, despite critiques of being inconsequential or not a “real job”, a significant developmental experience with lasting personal and professional implications. The study offers recommendations for improving outdoor program recruitment, training, and retention and for positioning seasonal employment as a pathway to professional development and lifelong personal growth.
Recommended Citation
Souto, Austin M., "The Life Significance of Summer Outdoor Program Employment During Emerging Adulthood" (2025). All Dissertations. 4146.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4146