Educators find that achieving a suitable balance between autonomy and authority in youth action projects is challengingYouth participation in environmental action has proven effective in promoting young people’s capabilities as citizens and contributing to environmental improvements. The role of adults in youth action projects has received scant attention from researchers. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the role of adults in facilitating youth action projects, especially in relation to shared decision-making.
Thirty-three educators involved with youth action projects in various non-formal and formal settings in the USA participated in individual interviews. During the interviews, the educators were asked to share a story of a specific action project and “to reflect on their role as an educator, skills involved, challenges encountered, and lessons learned.” The environmental action projects involved youth and adults working as partners to create local environmental change in such areas of concern as access to healthy food, habitat restoration, water and air pollution, and urban development.
A particular focus in analyzing data from the interviews related to youth-adult interactions in decision-making. Findings revealed tensions experienced by the educators in striking a suitable balance between youth autonomy and adult authority. These two elements were conceived of as a duality – “two inseparable elements both contradictory and complementary that drive the dynamics of a system.” Youth autonomy involves choice with the potential for impact. Adult authority stems from formally vested decision-making power, as well as from experience and wisdom. Findings also revealed strategies used by the adults to navigate between youth autonomy and adult authority. These strategies fell into four broad themes: structure, support, mutual learning, and transparent communication.
This research contributes to the field by sharing some insights into the tensions of shared decision-making experienced by educators working with youth in environmental action projects. It also provides practical strategies adults can use to facilitate youth participation in environmental action projects.
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