Senior (65+ yrs)

Energy and water conservation recommendations ask individuals to conserve their use of these utilities, such as turning off the lights when leaving a room. Research shows that people need a reasonable number of options to give them agency and limit indecision. Listing five behaviors as examples rather than making them seem mandatory might improve the outcome. The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) says a person's elaboration of a message, or how much conscious effort they put into understanding the message, influences how deeply they can be persuaded.

Environmental research organizations often run citizen science programs which bring non-expert volunteers into the scientific process to collect and analyze data. These programs help further scientific research and generate positive outcomes for volunteers, including learning and place attachment, which is defined as an appreciation for the intangible value of a certain location. Past research shows that place attachment and learning can both contribute to conservation behavior and advocacy in participants.

Park managers try to maximize visitors' enjoyment and satisfaction with personal interpretation experiences – face-to-face interactions such as amphitheater shows and guided hikes – to create lasting behavior change in visitors. Research suggests that interpretation enhances visitor learning; enhanced knowledge can alter a person's attitudes; and many factors that improve attitude change also improve visitor satisfaction. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model shows that attitudes can influence a person's behaviors.

Environmental education has traditionally focused on increasing knowledge and encouraging pro-environmental behavior but has paid little attention to the emotional needs of its audience. Research shows that climate change disasters can cause lasting mental health impacts in children, and merely learning about climate change may harm a child's mental health. In addition, children are affected by adults' emotional states when experiencing or learning about climate change. Media articles indicate that parents and teachers seek advice on ways to speak to children about climate change.

Water supply is a concern in a warming global climate, especially in areas with low levels of freshwater available and high water consumption like in the state of Florida. Although researchers have already studied how educators in formal and nonformal settings can impact water conservation outcomes in students, social media has not yet been a tool evaluated for implementing water and other environmental conservation messages. Social media can include framing, a technique that describes not only how a communicator presents the information but also how a person interprets that information.

Motivating people to act in environmentally friendly ways can be difficult. This study explored how building self-efficacy (belief in one's capacity to make change) in undertaking “easy” pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) may contribute to people later engaging in “more difficult” PEBs. The concept of “scaling up” PEBs in levels of difficulty is a psychological effect called “spillover,” which could help to spark mobilization of increased PEBs.

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) protects nationally significant landscapes for educational and recreational use for future generations. National park managers have long desired better communication with potential visitors and the rise of social media has created a new avenue for public outreach. NPS has encouraged parks to use social media to reach both new and existing audiences, but little research exists on which parks can build their social media strategy. This study investigated the social media use and preferences of visitors at Crater Lake National Park.

Recreational outdoor spaces in urban and suburban communities are important for boosting residents' overall well-being and preserving natural areas in otherwise developed areas. Commonly called nature-based recreation areas, these spaces allow for recreation in a natural setting, such as running through a forest rather than on a track. Previous research suggests that nature-based recreation areas encourage physical activity and outdoor play, relieve stress, and promote community and social interaction.

Encountering wildlife can create an awe-inspiring and memorable experience. Research suggests that having an emotional experience or feeling awe can change the way a person reflects on a memory. Furthermore, additional research suggests that experiencing awe can promote a variety of behaviors, such as empathy, personal growth, and feeling connected to a place. The study sought to understand how wildlife encounters in nature can promote pro-environmental behaviors.

Community gardens have become an increasingly popular approach to address food insecurity and build sustainable local food systems. A critical need exists for solutions in western North Carolina, where food insecurity rates have reached 13-20%. In rural Polk County, 26% of children live in food insecure households, many people lack reliable transportation, and food markets are few and far between.