'You Can't Be outside without Being Part of the Culture': Recommendations for Using Outdoor Recreation to Support International Student Transitions

Outdoor education and sport sociology researchers have associated participation in outdoor recreation with physical and mental health wellbeing, reduced anxiety, increased social participation, and increased cultural exchange. The outdoor environment can benefit both the recruitment and wellbeing of students, yet international student expectations and experiences of Canadian outdoor recreation remain largely unexplored in research. An understanding of international student expectations and experiences is important, as unmet expectations and negative initial experiences can lead to poor student integration and attrition. This paper draws on interdisciplinary fields to investigate the unique benefits of outdoor recreation in facilitating international student transitions to new study environments. Drawing on their findings, the researchers offer recommendations to universities to promote, adapt, and enhance the use of outdoor recreation to support international students on their campuses.