Outdoor enthusiasts can acquire knowledge and skills about their activities in different ways, one of these being social media. Nonetheless, there is limited scientific literature that allows us to understand how outdoor enthusiasts currently use social media to learn about their activities. This exploratory research, based on a mixed method design, aims to better understand how Canadian outdoor enthusiasts (COE) use social media to learn about their outdoor activities. This study examined how 368 COE use social media to learn about their activities. Chi-square tests and t-tests were applied to analyze differences between participants’ answers and individual characteristics. Results suggest that COE do indeed use social media to learn about their activities. Qualitative data originating from the same survey suggests that COE also use social media to get ideas and inspiration as well as to connect with other outdoor enthusiasts.
Social media as a learning resource for outdoor enthusiasts: a Canadian perspective
