Abstract
The long-term impacts of adolescent girls’ outdoor learning are rarely represented in the outdoor literature. This research explored the stories of 11 young women reflecting on an immersive month of school outdoor learning, in a remote part of New Zealand. These young women were recruited following a larger survey of school alumni. During interviews the young women described how their identities and wellbeing were shaped by their adolescent outdoor learning, which continued to impact their lives. We identified four key narratives that contributed to their empowerment. Firstly, immersion in nature was nourishing. Secondly, critical environmental approaches and living simply had a cumulative effect on wellbeing. The third narrative centred on the value of structured support alongside learning independence. These fed into an all-encompassing fourth narrative of a strong female identity. The findings demonstrate how long-duration immersive outdoor experiences as adolescents, have lasting influence on the wellbeing of young women.