Date of Award

4-2025

Degree Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Department

Political Science and Public Administration

Abstract

Non-profit outdoor education is an important tool that helps participants build meaningful relationships and positive perspectives of the natural world. Many non-profit outdoor education programs in Wisconsin rely on seasonal staff to fulfill the mission and vision of their programming through meaningful and tedious work. Because these staff are asked to help facilitate ideal program outcomes, it is important to analyze how seasonal wages for these roles influences staff effectiveness. This case-study analyzes the relationships between wages and program outcomes through the lens of human capital and workforce development and equity theory to better understand what most notably influences seasonal staff to provide optimal experiences for participants. This paper provides valuable research through a lens in which the non-profit outdoor education industry is not often viewed.

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