Associate Professor, Recreation and Leisure Studies
My research highlights the social-ecological significance of outdoor experiences to the study of sustainability and society through examining the ways outdoor education programs and outdoor recreation communities help or hinder the human-nature relationship. Much of my research, teaching, and service involves collaborating with outdoor education programs and park management agencies such as the Niagara Parks Commission, Ontario Parks, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Leave No Trace Canada, NOLS, and ALIVE Outdoors. I have taught a variety of undergraduate courses in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies including leadership, outdoor and environmental education, and qualitative approaches to inquiry. I currently teach courses within the new concurrent BRLS (Outdoor Education)/Bachelor of Education degree program. At the graduate level, I teach qualitative data analysis and interpretation within the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and support graduate students in their research on nature-based programs, sport, leisure, and health. I’m affiliated with Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre where I recently served as Acting Graduate Program Director for a 1-year term.
- Nature, health, and well-being
- Outdoor and sustainability education
- Outdoor education’s impact on pro-environmental behaviour intentions
- Social media’s effectiveness in parks and protected areas
- Place meanings in outdoor spaces
- Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor
- Participating member, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
- Volunteer, Ontario Alliance of Climbers
- Former instructor, NOLS
- ALIVE Outdoors
Foster, J. S., Hutson, G., Plummer, R., O’Connell, T. S. (2025). Social media communications for behavior management in Ontario’s parks and protected areas: A qualitative analysis of manager and visitor experiences. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2025-12505
Martin, B., Hutson, G, & Goldenberg, M. (2025). Outdoor and adventure recreation. In T. Tapps, & M.S. Wells, (Eds.), Introduction to Recreation and Leisure (3rd. ed.), (pp. 337-375). Human Kinetics.
Hutson, G., Baird, J., Ives, C. D., Dale, G., Holzer, J. M., & Plummer, R. (2024). Outdoor adventure education as a platform for developing environmental leadership. People and Nature, 6(5), 1974–1986. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10699
Stuart, S., Plummer, R., Dale, G., & Hutson, G. (2024). Community assets in the context of COVID-19: Changes in valuation and contributions to place attachment and subjective wellbeing. Community Development, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2024.2379857
Stuart, S., Plummer, R., Dale, G., & Hutson, G. (2024). Assessing the impact of social and ecological change during COVID-19 in natural areas through the subjective well-being and place attachment of natural area users. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 16(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2023-11659
Flynn, J., Carter, D. P., Hernández, L. H., & Hutson, G. (2023). Examining attitudes towards inclusion and social justice among U.S. Climbers: analysis and findings from a national survey. Leisure Studies, 43(5), 769–785. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2023.2256028
Hutson, G., Andre, E., & Szolosi, A. (2023). Fostering a culture of sustainability through outdoor recreation and education (editors’ note). Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 15(1), v-vii.
Baird, J., Dale, G., Holzer, J.M., Hutson, G., Ives, C.D., & Plummer, R. (2022). The role of a nature-based program in fostering multiple connections to nature. Sustainability Science, 17, 1899-1910. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-022-01119-w
Witkowski, S., Plummer, R., & Hutson, G. (2022). Influences of engaging in a participatory monitoring and evaluation process on stakeholder perceptions of key performance indicators for trails. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 40(1), 115-133. https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2021-10953
Carter, D. P., Hutson, G., Lam, P., Rose, J., & Furman, N. (2020). The self-governance challenges facing climbers with examples from Utah, Colorado, and Ontario. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 31, 100323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2020.100323
Baird, J., Hutson, G., & Plummer, R. (2020). Examining links between connections to nature and intentions for pro-environmental behavior as outcomes of NOLS. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 12(4), 367-379. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I4-9992
AHSC 5P17 Qualitative data analysis and interpretation
RECL 2P26 Outdoor recreation theory and practices II
RECL 3P06 Outdoor recreation resource management
RECL 3P26 Outdoor and environmental education
I’m currently accepting graduate students. Please reach out via email to discuss further.
I supervise undergraduate thesis research, directed readings, placements, and internships. Please reach out via email to discuss further.
Iacbucci, J. (in progress). Leisure and liminality: Perceived experiences of leisure time in substance use disorder recovery across supported and non-supported care settings. (committee member).
Asdemir, F. (in progress). Exploring the role of leisure in the acculturation of Turkish immigrant women in Canada. (committee member).
Quinn, J. (in progress). Examining how sponsorship is managed in a professional niche sport league and its teams. (committee member).
Foo, C. (2025). Sport policy in Prince Edward Island: A case study. (committee member).
Spatazzo, W. (2023). Biking through the eyes of kids: The lived experiences of kids riding bikes in their neighborhood. (co-supervisor).
Smoke, A. (2023). Exploring youth experiences in nature through a health equity lens: A qualitative study. (committee member).
Losardo, D. (2023). Regions, provincial sport organizations, and organizational fields in sport governance. A case study of Ontario, Canada. (committee member).
Foster, J. (2022). Evaluating the effectiveness of parks and protected area social media communications for behavior management. (supervisor).
Stuart, S. (2022). Investigating people-place dynamics in unprecedented times: Place attachment and subjective wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. (committee member).
Leblanc, M. (2020). The effects of water-based outdoor education on children’s environmental relationships: A case study. (committee member).
