Professor, Chair, Recreation and Leisure Studies
I am a Full Professor, Chair of the Department and specialize in teaching outdoor recreation, outdoor education, adventure-based learning, and outdoor leadership. In 2017, I was named a 3M National Teaching Fellow. This recognition is considered Canada’s most prestigious award for teaching excellence at the university level. My research interests include psychological sense of community in organized outdoor pursuits groups, mental health and outdoor recreation, outdoor orientation programs, outdoor leadership, intuition, career development in outdoor education/recreation, and reflective practice (especially the use of journals as a reflective tool). I am Chair of the Research Advisory Committee for Outward Bound Canada and a member of the Research Committee for the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors. I am a Faculty Affiliate in the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock and a Core Faculty member in the Sustainability Science and Society Master’s program and Sustainability Science Doctoral program.
- Psychological sense of community in organized outdoor pursuits trip groups
- Impacts of participation in outdoor orientation programs
- Reflective practice (with a focus on best practices of using reflective journals)
- Motivations to participate in outdoor activities
- Sense of place
- Experiential education and experiential learning
- Career development in outdoor education/outdoor recreation
- Intuition in outdoor leadership
- Member – Association for Experiential Education
- Member – Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
- Member – Ontario Council of Outdoor Educators
- Wilderness First Responder
- Member and Certified Field Leader (Hiking) – Outdoor Council of Canada
- Recipient, SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Distinguished Educator Award, 2019.
- Recipient, East Aurora High School Alumni Hall of Fame, 2019.
- Recipient, 3M National Teaching Fellowship, 2017.
- Recipient, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award, 2015.
- Recipient, Brock University Distinguished Teaching Award, 2012.
- Recipient, Brock University Chancellor’s Chair for Teaching Excellence, 2012.
- Nominated for the Allan Blizzard Award, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2012 & 2013.
- Recipient, Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario Dorothy Walter Leadership Award, 2011.
- Recipient, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching, Brock University, 2011.
- Nominated for the Brock University Graduate Mentorship Award, 2011 & 2012.
- Recipient, Best Practices Teaching Award, Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Educational Technologies, Brock University, 2010.
- Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania, July 2009 – January, 2010.
- Visiting Academic, Faculty of Education, Monash University, November, 2009
Pilato, K. A., Lathrop, A. H., & O’Connell, T. S. (2026). Building sustainable peer networks through an outdoor orientation program in support of student wellbeing. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2026.2695066
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, 43(4). https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2025-12505
O’Connell, T. S., Lathrop, A. H., & Pilato, K. (2025). “Confident, supportive, and capable:” A retrospective analysis of an outdoor orientation program. Journal of Experiential Education, 48(3), 466-484. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259241290464
Maekawa, M., Sakamoto, A., & O’Connell, T. S. (2021). Japanese parents’ perceptions of children’s overnight camping: The relationship between sense of psychological resistance and parental attitudes. Leisure/Loisir. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2021.1922093
Schwass, N. R., Potter, S. E., O’Connell, T. S., & Potter, T. G. (2021). Outdoor journeys as a catalyst for enhanced place connectedness and environmental stewardship. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-021-00079-6
O’Connell, T. S., Lathrop, A. H., & Howard, R. A. (2019). Sense of place and first-year student transition: Fostering capacity through outdoor orientation experiences. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education & Leadership, 11(4), 287-300. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2019-V11-I4-8949
Howard, R. A., O’Connell, T. S., & Lathrop, A. H. (2016). Community development, transitional value and institutional affinity: Outdoor orientation program impacts. Journal of Experiential Education, 39(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825915623049
Teaching:
AHSC 5P60 – Directed Studies
AHSC 7P61 – Directed Reading
RECL 1P99 – Leadership in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services
RECL 2P16 – Outdoor Education Theory and Practices
RECL 3P00 – Directed Readings
RECL 3P86 – Advanced Outdoor Education Theory and Practices
RECL 3P95 – Recreation and Leisure Services Fieldwork
RECL 4F27 – Honours Research Project
RECL 4P00 – Advanced Topics in Recreation and Leisure
RECL 4P16 – Outdoor Education Trip Planning
Service:
Chair – Outward Bound Canada Research Advisory Committee (current)
Member – Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Research Committee (current)
Chair – RECL Program Committee (current)
Member – FAHS Research Advisory Committee (2025-2026)
Member – Internal Review Committee – Cyclical Review of the Dramatic Arts program (April 2024)
Member – Jointly Appointed Tenure and Promotion Appeals Committee (2023-2025)
Regular Manuscript Reviewer for: Journal of Experiential Education, Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
I am supportive of undergraduate course-based and volunteer research activities related to projects on which I am currently working, my areas of research interest or your own topic of interest. I also regularly supervise undergraduate honour’s theses, directed studies and internships/placements. Please contact me at tim.oconnell@brocku if you’re interested in discussing any of these opportunities.
I am currently accepting graduate students in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Environmental Sustainability Research Centre programs. Send me an email at: [email protected] if you’re interested in working together.
