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
Recent Papers in Refereed Journals
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. doi:10.18666/JPRA-2025-12505
O’Connell, T. S., Lathrop, A. H., & Pilato, K. (2024). “Confident, supportive, and capable:” A retrospective analysis of an outdoor orientation program. Journal of Experiential Education. Advance online publication. 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.
O’Connell, T. S., Dyment, J. E., & Smith, H. (2015). Students’ appropriation, rejection and perceptions of creativity in reflective journals. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 27(1), 1-13.
O’Connell, T. S., & Dyment, J. E. (2014). “I’m just not that comfortable with technology” – Student perceptions and preferences for Web 2.0 technologies in reflective journals. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 40(3), 392-411. doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2014.984594
Dyment, J. E., & O’Connell, T. S. (2014). When the ink runs dry: Implications for theory and practice when educators stop keeping reflective journals. Innovative Higher Education, 39(5), 417-429. doi: 10.1007/s10755-014-9291-6
Dyment, J. E., & O’Connell, T. S. (2013). The impact of playground design on play choices and behaviors of pre-school children. Children’s Geographies, 11(3), 1-18.
Hutson, G., Anderson, L., Breunig, M., O’Connell, T. S., Todd, S., & Young, A. (2012). A qualitative exploration of sense of community through reflective journals during wilderness outdoor education curricula. Research in Outdoor Education, 11, 1-17.
Lathrop, A., O’Connell, T. S., & Howard, R. (2012). The impact of a wilderness orientation program on first year student perceptions of life effectiveness and campus integration. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching (CELT), V, 92-97.
Potter, T. G., Socha, T. L., & O’Connell, T. S. (2012). Outdoor adventure education (OAE) in higher education: Characteristics of successful university degree programmes. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 12(2), 99-119.
Kirk, M. E., & O’Connell, T. S. (2012). Challenges facing field instructors employed in wilderness-based expeditionary programs: A review of the literature. Illuminaire: A Student Journal in Recreation, Parks & Leisure Studies, 10(1), 17-27.
Books
O’Connell, T. S., Cuthbertson, B., & Goins, T. J. (Eds.) (2015). Leadership in recreation and leisure services. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
O’Connell, T. S., & Dyment, J. E. (2013). Theory into practice: Unlocking the power and potential of reflective journals. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
O’Connell, T. S. (2009). Self-concept and adventure education. Saarbruken, Germany: VDM Publishing.
O’Connell, T. S., & Cuthbertson, B. (2009). Group dynamics in recreation and leisure: Creating conscious groups through an experiential approach. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
- Leadership in Parks, Recreation & Leisure
- Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice I
- Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice II
- Adventure-Based Learning in Recreation
- Advanced Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice
- Advanced Wilderness Program Planning
- 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
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.
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.
