A Place for Me?: An Exploration of Black Students’ Perceptions and Preferences for Nature-Based Recreation Spaces at an HBCU

Outdoor recreation plays a vital role in supporting the overall well-being of college students by promoting physical health, academic success, and mental wellness during a critical stage of their identity development. This qualitative study utilized photo elicitation to explore how 202 Black students perceived various nature-based recreation spaces. Findings revealed five interconnected themes, which all pointed to a preference for water-based settings: (a) emotional restoration and calm; (b) affordance of freedom and possibility; (c) aesthetic appreciation and connectedness; (d) anxiety and threat perception; and (e) connection to memory. The predominantly positive responses to outdoor settings suggest that water-based natural spaces can serve as critical sites of emotional relief, cultural memory, and reconnection for students and illuminate the importance of centering their perspectives in outdoor program planning. The findings further invite a reimagined perspective on outdoor engagement, emphasizing an understanding of how diverse populations perceive and define their relationship with nature.