Experiential Environmental Education as a Tool to Enhance Awareness of Ecosystem Services Among Adolescents: Evidence from Outdoor Workshops in Lublin, Poland

Abstract

The integration of environmental education into sustainable development is essential for preparing future generations to understand and value ecosystems. This exploratory study examines the short-term effectiveness of two pedagogical approaches—traditional classroom lectures and field workshops with a game-based format—in enhancing adolescents’ awareness of ecosystem services, with emphasis on intangible cultural values. The intervention involved 150 sixth- and seventh-grade students from two schools in Lublin, Poland. The control group attended a lecture, while the experimental group engaged in a six-hour outdoor lesson including a 90 min workshop in the semi-natural green area of Górki Czechowskie. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Both methods improved knowledge, but workshops significantly enhanced place-based awareness (p = 0.017) and showing a statistical trend on recognition of intangible values (p = 0.063). Cluster analysis identified learner profiles: Absorbers (low baseline knowledge, strong relative gains), Narrators (high-achieving girls with improved recognition of intangible services), Eco-Masters (high baseline, limited gains), and Nature Lovers (frequent contact with nature, modest improvement). Notably, low-achieving boys also benefited substantially from experiential activities. These results highlight the value of experiential, narrative-driven education in fostering both cognitive understanding and value-based environmental awareness. Tailoring strategies to learner diversity and preserving semi-natural urban green areas as “living laboratories” are crucial for effective sustainability education. As this research was based on a single-session intervention, the findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than generalizable, offering a preliminary insight into how experiential formats can enhance environmental awareness among adolescents.

1. Introduction

Sustainable development education is increasingly a priority to face the challenges of this century: biodiversity loss, urbanization, and climate evolution. Schools can be important in preparing the future generation to have knowledge, skills and value that encourage pro-environmental practices which are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). It is in this frame that education based on the environment has come to be considered less and less as a transfer mechanism of eco-factual knowledge (as prescribed by modern science itself) and more and more a process through which values, dispositions, rootedness in place are acquired-to sustain commitment over time [1].

Ecosystem services (ES) as a framing for environmental education One of the most promising educational perspectives relating to ES has been set into an eco-systemic approach [2]. The concept of ecosystem services offers an approach for making ecological processes relevant to human welfare in a manner that is tangible and accessible. Providing and supporting services are easier to show in a classroom; cultural ES however, such as beauty, place attachment and recreational opportunities tend to be far more difficult to convey yet are key in motivating and creating the link for individuals’ association with ecosystems which dictates value [3,4]. Education is a promising setting for integrating the idea of ES, as it could unite intellectual and emotional domains of learning and make simultaneously issues both intelligible in terms of concepts or pathways between human experience and ecosystems [1]. In this paper, we refer to the “non-use” or “intangible” values of ecosystems–such as aesthetic appreciation, sense of place, and cultural meaning–collectively as “intangible ecosystem values.” This terminology is used consistently throughout the text to ensure clarity.

Conventional school teaching, which is based upon classroom lectures, transfers knowledge and information in a structured manner and, to some extent does not cater for experiences or provides little consideration for the affect. Outdoor experiential education, especially when integrated with gamified or narrative elements, has also been found to provoke curiosity and nurture a deeper connection to local environment in students and develop an enhanced ability to understand non-physical ecosystem service [1,5]. Theories of place-based education and models of experiential learning (e.g., the learning cycle) further suggest that direct experience in local, semi-naturalised urban ecologies can promote ecological literacy, identity with place, and stewardship [5].

Although there is an increasing literature on environmental education, empirical evidence comparing the effectiveness of in-classroom and experiential field approaches with regard to ecosystem services continues to be scarce. Furthermore, we know comparably little about the effectiveness of these interventions on different subgroups of learners (based on demographic characteristics such as gender or academic achievement or past experience with nature). Challenging these gaps is especially relevant in urban areas where semi-natural green spaces are threatened with development yet have the potential to act as ―living laboratories for sustainability education.

Recent research confirms the growing importance of experiential and narrative-based approaches in sustainability education [6,7], emphasizing that learning through experience and storytelling enhances both understanding and long-term commitment. Similarly, studies linking environmental learning with cultural ecosystem services in urban settings [8,9] underline the role of place-based education in shaping value-oriented environmental awareness.

This gap is what we aimed to fill, by comparing the efficiency of two types of instruction—classroom lectures and outdoor game-based workshops—in enhancing students’ perception of ES in a semi-natural urban area (Górki Czechowskie in Lublin, Poland). The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) whether outdoor workshops are more effective than lectures…; (2) how student characteristics affect learning outcomes; and (3) whether distinct learner profiles can be identified to tailor sustainability education.

The present study should be viewed as an exploratory case, aimed at capturing short-term learning effects from a single educational session rather than establishing generalizable patterns. Nevertheless, its design allows for valuable observations on how even brief experiential interventions can trigger cognitive and affective change.

2. Literature Review

The ecosystem services (ES) concept has been adopted increasingly as a vehicle for connecting ecological relationships with human benefits [10,11]. Under this perspective, ecosystems offer more than material goods and regulating processes: they also provide cultural services that shape human identity, sense of place and psychological well-being [5,12]. Though the concepts of provisioning and regulating services can be easily explained in formal curriculum, cultural ecosystem services, which can include recreational, aesthetic and spiritual values, are more difficult to apply operationally particularly within the confines of traditional classroom-based teaching [8,9,13]. New research also draws attention to the fact that touching on these intangible services is important for inducing pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, having made them an underrepresented dimension in environmental education [6,9,14].

There have been profound changes in the field of environmental education over the last few decades. Earlier initiatives stressed the transfer of ecology and environmental knowledge with a concentration on conservation themes and natural sciences [15]. Recent views, such as education for sustainable development (ESD), also stress not only auditory knowledge and understanding, but also values, attitudes and action [7,16]. Under this paradigm, education is viewed as transformative and enables learners to critically reflect on human–nature relationships and take action towards sustainability. Teaching interventions are therefore now more widely judged not only in terms of knowledge gained, but also by affective and behavioural outcomes [17].

An approach that has been growing popular is experiential and place-based education. Kolb’s [18] experiential learning theory posits that learning is most effective when it occurs through the stages of concrete experience, reflection, conceptualization, and application. Spot-based education, in contrast, focuses on local landscapes as settings for learning that link students to their places [19]. Research indicates that learning in the outdoor environment contributes to ecological literacy, health and place belonging [1,5,20,21]. It has also been evidenced that gamified and narrative based activities in outdoor education enhance engagement and retention especially among younger audiences [22].

Inclusion of services in education remains a burgeoning field [6,8,9]. Some studies have explored ES as a pedagogical device to convey the multiple services that ecosystems provide. For instance, Rodríguez-Loinaz and Palacios-Agundez [23] provided evidence that the ES participatory mapping activities helped students understand more about the multifunctionality of landscapes. Similarly, Casado-Arzuaga et al. [24] also noted that having students evaluate cultural services has been successful as a means to encourage stewardship. Yet research in this area is still limited and largely concentrated on higher education, leaving a significant evidence gap as to whether ES centred approaches are effective in primary and secondary schools.

Second, the city is a challenging and at the same time inspiring environment. On the other hand, urban children may also have fewer chances to experience semi-natural ecosystems first-hand and thus be subject to what has been named as the “extinction of experience” [25]. Urban green areas, on the other hand, from semi-natural areas like fallow land or secondary forests provide easily accessible laboratories for biodiversity education and learning the role of ecological processes as well as cultural values of ecosystems [26]. Applied elements like these could be used in education programs as a trigger to reconnect urban youth with nature [5,27].

However, despite mounting enthusiasm with respect to outdoor learning and ES-informed education, comparative research comparing classroom vs. outdoor experiential-based approaches has been limited. The majority of existing studies only explore the advantages of outdoor learning in general or report individual system service assessment cases but do not investigate its holistic effect on students’ knowledge and value recognition. Moreover, the variance of learner traits (e.g., gender, sex performance or previous contact with nature) has not been taken into account thoroughly enough to examine the results. However studies indicate that such variables could strongly moderate educational effectiveness [28,29].

In conclusion, the literature demonstrates the following:

1. There are few empirical studies of how ecosystem services, especially cultural, have been included in education at primary and secondary levels.

2. Little research Challenge conventional classroom presentations with outdoor experiential workshops in affecting cognitive and affective learning.

3. Lack of focus on the heterogeneity of learners and factors related to social-demographic, academic profiles that would determine the efficacy of educational interventions.

Filling these gaps necessitates research that, besides quantifying students’ gains in knowledge, considers how such awareness of immeasurable ecosystem services affects feelings of place-based attachment and use of local green spaces. This article further fills these gaps by measuring the effects of both lecture-based and outdoor experiential formats on adolescents’ awareness of ecosystem services in an urban semi-natural context.

3. Materials and Methods

The study followed a quasi-experimental before–after design involving two groups of students: one attending a classroom lecture and the other participating in an outdoor workshop. Students were assigned to each format according to their school class, with similar age and background characteristics across groups. In total, 150 students took part—93 in the lecture format and 99 in the workshop. Knowledge and awareness of ecosystem services were measured immediately before and 21 days after each intervention using the same questionnaire.

3.1. Study Area

The study was conducted in Górki Czechowskie, a semi-natural green area located in the northern part of Lublin, Poland. The site consists of former military training grounds that have naturally regenerated, resulting in a mosaic of grasslands, shrubs, and patches of woodland. It is one of the most biodiverse urban areas in Lublin, hosting numerous plant and animal species, and is increasingly recognized for its recreational and educational potential. At the same time, the area faces ongoing development pressures, which makes it a relevant context for exploring how educational interventions can strengthen public appreciation of its ecological and cultural values.

3.2. Participants

The study involved 150 students aged 13–14 years (6th and 7th grades) from two primary schools in Lublin. The participants were divided into two groups:

• Lecture group (n = 93): attended a 45 min classroom lecture on ecosystem services.
• Workshop group (n = 99): participated in the same lecture followed by a 90 min outdoor workshop at Górki Czechowskie.

Demographic data were collected, including gender, average school grades, type of residence (apartment block vs. detached house), and frequency of visits to natural areas. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from both students and their parents/guardians. The study design was approved by the relevant educational authorities and complied with ethical standards for research involving minors.

3.3. Educational Intervention

Both groups received a standardized classroom lecture introducing the concept of ecosystem services, with examples of provisioning, regulating, and cultural services relevant to the local context.

All participating classes were joined together to form one large group during the outdoor workshop, which was conducted as a single field session in the Górki Czechowskie area. The activities were guided collectively by the teaching team to maintain group coherence and facilitate shared exploration. The questionnaire surveys, however, were administered separately within each class, but on the same day, immediately before and after the intervention.

The workshop group additionally took part in an outdoor educational game conducted at Górki Czechowskie. The workshop combined experiential learning and gamification elements:

• Students worked in small teams to identify different types of ecosystem services in situ.
• Tasks involved observation, problem-solving, and group discussion.
• Narrative and role-play components were included to strengthen engagement and facilitate reflection on intangible values such as cultural identity, sense of place, and recreational opportunities.

This design aimed to compare purely cognitive knowledge transfer (lecture) with a mixed approach integrating cognitive, affective, and experiential dimensions (lecture + workshop).

3.4. Data Collection

A structured questionnaire survey was used as the main data collection tool. It included both closed-ended and open-ended questions (Q3–Q9), covering:

• Q3–Nature Walks: frequency of forest/water visits (0–3 scale),
• Q4–Home Environment: living context (1–3 scale),
• Q5–Site Awareness: familiarity with the local site (0/2),
• Q6–Urban Nature Familiarity: self-reported knowledge of urban green areas (0–3),
• Q7–Ecosystem Knowledge: factual understanding of ecological functions (0–2–4),
• Q8–Tangible Ecosystem Goods: number of material items listed (e.g., flowers, chestnuts),
• Q9–Intangible Ecosystem Values: number of symbolic or emotional items listed (e.g., wild animals, beauty).

Each indicator captured a distinct aspect of students’ environmental awareness. For instance, Q5 (“Do you know any natural areas in your neighborhood?”) measured local place awareness, while Q9 (“What do you value most about green areas such as Górki Czechowskie?”) assessed intangible ecosystem values. Responses were coded on 0–3 or 0–4 scales depending on question format. The overall internal consistency of the questionnaire was acceptable (Cronbach’s α = 0.78), indicating reliable measurement of key constructs.

The study was conducted using a paper-based questionnaire administered twice: first, immediately before the lecture or outdoor workshop, and second, 21 days after the intervention. Each survey session lasted approximately 15 min. This approach allowed us to capture not only immediate effects but also short-term retention of learning outcomes.

The questionnaire was developed in consultation with two educational experts specializing in environmental education and social research methods. A pilot test was conducted with a small group of students (n = 10) to ensure clarity, readability, and appropriate time allocation for completion. Feedback from both experts and students was used to refine the wording and layout. The final instrument achieved acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.78). All data were collected anonymously, and participation was voluntary, with informed consent obtained from both students and their parents or guardians. According to the university’s ethics policy, this type of educational research did not require formal ethical approval.

3.5. Data Analysis

Gain scores were computed as: Gain = Score_after − Score_before

Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics.

• Paired-sample t-tests were applied to measure changes within groups before and after the intervention.
• Independent-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to compare differences between the lecture and workshop groups.
• Correlation analysis examined associations between variables such as frequency of nature visits, academic achievement, and learning outcomes.
• Multiple regression analysis identified predictors of knowledge gains, including baseline knowledge, gender, school grades, and home environment.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were applied to identify distinct learner profiles, which were categorized as Absorbers, Narrators, Eco-Masters, and Nature Lovers.

All statistical tests were conducted with a significance level of α = 0.05.

4. Results

4.1. Overall Learning Outcomes

Both instructional formats led to improvements in students’ knowledge and awareness of ecosystem services. Paired-sample t-tests indicated significant gains across most questionnaire items (Q3–Q9) for both the lecture and workshop groups. However, the magnitude of improvement varied between groups, with outdoor workshops generally yielding higher increases in awareness.

Full descriptive statistics for pre- and post-test scores in both the lecture and workshop groups are provided in

Table A1. Mean scores before and after the lecture (independent samples t-test).

Question	Before	After	Gain	t	p
Q5 Local awareness	0.99	1.36	+0.37	−2.06	0.042
Q6 KnowTerrNat	1.67	1.69	+0.02	−0.12	0.902
Q7 Ecosystem knowledge	1.18	2.54	+1.36	−5.60	<0.001
Q8 Tangible goods	0.45	1.43	+0.98	−6.53	<0.001
Q9 Intangible values	0.68	2.09	+1.41	−7.68	<0.001

and

Table A2. Mean scores before and after the workshop (paired samples t-test).

Question	Before	After	Gain	t	p
Q5 Local awareness	1.29	2.00	+0.71	6.01	<0.001
Q6 KnowTerrNat	1.67	1.55	−0.11	−0.79	0.432
Q7 Ecosystem knowledge	1.62	2.71	+1.09	5.49	<0.001
Q8 Tangible goods	0.81	1.79	+0.98	5.63	<0.001
Q9 Intangible values	0.88	2.65	+1.77	8.94	<0.001

and Figure A1.

In addition to the quantitative questionnaire data, instructors recorded short reflective notes during the outdoor sessions. Several students expressed surprise at discovering species diversity within the semi-natural site and spontaneously linked it to lessons about “ecosystem balance.” Others associated the experience with feelings of calmness, curiosity, and belonging, remarking that “it’s different when you can touch and see things yourself.” Such qualitative reflections illustrate that the workshop not only transferred knowledge but also evoked emotional and sensory engagement with the local landscape.

4.2. Comparison Between Lecture and Workshop Groups

Independent-sample t-tests revealed significant differences in post-intervention outcomes (

Table 1. Comparison of gains (Lecture vs. Workshop).

Question	Lecture	Workshop	Diff (W–L)	t	p
Q5 Local awareness	0.37	0.71	+0.34	−2.40	0.017
Q6 KnowTerrNat	0.02	−0.11	−0.13	0.86	0.389
Q7 Ecosystem knowledge	1.35	1.09	−0.26	1.25	0.214
Q8 Tangible goods	0.98	0.98	0.00	0.00	1.000
Q9 Intangible values	1.41	1.77	+0.36	−1.87	0.063

, Figure 1 and Figure 2):

• Local site awareness (Q5): Students in the workshop group showed significantly greater improvement compared to the lecture group (p = 0.017).
• Intangible ecosystem values (Q9): A showing a statistical trend was observed in favor of the workshop group (p = 0.063).
• Tangible goods (Q8): Both groups improved similarly, with no significant differences between them.
• Awareness of other city green areas (Q6): No notable changes were detected in either group, suggesting that the intervention primarily influenced awareness of the specific study site rather than general urban greenery.

Cluster analysis identified learner profiles: Absorbers, Narrators, Eco-Masters, and Nature Lovers, based on results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). While both methods improved knowledge, workshops significantly enhanced place-based awareness (p = 0.017) and showed a statistical trend toward higher recognition of intangible values (p = 0.063).

While both formats improved learning, the workshop had a stronger impact on students’ connection with place (Q5) and showed a near-significant trend in enhancing awareness of non-material ecosystem values (Q9). In the next section, we explore how these effects varied by participant profile.

4.3. Correlational Patterns

To better understand the patterns among students’ environmental attitudes and learning outcomes, we conducted Pearson correlation analyses separately for the Lecture and Workshop groups. Variables included Q3–Q9 (knowledge and valuation), nature visit frequency, living environment, academic grade, and—in the Workshop group—learning gains.

4.3.1. Lecture Group

Figure 3 reveals a coherent cluster of positive correlations between Q3 (nature visits), Q5 (local awareness), and Q6 (territorial knowledge), indicating a consistent nature-oriented lifestyle. Q7 (ecosystem knowledge) also correlates with both Q8 and Q9, suggesting that conceptual understanding supports recognition of ecosystem services. Notably, school grade correlates with gender (female), Q7, and Q9—implying that high-performing girls show stronger ecological awareness and value perception.

4.3.2. Workshop Group

In the Workshop group (Figure 4), a strong inverse relationship appears between baseline scores and subsequent gains on Q5–Q9. This pattern suggests that students with lower initial knowledge benefitted most—highlighted by the blue squares in the lower-right section. Conversely, gains in Q7–Q9 are positively correlated, indicating that learning in one domain reinforced gains in others, especially regarding ecosystem functions and intangible values. Similarly to the lecture group, Q3, Q5, and Q6 form a positively correlated cluster.

Interestingly, students living in detached homes showed the highest gains in Q9, suggesting a possible link between home setting and capacity to develop non-material environmental valuation.

4.3.3. Q6 as a Predictor of Environmental Awareness and Learning Outcomes

Item Q6 (“I can easily identify wild green areas in the city and I often go there”) strongly correlates with Q3 (nature visits; r = 0.60**) and Q5 (local knowledge; r = 0.37**), and moderately with Q7–Q8. This suggests that familiarity with urban nature reflects broader environmental engagement.

Notably, Q6 was negatively correlated with learning gains in Q5–Q9 (r from −0.22 to −0.52), implying that more experienced students gained less—likely due to ceiling effects.

To explore further, we analyzed correlation matrices for three subgroups based on Q6 level (High, Medium, Low).

In the Low Q6 group, strong negative correlations between baseline scores and gains indicate that students with least prior exposure learned the most. Gains across Q7–Q9 were also positively interrelated, suggesting a reinforcing learning dynamic once engagement was triggered.

The Medium Q6 group showed inconsistent patterns, likely due to mixed profiles -some students transitioning into nature-connectedness, others more passive. Further segmentation may clarify this group.

In the High Q6 group, learning gains were limited overall, but targeted effects emerged. Girls with high Q6 gained notably on Q5 (local site knowledge), showing that even informed students benefit from locally relevant content. This group may represent future peer educators or eco-leaders.

Similar patterns indicated the ceiling effect among students with high earlier knowledge of green areas, which was then confirmed in the regression analysis (Section 4.4).

4.4. Subgroups: Gender and Academic Performance Effects

While overall correlation patterns did not highlight strong effects of gender or academic grade, further subgroup analysis revealed two distinct profiles of learners who benefited most from the workshop: low-performing boys and high-performing girls.

Figure A2 illustrates how learning gains in Q8 (tangible goods) and Q9 (intangible values) varied by gender and academic achievement. Boys with very low grades (≤3.2) achieved the strongest gains, while girls with high grades (≥5.0) also showed exceptional conceptual improvement.

To test whether these patterns were statistically significant, we performed Chi-square tests comparing the frequency of high vs. low gains in selected subgroups. Thresholds for “high gain” were set as follows: Q8/Q9 > 2.7 (boys), Q8 > 1.8 and Q9 > 2.5 (girls)–see

Table A4. Chi-square tests: High vs. low gains in selected subgroups.

Subgroup	Variable	High Gain	Low Gain	p-Value
Boys, grade ≤ 3.2	Q8	4	1	0.0008
Boys, grade ≤ 3.2	Q9	5	0	0.0190
Girls, grade ≥ 5.0	Q8	13	9	0.0525
Girls, grade ≥ 5.0	Q9	13	9	0.0240

.

Interpretation with Counts

Boys with low academic grades (≤3.2) were significantly more likely to achieve high learning gains in both tangible (Q8) and intangible (Q9) ecosystem goods. Among this group, 4 out of 5 boys achieved high Q8 gains, and all 5 achieved high Q9 gains. In contrast, among higher-achieving boys (n = 49), only 5 showed high Q8 gains and 17 showed high Q9 gains (χ² = 12.65, p < 0.001 and χ² = 5.54, p = 0.019, respectively).

Girls with very high academic grades (≥5.0) also showed a tendency toward stronger learning gains. Of 22 high-performing girls, 13 achieved high Q9 gains, compared to only 5 out of 23 girls with lower grades (χ² = 5.07, p = 0.024). For Q8, the trend was similar (13 vs. 6 high-gain cases), but the result was only marginally significant (χ² = 3.76, p = 0.0525).

These results suggest that both underperforming boys and high-achieving girls benefited most from the workshop, albeit in different cognitive dimensions.

4.5. Composite Variables and Participant Typology

To explore variation among participants and identify emergent learning profiles, we constructed three composite scores from key survey items:

• Nature Lover Score = Q3_Natur + Q6_KnowTerrNat + Q7_KnowEkoSys
• Absorb Score = Q5_gain + Q6_gain + Q7_gain + Q8_gain + Q9_gain
• Eco Master Score = Q5_Gcz + Q7_KnowEkoSys + Q8_Goods_Defi + Q9_Values_Ind

Participants were then assigned to one of four types using the following rules:

• Narrators: female participants in the top 25% of Q8_gain or Q9_gain, and in the top 25% of Med_grade (academic performance).
• Nature Lovers, Absorbers, Eco Masters: all remaining participants were assigned to the type for which they had the highest standardized composite score.

Each participant was assigned to only one type. To understand how these types differ in measurable terms, we calculated key descriptive statistics for each group, including learning gains (Q5–Q9), baseline contact with nature (Q3, Q6), and academic performance (Med_grade)–see

Table A5. Comparison of participant types: awareness, learning gains, and academic performance. Statistical differences between types are highly significant (ANOVA p < 10⁻¹¹ for all learning gains).

Type	Total Gain	Q6 (pre)	Q3 (pre)	Q8 Gain	Q7 Gain	Q9 Gain	Med	N
Absorber	6.97	1.14	1.41	1.92	2.27	2.78	4.57	37
Narrator	9.00	1.00	1.60	2.80	2.80	3.40	5.38	5
Eco Master	0.44	1.94	1.74	−0.15	0.18	0.41	4.47	34
Nature Lover	2.70	2.26	2.61	0.74	0.17	1.78	4.72	23

.

One-way ANOVA confirmed that these differences were statistically significant (p < 10⁻¹¹ for all learning gains), validating the typology’s relevance in explaining divergent outcomes.

Based on these differences, we summarized each profile’s main characteristics, strengths, and limitations (

Table 2. Participant profiles emerging from the combination of new indicators.

Weaknesses	Strengths	Characteristics	Type 1
Low baseline competence	Open to learning, responsive to workshop	Low entry knowledge, low Q6, high gains	Absorber
Little field experience prior to workshop	Verbal reasoning, reflective growth	High gains in Q8/Q9, high grades, mostly female; low baseline exposure but expanded their environmental perspective	Narrator
Gained little from intervention	Conceptual clarity, prior knowledg	High baseline knowledge (Q5)	Eco Master
Low knowledge gains	Real-world nature experience	High contact with nature	Nature Lover

). We also illustrate differences between the types in Figure 5.

This typology supports the idea that educational interventions should be diversified. Absorbers clearly benefited most from the workshop, while Eco Masters and Nature Lovers may require more advanced or tailored content. Interestingly, Narrators—despite their limited environmental exposure—achieved strong conceptual and reflective gains, suggesting that well-designed ecological education can activate verbal and analytical learning styles.

Practical Implications (Teaching Tips):

-

Absorbers benefit most from guided, hands-on learning; teachers should use observation and teamwork to sustain engagement.

-

Narrators respond well to reflection and storytelling; assignments combining art or writing with nature observation enhance learning.

-

Eco Masters require advanced challenges (data collection, problem-solving); involving them as peer mentors can maintain motivation.

-

Nature Lovers thrive when linking outdoor experience with structured ecological concepts; teachers should build bridges between intuition and science.

4.6. Cognitive Positioning of Participant Types

For each participant type, we calculated mean values of the selected indicators (baseline knowledge, frequency of nature contact, and learning gains). These groups indicate centroids in a multidimensional space. Euclidean distances between these centroids were then computed to visualize the relative positioning of the four learner types.

Types were then plotted in a two-dimensional conceptual space, where

• The x-axis reflects absorbability–the potential for conceptual gain,
• The y-axis shows a gradient from practice-oriented (Nature Lovers) to theory-oriented (Eco Masters).

As shown in Figure 6, the types form a triangular structure, with Narrators positioned close to Absorbers, indicating shared cognitive responsiveness despite different initial profiles.

4.7. Dimensionality Reduction and Clustering

We applied PCA to the three composite indicators introduced in Section 4.6. The first two components explained 83% of the variance (PC1: 66%, PC2: 17%). PC1 separated students with low baseline knowledge but high learning gains (Absorbers, Narrators) from those with higher prior knowledge or nature experience but limited gains (Eco Masters, Nature Lovers). PC2 reflected a weaker gradient combining academic performance with pro-nature orientation. K-means clustering yielded profiles consistent with the typology, confirming its robustness (

Table 3. Loadings of PCA components.

PC2	PC1	Variable
0.357	0.597	z_absorb
0.534	−0.527	z_nature_lover
−0.170	−0.606	z_eco_master
0.748	−0.044	Med_grade

, Figure 7).

5. Discussion

Our findings at least support that in-class lectures and outdoor workshops contribute to students’ knowledge gain on ES, the hands-on part of outdoor workshops is complementary to other didactic formats. Workshops increased LSA levels dramatically and showed promise in enhancing the recognition of intangible ecosystem values, an aspect of learning that is often hard to effect through conventional learning experiences. It is important to note that these results emerged from a single-session intervention. Therefore, while they indicate promising tendencies, they cannot be generalized beyond the studied cohort. The findings should be interpreted as context-specific, highlighting patterns that could inform future, longitudinal studies.

5.1. Outdoor Workshops: Catalytic Resources for Place-Based Awareness

The outdoor workshops have a greater impact on locally sited awareness (Q5), which is supported by place-based education and experiential learning theories [18,19]. Staying once in the Górki Czechowskie enabled students to experience abstract ecological notions in real life and connect them with the surrounding reality also through strengthening attachment to place. This supports previous research indicating the gains to students of developing deeper emotional and cognitive links with local ecosystems through outdoor learning [1,5,20,27].

5.2. Difficulties in Communicating Non-Use Ecosystem Value

The qualitative reflections gathered from instructors further support these quantitative findings, revealing that students often articulated affective responses such as curiosity, enjoyment, and a sense of discovery [1]. This reinforces the interpretation that experiential formats foster emotional connection and contextualized understanding of ecosystem services.

Appreciation for intangible values (Q9), e.g., recreation, identity or aesthetics had only non-significant increase but still a trend towards outdoor calls to action [5]. This corresponds to the widely documented difficulty in communicating cultural ecosystem services [12,14]. These are subjective numbers, and they often do not make full sense until written in reflective or narrative forms. The results of our study indicate, that the implemented gamification and storytelling elements in the workshops helped to overcome this challenge partly; however additional pedagogical innovations might be necessary for transforming these values to sustainable awareness.

5.3. Influence of Learner Characteristics

The study also demonstrates the significance of learner variation for educational results. Absorbers, those students with low initial knowledge, gained the most from experiential learning and had relatively higher gains across all aspects. This potential may be particularly pronounced for students who are averse to standard, theory-based instruction.

Meanwhile high-achieving girls (Narrators) showed very high increases on abstract values–a finding that coincided with previous studies of reflective and narrative work being most transformative for students who already have strong cognitive skills in this area [16]. On the other hand, low-attaining boys made significant gains in concrete and abstract recognition in the workshops, which may have been facilitated by some of the more participatory and hands-on focus of these activities (i.e., providing alternative fora for involvement than schoolwork).

Eco-Masters and Nature Lovers, who started out with relatively high or frequent knowledge, respectively, had less room to grow (ceiling effect). This indicates that the “one size fits all” approach, typical of how workshops are designed, could be insufficiently challenging for advanced learners and that differentiated instruction activities like research-based projects, mentoring or citizen science may be more suitable for this subpopulation.

5.4. Educational and Policy Implications

The results of this study have important implications for education and highlight the limitations of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Strategies need to be diversified to meet different learner profiles. For novices, the practical activities can function as an easy point of entry; for advanced pupils, harder challenges are required to avoid any sense of disrelation.

From a policy point of view, the research emphasizes the need to conserve and manage semi-natural green spaces within cities. In the case of places like Górki Czechowskie, their ecological and recreational functions are supplemented by opportunities for environmental education. Where urban development pressures build, the conservation of these areas may be warranted not only for biodiversity reasons but also their value as “living laboratories”.

5.5. Limitations and Future Research

This study has several limitations. First, it was a small sample from only two schools in one city, so the generalizability of the results is limited. Second, the interventions were of short duration and, although some follow-up was provided, long-term retention of learning outcomes is not known [1]. Third, the evaluation was mainly based on self-reported questionnaires, and we could not explore behavioral changes thoroughly.

Moreover, the study was conducted at a single site and relied on a relatively short 21-day follow-up period. Although this design allowed us to capture short-term retention of learning outcomes, it does not fully address the question of long-term behavioral or attitudinal change. Future research should employ longitudinal and mixed-method approaches to explore the durability and multidimensionality of learning effects [1,5].

These observations align with recent literature on experiential and narrative-based sustainability education [6,7], which highlights that affective and reflective engagement plays a key role in sustaining pro-environmental attitudes over time. Likewise, recent studies linking ecosystem-services education with urban green-space stewardship [8,9] suggest that cultural and place-based learning can support deeper, value-oriented environmental awareness.

Future studies could include a follow-up survey 3–6 months after the intervention to evaluate whether the observed cognitive and affective changes persist over time, particularly regarding intangible ecosystem values.

Consequently, further work on a larger scale, including other cultural and urban contexts, is recommended to obtain broader data on the potential long-term effects of environmental education and to integrate additional research methods (e.g., behavioral observation, participatory mapping) that could capture these multidimensional outcomes more comprehensively [5].

6. Conclusions

Although limited to a single intervention, this study provides evidence that both the lecture and the field-based workshop were effective in enhancing students’ environmental understanding. However, the workshop—especially when delivered as a game-based outdoor experience—was uniquely successful in the whole group in promoting awareness of intangible ecosystem values (Q9), which are often overlooked in conventional curricula. It is important to note that the second survey, conducted 21 days after the intervention, captured short-term retention rather than long-term behavioral change. Longer follow-up periods would be required to determine whether these educational effects persist over time.

Based on observed differences in learning outcomes, we identified four recurring participant profiles—Absorbers, Narrators, Eco Masters, and Nature Lovers—and constructed three composite variables to support this typology. Subsequent PCA and clustering analyses and ANOVA tests validated this structure, revealing consistent patterns of engagement, learning, and prior ecological familiarity.

The workshop proved particularly beneficial for two distinct learner profiles:

• Absorbers: students with limited baseline knowledge and nature experience but strong learning responsiveness;
• Narrators: high-performing girls with small nature experience who achieved deep conceptual and reflective gains.

These groups gained the most from the intervention, confirming the value of hands-on and narrative-sensitive formats for both underprepared learners and high-achieving students with limited prior contact with nature.

Interestingly, the workshop was most effective for a third, less expected group: boys with low academic performance. Despite limited classroom engagement, they achieved the highest gains in both tangible (Q8) and intangible (Q9) ecosystem service understanding. This challenges conventional assumptions about who benefits from environmental education and highlights the unique potential of hands-on, place-based formats to engage students who are often overlooked in academic settings.

In contrast, participants with higher baseline knowledge—“Eco Masters”—and those with high direct experience in nature—“Nature Lovers”—showed little measurable gain. This was not due to disengagement, but rather to a ceiling effect: possibly the workshop’s content was too basic to activate their learning potential.

However, these students should not be viewed as a “lost” audience. Instead, they may be ready to contribute at a higher level of engagement—designing biodiversity surveys, mapping ecosystem services, mentoring peers, or facilitating value-based discussions about ecological trade-offs. Future programs could integrate such learners as junior collaborators or co-learners in interdisciplinary settings, offering a challenge even for undergraduate biology students.

The study also provides several key insights relevant for future educational practice. Learning gains related to ecosystem services varied considerably among student profiles, confirming that a one-size-fits-all model is suboptimal. Narrative-driven and game-based formats proved especially effective in stimulating not only factual learning, but also reflective and value-based growth. While prior contact with nature and higher ecological knowledge supported initial understanding, they tended to reduce the novelty effect of field interventions. Interestingly, both high-performing and less-prepared students benefited the most from engaging, well-designed outdoor activities. Therefore, future programs should continue to diversify instructional formats to maintain challenge and relevance for both novices and advanced learners.

Our findings are consistent with recent studies demonstrating that experiential and narrative-based learning enhances not only cognitive understanding but also reflective and affective engagement [6,7]. This aligns with current perspectives in sustainability education, which view emotional connection to place as a driver of long-term pro-environmental attitudes [8,9].

Based on our findings, we recommend that: (1) schools incorporate semi-natural urban sites like Górki Czechowskie into regular curricula as “living classrooms”; (2) outdoor sessions combine gamified and reflective elements to engage diverse learner profiles; (3) municipalities protect and adapt semi-natural spaces for educational use; and (4) partnerships between schools, local authorities, and NGOs be developed to sustain continuity and impact of such initiatives.