In a coastal community, four social groups were chosen to participate in various educational programs designed to promote their desire to take environmental action. At the end of these educational programs, conducted by a scientist and an environmental educator, the participants were invited to get involved in the resolution of an environmental problem: that of the lack of vegetation in the village or that of a damaged stream. Following the positive response of all four groups, researchers employed narrative inquiry and semi-structured interview techniques in order to identify the educational and sociocultural factors motivating the desire for action. Three judges analyzed the data using a priori categories, with openness towards emerging categories. The principal motivational factors identified were the visual observation of the problem, the reception of information, the impression that the task could be accomplished, the sense of solidarity, and the expectation of personal rewards following the action. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/ASK)