The purpose of this study was to evaluate how participation in a wilderness-based OAE program affected the environmental attitudes and feelings of self-efficacy in participants' ages 14 to 17-years-old. The findings indicated that the OAE program did not have a significant impact on the environmental attitudes of the participants. The program did, however, have a significant influence on feelings of self-efficacy; wherein, the participants who attended the OAE program demonstrated higher gains to general self-efficacy than non-participants. Moreover, the respondents indicated that a wetlands investigation and hands-on survival course, canoeing, high ropes, and an ORT program could influence environmental literacy competencies. Several issues raised by the study, especially the methods curriculum dissemination, warranted further investigation. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]