Kristi S. Lekies

My research focuses on experiences of place with a special emphasis on children and youth from early childhood through young adulthood. I study individuals’ experiences in natural settings, geographical communities, and community-based educational and recreational programs.  

My current research addresses two primary areas. The first is to examine childhood experiences in nature and to further the understanding of the processes by which free play, outdoor recreation, and organizational activities relate to environmental attitudes, perceptions of nature, and concern for the natural environmental in adulthood. Additionally, I am interested in studying the opportunity structures that provide access to and engage young people in natural environments, such as community gardens and adventure based outdoor recreation programs for urban youth. I also am interested in innovative outdoor settings for young children that exist in other cultural contexts, such as forest preschools in Germany and Sweden.

The second area examines community and place attachment in adolescence and young adulthood. I focus on the processes by which individuals become engaged in or attached to geographical places, especially through civic engagement, outdoor activities, and connection to landscapes.  I am particularly interested in the experiences of rural youth and the opportunities that rural communities provide for healthy development throughout the early part of the lifespan. 

I am also an evaluation specialist and work on projects related to education, environment, and climate change.  I am a transdisciplinary scholar and enjoy working across disciplinary fields that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Current Projects

• Understanding the Benefits of Long-Term Participation in Outdoor Adventure Recreation Programs
• Examining the Impacts of Nature-Based Interventions for Vulnerable Youth
• Childhood Experiences in Nature:  A Lifespan Approach
• Community, Environment, and Youth in Rural Brandenburg, Germany:  A Twenty Year Follow Up Study
• Regional Integrated Modeling of Farmer Adaptations to Guide Agroecosystem Management in a Changing Climate (Project Evaluator)

From 2009-2022, I produced Youth Beat Radio, which aired weekly on Columbus Community Radio Stations WCRS 92.7/98.3 FM and WGRN 94.1 FM.  The show featured youth leadership, community service, community action, and youth perspectives, and it provided an opportunity for students to engage in media production.  With the help of a fantastic team of production assistants, over 160 shows were produced, including a series of 10 episodes on rural life and culture.  Additionally, I led the Youth Environmental Education Outreach Initiative which engaged graduate and undergraduate students in program planning and informal education activities.  I also organized youth leadership summits on the environment for high school students to learn about environmental issues, develop leadership skills, and create action plans to improve communities and the environment.   

Future activities focused on community and environmental citizenship are under development.  

As an evaluation specialist, I also consult with faculty, parks, and community organizations on ways to measure the impacts of research, educational, and outdoor programs.  

Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University

M.S., Home Economics/Child and Family Services, University of Wisconsin-Stout

B.A., Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Lekies, K. S., & Fisher, K. (2025). Community spaces for outdoor play, learning, and citizenship. In M. Mart, G. Gessiou, & J. Waters, J. (Eds.). Exploring the pedagogy of learning and playing outdoors: Questions of purpose and intention (pp. 128-139). London: Routledge UK.

Fix, P., Larson, L., Lekies, K., Park, S., Scholl, K., Stein, T., & Tidball, K. (editors).  The Transformative Power of Parks. Sagamore-Venture Publishing, forthcoming 2025. 

Stough-Hunter, A., & Lekies, K. S. (2023). Effectively engaging first-generation rural students in higher education: New opportunities for sociology. Teaching Sociology, 51, 301-309. Doi: 10.1177/0092055X231174516

Overby, T. A., Diekmann, F., & Lekies, K. S. (2023). Nature-based interventions for vulnerable youth: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 33, 15-53. Doi:10.1080/09603123.2021.1998390

Beery, T. H., & Lekies, K. S. (2021). Nature’s services and contributions: The relational value of childhood nature experience and the importance of reciprocity. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, Article 636944.

Hougham, J., Lekies, K., Bohrerova, Z., Wood, C., Jaeger, K., Schroeder, B., Timmerman, A., Nardi, A., and Power, R. (2020).  Youth water education: Programs and potential in the American Midwest. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 75(5), 117A-122A. 

Lekies, K. S., Moore, R. H. (2020).  Promoting transdisciplinary learning through a summer course on climate, water, and agriculture.  Natural Sciences Education, 49(1), 1-12. 

Stough-Hunter, A., & Lekies, K. S. (2020).  Where to live and work?  Examining the influence of job and community characteristics on post-graduation plans of physician assistant students.  The Journal of Rural and Community Development, 15(1), 17-32.

Beery, T., & Lekies, K. S. (2019).  Childhood collecting in nature:  Quality experience in important places.  Children’s Geographies, 17(1), 118-131.

Waller, T., Ӓrlemalm-Hagser, E., Sandseter, E. B. H., Lee-Hammond, L., Lekies, K., & Wyver, S. (Eds).  (2017).  The Sage handbook of outdoor play and learning. London:  Sage.  

Lekies, K. S., Beery, T. & Brensinger, J. (2017).  Investigating children’s collecting behavior outdoors. In T. Waller, E. Ӓrlemalm-Hagser, E. B. H.  Sandseter, L. Lee-Hammond, K. Lekies, & S. Wyver, (Eds.), The Sage handbook of outdoor play and learning (pp. 547-561).  London: Sage.

Lekies, K. S., & Brensinger, J. (2016).  Is rural closer to nature?  Comparing childhood nature experiences across residential settings.  In C. Freeman and P. Tranter (Eds.), Geographies of children and young people major reference work, Vol. 12, Risk, protection, provision and policy. Springer.

Lekies, K. S., Yost, G. M., & Rode, J. (2015).  Urban youth’s experiences of nature:  Implications for outdoor adventure recreation.  Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 9, 1-10.

Lekies, K. S., & Beery T. H. (2013).  Everyone needs a rock:  Collecting items from nature in childhood. Children, Youth, and Environments 23(3), 66-88. 

Wells, N. W. and Lekies, K.S. (2012). Children and nature: Following the trail to environmental attitudes and behaviors. In, J. Dickinson and R. Bonney (Eds.), Citizen science: Public collaboration in environmental research  Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Lekies, K.S. (2011). Connection to place:  Exploring community satisfaction and attachment among rural youth.  Children, Youth, and Environments 21, 77-99.

Lekies, K.S., Baker, B. and Baldini, J. (2009). Assessing participation in Youth Community Action projects: Opportunities and barriers. Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society  40, 346-358.  Lekies, K.S., Eames-Sheavly, M., MacDonald, L.and Wong, K.J. (2007).  Greener Voices: Strategies to increase the participation of children and youth in gardening activities. Children, Youth, and Environments 17, 517-526. 

Wells, N.M. and Lekies, K.S. (2006). Nature and the life course: Pathways from childhood experiences with nature to adult environmentalism. Children, Youth, and Environments 16 (1-24).