Navigating Emotional Currents: Canoeing and Resilience in Youthreach Learners

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Abstract This article explores the role of outdoor education—specifically a Canoeing Skills programme—in fostering emotional literacy, teamwork, and anxiety regulation among marginalised youth in a Youthreach centre in Ireland. Drawing on mixed methods data from a broader study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) interventions, this article isolates the impact of the canoeing programme on learners’ emotional growth. The programme challenged participants to navigate moving water as part of a team, promoting trust, self-regulation, and resilience. Qualitative data from learner reflections and a research diary revealed significant improvements in emotional awareness, peer relationships, and anxiety management. The findings suggest that outdoor education, when embedded in second-chance education, can serve as a powerful tool for emotional development and social inclusion. These insights contribute to the growing evidence base supporting experiential learning as a transformative approach in alternative education settings.