This dissertation research sought to contribute knowledge to the field of human dimensions of wildlife conservation by improving understanding of the psychological and behavioral foundations of human-nature interactions; nature-based outdoor recreationists in Michigan were used as a study population. I developed a mixed-methods approach and collected data through in-depth interviews and a web-based questionnaire. Research phase one involved qualitative exploration of the meanings and motivations for participation in nature-based outdoor recreational activities. I conducted in-depth interviews with birdwatchers (n=15) and mountain bikers (n=15) throughout Michigan in May ⁰́₃ July 2019. Interviewees indicated that multiple cognitive, emotional, social, and place-based motivational frames shaped their expectations for recreating in nature. Interviewees' goals shifted through time as they gained experience and knowledge from activity-specific goals (e.g., identify more birds, ride further distances, etc.) to satisfy more fundamental needs such as self-efficacy, social connection, family functioning, and restoration. Conceptualizations of environmental stewardship and conservation depended on group-level socialization in the birding or mountain biking communities and individual motivations and ethics. Higher order meanings of (re)connection to oneself, other people, and nature emerged through experiential feedbacks and repeated participation over time.Research phase two used a web-based survey of nature-based recreationists (n=19,143) sampled from an e-mail database managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in June ⁰́₃ August 2020. I analyzed data obtained from the survey to quantify and model relationships between participation in nature-based outdoor recreational activities and support for conservation efforts. I operationalized support for conservation in two ways: (1) stated intention to support alternative conservation funding policies and (2) reported engagement in stewardship (measured by pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)). Results of binary logistic regression modeling suggested different variables influence support for alternative conservation funding policies, and that support depends on whether the proposed policy is a general or user-based tax. Mutualist value orientations, past stewardship engagement, and knowledge of conservation funding mechanisms generally increased support for novel funding policies, while domination value orientations, social capital, and age generally decreased support. Overall, the stakeholders surveyed supported proposed policies to increase funding for conservation from general sources of taxation or an extractive-industry contribution but opposed a user-based tax on general outdoor gear (i.e. backpack tax). A structural equation model was used to quantify relationships between nature-based recreationists and stewardship engagement such as voting to support policies or regulations that affect wildlife, wildlife habitat improvement on private land, volunteerism, donating money to conservation organizations, or participating in wildlife conservation meetings. Results indicated that wildlife value orientations, recreational place attachment, specialization, and motivations influenced engagement in stewardship activities that benefit wildlife. The strongest predictors of engagement in stewardship behaviors were mutualistic values toward wildlife and "nature" or "social" dimensions of recreational motivations as measured by recreation experience preference (REP) scales.
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