GULLY

Gully erosion is one of the most severe environmental challenges in Nigeria, especially in southeastern regions where it causes extensive land degradation, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of livelihoods. The study examined the impact of simple field trips on students’ knowledge and attitudes toward gully erosion. It was motivated by the need to integrate experiential learning into environmental education as a means of improving understanding and awareness of erosion control. The research sought to determine whether a simple field trip could enhance students’ comprehension and disposition toward environmental issues, particularly gully erosion. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving fifty undergraduate students from the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Education, University of Benin. The participants were divided equally into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire divided into three sections that assessed demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude. The validity of the instrument was ensured through expert review, and reliability was confirmed using the test–retestmethod. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for summarization and independent samples t-tests to test hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance.Findings revealed that students in the experimental group who participated in the field trip demonstrated significantly higher knowledge and more positive attitudes toward gully erosion than those in the control group. The study concluded that field trips are highly effective in improving students’ environmental knowledge and fostering proenvironmental attitudes. It recommended that field-based learning be incorporated into environmental education curricula and teacher training programs to promoteexperiential learning, community involvement, and sustainable environmental management.