A group of outdoor teachers camping in the snow on high ground was caught in a blizzard at night. Their tents were ripped and they were forced to descend in the dark. Analysis determined that they had been caught unaware, they had improper equipment, and a lower-risk option for the descent would have been more prudent. (TD)

A two-step procedure for making moral and ethical decisions in professional situations involves identifying obligations, ideals, and potential effects, and assessing the relative weights of all considerations. Two cases illustrate the application of the procedure by outdoor leaders. (SV)

The South Yorkshire Outdoor Pursuits Trust manages an unstaffed residential facility that is used as a base for outdoor activities by various youth groups and by social services and mental health providers. The Trust sponsors an annual three-day outdoor leadership training event for staff of statutory and voluntary agencies. (SV)

Discusses safety management at the National Outdoor Leadership School. Describes safety responsibilities of staff and administrators, staff training and skills development courses, administration and paperwork, student responsibility for safety, field support services, evacuation support system, safety audits, and the safety review process. (SV)

Defines the concept of leadership. Reviews different theories of leadership and how they relate to outdoor leadership. The Conditional Outdoor Leadership Theory is a new approach to leadership based on applying the appropriate leadership style according to importance of task, group relationship, and level of conditional favorability. (LP)

A survey of 64 adventure programs in North America examined selection practices in hiring outdoor leaders. Respondents preferred candidates from an institutional background who also had personal outdoor experience. Compared to a similar survey 14 years ago, those hiring staff were more sophisticated in their preferences and were more likely to be…

Interviews with 12 New Zealand outdoor instructors found that they viewed risk as an opportunity to gain something of value, as opposed to losing something of value. Repositioning risk in this manner could allow the debate around adventure education to move away from being dominated by risk management, allowing consideration of adventure…

Describes a training program in human relations for camp directors. Intended for groups of 8 to 12 people over 15 to 20 hours of group time. Lists topics for discussions about group process. Addresses participant concerns about feelings generated by workshop activities. Provides 22 references for experiential learning. (CS)

Making errors can be a salutary learning experience. The problem in outdoor adventure education is to protect the error makers from real harm, which requires careful structuring of the learning situation. Discusses error limits, how much error correction is appropriate, involving participants in decision making, video playback and debriefing…

Drug users who participate in outdoor education pose a potentially dangerous situation. Tables detail how drug users feel and act when using certain drugs and provide other information on commonly abused drugs. This information may help outdoor facilitators to identify symptoms and to deal with drug-induced states. (KS)

On a canoeing trip with a group of 8 14-year olds, the leader was faced with a paddler who floated away from the group, a capsizer, and a reluctant participant. Subsequent analysis of the situation suggests that a briefing on signals prior to the experience and an experienced assistant in two locations were needed. (KS)

Describes the rails-to-trails movement, particularly in Ontario, where abandoned railways are converted to trails for hiking, skiing, cycling, and horseback riding. Proposes the often controversial rails-to-trails issue as a resource for discussion in outdoor leadership classes, focusing on rural and urban viewpoints. Also suggests using the…

Adventure educators must elevate participants' experience beyond a parade in the environment. Innovative right-brain strategies that can be used before, during, and after the encounter to capture the wonder of the "natural moment" include visualization, sensitizing, treating flora and fauna as celebrities, thematic photography, the mind…

Responds to a letter from a camp leader who experienced difficulty with an adolescent girl during a 3-day hike and disapproved of a staff member's response. Offers advice on handling such a problem, addressing the staff member's intervention without undermining his credibility, revisiting the situation with the group, and exploiting the…

Provides guidelines for planning and conducting a guided nature walk of short duration (1-3 hours) that provides opportunities for spontaneous teachable moments. Includes pre-hike planning related to public relations, the theme of the walk, and the trail; and tips for matching the presentation of material, discussion, and group activities to…