The National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps released a draft list of competency requirements for counselor certification. Lists of skills and competencies related to camping, safety, wilderness travel, outdoor leadership, crisis management, and therapeutic counseling are presented at two levels: initial certification and master-level…

Two groups of students were taken on the same canoe trip and overnight outing. The unpleasant experience of the first group taught the leaders some important lessons about briefing, organizing access, checking gear, and preparedness in general that were used to make the second outing a success. (TD)

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)

The founder of an all-women canoe-tripping company describes the components that have made it successful: shared leadership, outdoor guides as facilitators, support of individual choices, a nonprescriptive agenda, conflict avoidance and resolution, balance between getting somewhere and experiencing the moment, focus on women's strengths, and a…

To increase its counselor retention rate, a New York camp developed a course for counselors that focuses on leadership training and earns participants college credit. The class teaches situational leadership and focuses on the camper, not the activity. Course curriculum and objectives, course elements, and lessons learned about program improvement…

The National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps (NATWC) established a counselor certification program, but it has not been affiliated with a college program awarding academic degree credit. East Tennessee State University developed a curriculum that can be matched with the NATWC competencies. Students can be certified through coursework…

Describes an adventure-therapy program run by Woodswomen in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, designed to help women offenders learn new skills and ways of being that will help them stay out of jail. Discusses leadership considerations, a parallel program for their children, and the application of risk-taking skills for…

An emotionally safe environment helps campers participate in adventure activities. Staff development tips for creating a safe environment include using cooperative goal setting; using parallel training processes; developing working lesson plans that outline facilitation techniques for creating emotionally safe environments; and using co-created…

The author describes her experiences leading remote wilderness canoe trips for a coed camp; differences in leadership styles when trips are led by two women, by a man and a woman, or by two men; and her own camping experiences as a youth when camp leaders were cast into stereotypical gender roles. (LP)

Describes outdoor leadership training program for disadvantaged children at Holiday Home Camp, Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Describes program objectives, progress levels, training courses, and activities. Describes grade-level training process. Program designed to help inner-city youth find sense of pride and self-esteem while improving life skills.…

This book is the leader handbook of the American Camping Association's (Indiana) Outdoor Living Skills Program. The purpose of this program is the development of outdoor living skills that emphasize environmental values. The program is divided into five levels and participants can enter at any point depending on their maturity and existing camping…

In response to the growth and diversification of adventure programming, the Association for Experiential Education developed an accreditation process that addresses both the fluid nature of adventure programming and the need for specificity in standards. This book describes exemplary administrative practices and policies of accredited adventure…