Quantitative data and descriptive data (written self-evaluation and journal entries) were collected from young adults participating in a standard 26-day Outward Bound course during a quasi-experimental control group design experiment to determine the degree to which participation in a high risk wilderness program leads to self-discovery,…

A company division of 72 people that had participated in an adventure training program one year earlier was surveyed to identify the longitudinal impacts of adventure training on corporate managers, attitudes toward adventure training, and changes in work behavior. Results showed positive changes that were short-lived without follow-up programs.…

Describes development of the Instructor Effectiveness Questionnaire (IEQ). Survey of 234 students participating in canoeing and kayaking at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (North Carolina) found that all 17 teachers received high scores, that the IEQ was able to discriminate between more- and less-effective instructors, and that female instructors…

Introduces Port Camman Project (UK), a 31-day residential course exposing young offenders to various outdoor adventure activities. Results of pre- and postprogram administration of a self-esteem questionnaire show increases in self-esteem in 10 of 14 males surveyed; negative changes are interpreted based on behavior patterns during the full 31-day…

Evaluation of the impact on several self-perception, behavioral, and family functioning variables of an Outward Bound school program with a family training component for adolescent status offenders indicated that treatment group subjects had significantly higher scores on all variables compared to controls at four weeks, though many differences…

A survey of outdoor and adventure activities (OAA) in 33 United Kingdom schools found the following: 1) successful programs resulted from individual teachers' commitment, 2) primary and secondary pupils gained enormous benefits from OAA, 3) OAA's benefits were often lost because of inadequate reporting, and 4) OAA's contributions to personal…

Three years after a 35-day wilderness expedition in northern Ontario, five youths described lessons from the trip that were either transfered to their home environments or were overcome by the social influences of their home environments. Follow-up support is recommended to assist with integration of learning into the home environment. (Contains…

Forty Australian physical education student teachers participated in a weekend adventure education course that placed them outside their comfort zones and made them understand how less confident, lower-skilled students feel in physical education classes. Reflective writing exercises revealed participants' awareness of supportive environment, peer…

Much of the literature on experiential education tends to focus on adventure-based education, which is of limited use to school teachers. This article examines the dichotomy of traditional and experiential education as a launching point to discuss the roles of trust and risk in educational processes. We examine perspectives of student, educator,…

The purpose of this study was to investigate participants' perceptions of an organized solo within a wilderness experience program and the influence that the instructors have on their perception of the solo. More specifically, this research project focused on the role of the instructor in the solo as perceived by the participants while still on…

The paper addresses two significant risk management considerations in conducting an adventure program in a therapeutic setting: the potential hazards of psychiatric medications and psychological emergencies. Focusing on the potential hazards of psychiatric medications, the first section discusses climatic conditions (heat, cold, and sun) and the…

The history of orienteering in the United States includes both military and civilian interest, with the period of greatest growth between 1970 and 1980. To investigate growth patterns in orienteering, questionnaires were mailed to 42 civilian orienteering clubs and 286 universities supporting senior Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC)…

A study examined gender stereotyping in an outdoor adventure education program. Observations, interviews, and document reviews involving 138 adolescent students from 8 schools attending a residential outdoor education center in Queensland (Australia) found the following gender stereotypes: boys are physically stronger than girls; boys are…

This study examined the long-term effects of participation in a half-day, low-element challenge course on the group functioning of members of college student organizations. Seventy-six participants completed measures of group cohesion, group effectiveness, and individual effectiveness within the group at four points in time: (a) one week prior to…

Much of the research in outdoor education has focused on participant outcomes rather than the aspects of the experience that elicited those outcomes. This study explores the key elements of a 10-week expedition to Ghana with Raleigh International. Data collection involved five rounds of interviews with 14 British participants over a one-year…