A study examined the relationship between outdoor leader self-awareness and co-leaders' perceptions of leader influence. Thirty-three challenge course instructors for a major university in the Midwest operated as a peer group, working in instructor teams leading groups in an outdoor setting. Each instructor took a turn as leader of the day. All…

A study examined experiences of nature among eight adolescents during a 12-day wilderness trip. The trip generated feelings of good will toward nature but no increase in environmentally responsible behaviors. Group norms emphasized social interaction and constrained attention to nature. Outdoor educators should consciously plan for transfer of…

A common assumption in the outdoor field has been that women's development as outdoor leaders has not kept pace with their participation in outdoor adventure activities. A survey about women's employment was mailed to 103 outdoor education programs with an adventure component; 62 responded. The programs served 160,585 participants in 1994, of…

This research study used the Delphi technique to determine the ideal content of a college-level outdoor leadership course for land-based outdoor pursuits in the Pacific Northwest. Topics were generated and value-rated by 61 Pacific Northwest outdoor leaders using a Likert-type scale in three separate questionnaires. Thirty-five topics were…

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…

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…

This paper examines the changing attitudes and personal development of 20 college students participating in an advanced class on ethical outdoor leadership. Students took part in short outdoor activities and tasks for which they selected their own leaders, determined strategies, and evaluated their task and group process performances. Course…

A study examined types of positions, job responsibilities, and training backgrounds of 203 outdoor/adventure leaders. Survey responses indicated an increase in female outdoor leaders, but they received less pay than their male counterparts. Personal experience, professional workshops, and certifications were listed more frequently than academic…

A panel of 8 professionals in the field of wilderness adventure programming reviewed, evaluated, and commented on a list of 53 skill, technical, human relations, and philosophical understanding competencies and 46 personal and professional qualities derived from a literature search of 136 sources in a study to determine accepted minimum skill…

In this essay, women outdoor leaders discuss how gender influences their work, and explore and challenge some assumptions underlying outdoor leadership that continue to privilege the impartial, disembodied practices typified by the masculine outdoor leader. Four feminist, and three other feminist outdoor leaders participated in personal interviews…

A sample of 17 Camrose Lutheran College students (ages 19 to 24) who were enrolled in a 22-day wilderness Outdoor Education Leadership Course and a control group of 22 students who were not enrolled in the course were studied for changes in participants' self-concept and for the factors and curriculum activities which affected self-concept.…

Information related to selecting, training, and certifying outdoor leaders for high adventure pursuits, is provided by selected experts from five English-speaking nations (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States). Patterns of differences and similarities among these nations regarding outdoor leadership components and…