This investigation hypothesizes that the effects derived from the reintegration of adult wilderness education will connect adults in unique ways to nature landscapes. The study is based on two cases: a five-year wilderness program that the author designed in a remote part of Canada, and a Yellowstone wilderness program that occurs yearly. The…

The Wilderness Education Association (WEA) helps people enjoy and protect the nation's most precious resource: the wilderness areas. The WEA has been training and certifying outdoor leaders around the world for nearly 30 years, teaching students safely and effectively to lead groups in the outdoors without harming the environment. This document…

This paper defines the field of adventure therapy and relates it to other types of adventure activities. Outdoor adventure may have recreational, educational, or enrichment goals that focus on having fun, increasing participant knowledge, or building skills such as communication in a target group. Adventure therapy, on the other hand, has the…

This paper calls attention to parallels in the literature of adventure education and that of Gestalt therapy, demonstrating that both are rooted in an experiential tradition. The philosophies of adventure or experiential education and Gestalt therapy have the following areas in common: (1) emphasis on personal growth and the development of present…

Intuition is knowledge of something without the conscious use of reasoning. The question of where intuitive knowledge comes from may be addressed from neurophysiological, spiritual, or philosophical perspectives. In some cases, hunches may be traced to the unconscious processing of immediate sensory input with previous knowledge. In other cases,…

This paper explores different responses to "religious" questions raised within adventure therapy programs. Religious education contributes to adventure therapy by enabling an adequate handling of the issues raised within participants' consciousness by adventure experiences. The belief issues raised within adventure therapy can be divided…

This paper is an account of Russian and American educators exploring the use of experiential education in schools and organizations. The goal of experiential education is to find harmony between the individual and the group. In August of 1988, 18 students and 2 professors from the Soviet Union came to Dartmouth (New Hampshire) as part of a…

This paper introduces the notion of a spiritual component of adventure, with reference to the potential role of adventure within the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. Influenced by tradition and culture, past constructions of adventure have often associated it with educational benefits and personal development of specific…

Experiential educators can prepare students and clients for living in the global society of the new millennium through international experiences, both short- and long-term. The elements of experiential education--risk/challenge, direct experience, processing and reflection--can be important aspects of the international experience. Historically,…

The New Zealand Department of Corrections commissioned an outcome evaluation of an outdoor adventure challenge program (OACP) on 84 participating inmates at Rolleston Prison. The program consisted of 2 weeks of fitness training, skill development, and challenge experiences, followed by a 5-day wilderness expedition. Outcome was measured in three…

This paper describes outdoor learning programs in New Zealand. Among those serving the nation as a whole are the: (1) Cobham Outward Bound School; (2) Outdoor Pursuits Centre, which provides outdoor technical skills training for schools and professional outdoor courses for leaders and teachers; and (3) Spirit of Adventure Trust, which teaches…

Effective group leadership is not entirely about "good" or "bad" approaches, but rather the ability to choose an appropriate style for a particular situation. This paper examines three paradigms, or world views, that can influence the approach of a leader (facilitator, therapist, teacher) of adventure groups and gives examples…

This paper discusses ways to link components of the adventure education and environmental education systems in Alberta, Canada. The province of Alberta has developed an Environmental and Outdoor Education Course of Studies which reflects an integrated, experiential approach to connect the personal needs of adolescent youth to the society of which…

This paper describes a developing outdoor adventure program for at-risk adolescents in Cheltenham and Gloucester City (England). The program builds on a partnership between Youth Service, the schools, and other agencies, and aims to make contact with young people aged 13-17 at risk of drifting into crime; to provide appropriate experiences,…

This paper describes the development of an adventure therapy qualification, the Certificate in Social Work (Activity Based), at Waiariki Polytechnic, New Zealand. New Zealand has an extensive range of outdoor opportunities, and a large percentage of the population is involved in outdoor activities. Although many therapeutic programs involve young…