Defining the nature and extent of risk associated with adventure education, this article notes the riskiest activities and delineates three main causes of accidents: unsafe conditions; unsafe acts; and judgmental errors. Careful program organization, staff selection, routine safety inspections, and emergency plans are also addressed. (SB)

Reviews the literature related to experience-based training and development (EBTD) programs and physical safety. Discusses injury rates, cardiac arrest, and apparent and real risk for clients of different ages. Suggests that EBTD programs need a comprehensive documentation efforts to clarify and evaluate safety records. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Reviews the history of risk management and currently popular risk management tools, e.g., item-decision model and frequency/severity matrix. Discusses the safety record of outdoor adventure programs including data on injury rates and frequent accident types. Argues for flexible and realistic safety procedures and serious study of the phenomenon of…

Emphasizes the responsibility of eliminating unacceptable levels of safety risks in outdoor education programs, without destroying opportunities for challenging experiences that allow the spontaneity and freedom of movement necessary for the development of self-reliance and self-growth for students. (JD)

Climbers' perceptions of risk are influenced by psychological and sociological phenomena that cause them to accept higher levels of real risk without awareness that risks have increased. Groups, for example, make riskier decisions than members would recommend individually. By recognizing risk affecting phenomena, climbers can avoid many…