Naturalistic inquiry methods were used to explore the spiritual dimension of wilderness experiences among 26 participants in wilderness adventure programs. Participants identified their spiritual experiences and factors contributing to or inhibiting such experiences. Program recommendations are offered for planning wilderness trips conducive to…

Describes Robert Terry's ethical principles for leadership that have been adopted by the outdoor adventure organization, Woodswomen, for their leadership training process. Leader tasks correspond to each of the following ethical principles: (1) dwelling (acknowledging one's own history and values); (2) freedom; (3) justice; (4) participation; (5)…

Discusses Tikkun Olam--the Jewish tenet of healing the world through individual good deeds--and its applicability to the practice of adventure therapy. Focuses on the therapeutic relationship, as it develops in group settings, and the role of adventure leaders and therapists in nourishing such relationships to provide a vehicle for healing or…

Many instructors get a little anxious about working with teenagers; thinking that they will be immature, unmotivated, and argumentative. Add the words "at-risk" or "adjudicated" and most adults get very nervous. At-risk and adjudicated youth know when individuals are nervous and will do their best to intimidate and control them. Instructors need a…

Residential treatment programs provide a range of services, including drug and alcohol treatment, confidence building, military-style discipline, and psychological counseling for troubled boys and girls with a variety of addiction, behavioral, and emotional problems. This testimony concerns programs across the country referring to themselves as…

This paper examines the relationship between outdoor recreation and environmental education. Observations of resident environmental education centers in Minnesota and of recreational programs on U.S. Forest Service lands found that, to the extent that planned and unplanned outcomes can be equated, the two types of programs seemed to produce 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…

At the Rochester Institute of Technology, a course was created which took students out of the traditional classroom setting in order to teach small group communication in an experiential-adventure based format. The course was designed by a faculty member in Communications and the Coordinator of Outdoor Experiential Education. Based on a survey of…

Argues that experiential education can be a factor in changing peoples' lives by pushing them to try alternative lifestyles and, subsequently, to form new values. (NEC)

This list of resources on adventure-based learning techniques is presented for two reasons. In today's educational systems, programs must produce measurable results to meet mandated standards and goals. It is hoped that these resources will help programs obtain academic credibility for utilizing adventure-based activities. Secondly, they are…

This handbook presents a collection of over 35 experiential and adventure-based activities using only a single item of equipment--a 15-foot long section of 1-inch tubular climbing webbing, called a raccoon circle. Some of the activities are quiet, some are loud, and they range from low to high challenge levels. Different-sized groups can be…

Explaining what outdoor experiential education is can be problematic, as a variety of terms are being used to identify a wide range of outdoor experiential learning methods. This paper proposes the metaphoric model of an umbrella to explain the relationships existing among these terms and their respective outdoor experiential learning methods. The…

Adventure education has its own set of unique questions that help to define what it is and how it differs from other fields of education. Adventure education has grown rapidly over the past several decades, and with its evolution, many critical topics for deliberation have emerged. This book contains 15 chapters, each arranged in a debate format…

Examines the organization and objectives of an adventure-based course for industrial managers and management trainees. The program's goal is the development of personal qualities and social skills, as well as the application of leadership theories in a mentally and physically challenging environment. (SK)

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)