"Leadership for Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services" presents new perspectives on the importance of leadership in the profession. Integrating theory with practice, the book provides foundational perspectives in the study of leadership at all levels--direct service, supervisory, managerial and community/civic--in recreation, parks and…

Many of the characteristics of effective physical education lessons have been discovered by sport pedagogy researchers by employing what has become known as the ecological or task structures perspective. The purpose of this study was to describe the task structures and ecology that existed in two consecutive 7-day summer adventure camps run by an…

Outdoor education researchers have accumulated a notable cache of work documenting the outcomes of participation in outdoor education programs (e.g., Hattie, Marsh, Neill, & Richards, 1997; Kaplan & Talbot, 1983). While continuing this work remains an important task, some researchers are turning their attention toward understanding the process of…

This study compares outcomes associated with participation in Outward Bound (OB) and National Outdoor Leadership Schools (NOLS) courses in the United States. OB and NOLS (two of the largest providers of outdoor adventure education [OAE] courses) combined saw more than 30,000 students in 2006 (NOLS, n.d.; Outward Bound, n.d.). Comparing these two…

Allowing students a sense of autonomy has long been considered an important pedagogical tool. This paper synthesizes the current literature on student autonomy from the education, youth development, and outdoor adventure fields and explores its value through an analysis of data from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). The results…

A facilitator is considered to act intentionally when they are deliberate about what they are doing and can provide rationales for their actions. The same facilitator is said to practice intuitively when they are not able to articulate a clear rationale for their actions, yet they are still able to facilitate effectively. A review of the…

This paper discusses leadership styles and the stages of development of a group. Situational leadership is based on the amount of direction (task behavior) and the amount of socio-emotional support (relationship behavior) the leader must provide given the situation and level of maturity or readiness of the followers. Having gauged the maturity…

Examines, compares, and contrasts New Zealand and Australian model programs of outdoor leadership development based upon the British Mountain Leadership Certificate System. Offers ideas on risk management and the issue of certification. (NEC)

The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze demographic characteristics and job related difficulties experienced by field instructors in outdoor behavioral healthcare programs which utilized wilderness therapy as well as other treatment modalities. Three state-licensed outdoor behavioral healthcare programs in the United States provided a…

Group processing after an outdoor experience provides feedback and the opportunity for critical reflection, which can enhance the benefits of the experience. This paper outlines some common problems in processing and suggestions to help outdoor leaders improve their facilitation skills. Common pitfalls that hinder effective processing include…

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 annotated bibliography contains 247 citations of research-based literature on the use of wilderness for personal growth, therapy, education, and leadership development. The annotations are divided into 2 periods: 1995-2001 (60 citations) and prior to 1995 (187 citations). Within each period, the entries are categorized according to the…

Describes characteristics and nature of games, which are a type of experiential learning useful for personal and group development. Discusses the four phases of game sessions (planning, introducing, action, and debriefing or processing); roles that leaders must enact to be effective; and some common problems that leaders encounter. (TD)

Tacit knowledge is a generally unarticulated, preconscious form of knowledge that forms a basis for human judgment and decision making. Tacit knowledge is acquired primarily through experience, usually observation of and working with "qualified" teachers or mentors. Tacit knowledge may also be described as "practical," that is,…

This annual collection promotes scholarly writing, applied research findings, and innovative programs and activities in experiential education. 1987 papers include: (1) "The Effects of a Structured Camp Experience on Perceived Freedom in Leisure" (Mark James) on the effects of a structured camp experience on handicapped participants' perceived…