Walk and Talk Experiences combine challenging outdoor experiences, group living, and opportunities for reflection and discussion to promote self-exploration and personal development. The British program has served various client groups, such as adolescents and people with disabilities or special needs. Activities on several weekends are described.…

Outdoor activities in residential programs aim to promote personal growth and to develop a healthy personality in troubled youth for whom other interventions have been unsuccessful. In the Netherlands, experiential outdoor programs consist of activities such as mountain climbing and rapelling, flat and white water canoeing, biking, sailing,…

This proceedings contains 16 papers on recreation and adventure programming, outdoor education, and outdoor leadership training. The papers are: (1) "Beyond Recreation: Our Classroom Is Wild America" (Barry Auskern); (2) "Outward Bound Leadership Model: An Exploratory Study of Leadership Variables" (Natalie L. Bartley); (3)…

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…

Outdoor leaders need counseling skills to deal with interpersonal conflicts that arise within a group and to facilitate participant growth and change. Person-centered counseling, reality therapy counseling, and behavioral counseling are discussed, as well as how various techniques from each can be used to the benefit of the leader and the group.…

The paper addresses two significant risk management considerations in conducting an adventure program in a therapeutic setting: the potential hazards of psychiatric medications and psychological emergencies. Focusing on the potential hazards of psychiatric medications, the first section discusses climatic conditions (heat, cold, and sun) and the…

The history of orienteering in the United States includes both military and civilian interest, with the period of greatest growth between 1970 and 1980. To investigate growth patterns in orienteering, questionnaires were mailed to 42 civilian orienteering clubs and 286 universities supporting senior Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC)…

The paper explains why outdoor adventure education programs have been successful in enhancing the self-esteem of special needs students. Such an approach features physically or psychologically demanding outdoor pursuits to provide meaningful challenges through self-discovery and personal growth. Ways in which the program fosters five prerequisites…

Discusses the Red Cross Basic Canoeing course to exemplify the relationship of safety to skills taught. Emphasizes that instructors in all outdoor activities should concern themselves with safety, as well as teaching outdoor skills. (MH)

Examines role of play and experiential learning in early childhood education. Summarizes educational experiments and research projects on outdoor experiential play for enhancing adventuresomeness, self challenge, cognitive development, and socialization of young children. Suggests need for traditional and experiential educators to develop…

Describes Outward Bound's adventure education and leadership training programs. Describes Outward Bound's history, goals, and participants' reactions, emphasizing benefits for urban Hispanic youth. Describes efforts to recruit more urban minority students, instructors, and at-risk youth. Mentions other Outward Bound programs meeting special needs.…

Touts the advantages of experiential learning through educational games, or simulations, as provided by outdoor-learning centers. The organization of outdoor learning is discussed along with ways for integrating community groups into the activities. Included are five examples, a bibliography, and contact information for two centers that support…

This proceedings includes 16 papers presented at the 1991 International Conference on Outdoor Recreation (Moscow, Idaho). The papers are: (1) "Special Populations Outdoor Pursuits: Tapping the Ability in Disability" (Allen Adler); (2) "An Investigation of the Ecological and Social Impacts Caused by Rock Climbers" (Aram…

This conference proceedings reflects the views of participants on competencies that need to be taught in employee preparation for outdoor recreation. The conference addressed the following recommendations made by the President's Commission on American Outdoors: (1) assessing professional outdoor recreation education and training needs; (2)…

This paper combines information from two published articles with an account of preparation for a wilderness expedition that included hearing-impaired people. Whether outdoor programs are planned for adventure, recreation, or educational purposes, they are increasingly being made more accessible for handicapped people. The paper focuses on problems…