Research has articulated the benefits of autonomy in outdoor programming (e.g., Chang, 2017), and the independent student expedition (ISE) is one type of autonomous experience that has received attention across the literature. Research suggests that ISEs have the potential to foster personal growth and promote group development (e.g., Daniel et…

The article briefly explains three stages of small group development and suggests ways to apply existing knowledge of group dynamics to outdoor education settings. The article explains the role of expectation, conflict, and stress in behavior change that occurs in the context of extended field excursions. (SB)

Designed to observe changes in biracial student behavior brought about by Project BACSTOP (a series of structured experiences in a variety of wilderness settings meant to bring students of different races together in stressful adventure activities geared to promote interaction, communication, and cooperation), this evaluation studied five…