The Tennessee Self Concept Scale was used to study the effect of outdoor adventure activities on the self concept of university students. Related studies have found significant changes in self concept following survival training and Outward Bound experiences. The study population consisted of 99 students enrolled in 1 of 4 classes at Eastern…

Based on structured interviews with Interlocken students, staff, parents, and alumni, this book presents a historical account of the international coeducational camp, Interlocken, founded in 1961, and its practice and philosophy of experiential education. Section 1 explains the innovative summer-camp/youth-travel mission of Interlocken and its…

Summarizes findings of a national study of 27 programs and concludes that educational programs which are experientially based can have a significant positive impact on the social, psychological, and intellectual development of adolescents. (Author/GC)

Beyond the ability to exhibit good judgment and common sense while performing duties as a leader under stress and pressure, an outdoor adventure program leader should possess technical skills, human relations skills, and philosophical understanding of outdoor programming. Technical skills include knowledge of initiatives/ropes course activities,…

Eight abstracts provide key points of papers presented at the 1985 meeting of the Camping Research Section of the American Camping Association. Topics discussed were: the effects of a one-week resident camp experience on environmental attitudes, goals and accomplishments of the National Outdoor Education Consortium for Research and Evaluation, the…

A true experimental design with 60 male probationers, ages 13-16, was used to evaluate the viability of an Ontario-based 21-day wilderness adventure program as an alternative for adjudicated juveniles placed on probation. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group was subdivided into 3…

A supplement to eight previous publications, this bibliography includes recent resource materials, research findings, and developments in outdoor education. Citations are derived from the June l977-June l978 issues of Resources in Education (RIE) and Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE). The bibliography is divided into two major sections…

Reviews the literature and identifies and explores five characteristics shown to exist in both the adventure-based learning environment and effective traditional classroom settings. Discusses small learning group size, cooperative learning environments, communication of high expectations for students, building on student success, creating a…

This meta-analysis examines the effects of adventure programs on diverse outcomes such as self-concept, locus of control, and leadership. Analysis of 1,728 effect sizes from 96 studies shows that effect sizes varied substantially and improved as the length of the program and ages of the participants increased. (SLD)

Ten papers were selected for inclusion in this proceedings based on each paper's ability to examine critical ethical issues within the field of experiential education and to challenge readers to analyze and justify the stances they support. John Miles examines user impact on wilderness areas and the responsibilities of educational uses of the…

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…

Six tests were given to the entire sophomore class (120 males, 104 females) at a suburban school north of Boston before and after particiaption in the Project Adventure physical education program, some goals of which were the development of students' self confidence, improved self-concepts, ability to take physical, emotional, and social risks,…

Created in 1974, the Connecticut Wilderness School is a successful program for breaking patterns of failure due to negative self-image and instilling positive values of confidence and responsibility in order to develop constructive attitudes and behaviors in young people aged 15 to 20 who have run into trouble with the law. The wilderness program…

High school sophomores participating in the second year of Project Adventure, an educational program expanded to include community service, experiential learning, and a rigorous physical education program, showed improvements in physical abililty and self-concept consistent with improvements shown by students in the program's first year.…

Presenting four basic adventure education concepts as defined by Project Adventure (a Demonstrator/Developer Project within the National Diffusion Network and operating out of Massachusetts), this book describes a number of successful high school and middle high adventure programs. Major adventure education concepts are identified as: adventure…