The paper explores basic concepts of mental retardation and proposes wilderness adventure programing as an approach that offers mentally retarded persons the dignity of taking a reasonable risk. Benefits of such programing are cited for affective, cognitive, and psychomotor domains. Processes involved in the therapeutic bases for program…

Suggests that experiential education can be best understood as action accompanied by an attitude that embraces the adventure of learning, regardless of the format or environment in which learning occurs. Views current growth market as an adversity that may distract experiential educators from mission of conceptualizing meaningful educational…

Explains how qualitative and quantitative research differ regarding nature of reality, inquirer-subject relationship, truth statements, explanation of action, and role of values in inquiry. Discusses how qualitative research offers outdoor adventure educators important ways to substantiate or legitimize traditional claims. Suggests how those…

Presents a new definition of outdoor education. Describes the different approaches to outdoor education advocated in adventure education and environmental education. Proposes that an integration of approaches can result in a functional outdoor education experience. (ML)

Describes an outdoor adventure program that uses high-risk activities to promote personal potential among well-adjusted participants. (Author)

While rules are necessary for safe adventure courses, risk management approaches which include the judgment and responsibility of instructors in the field are in keeping with the fundamental values of adventure-based programs. Legalistic approaches that subordinate personal judgement to rules are not congruent with the goals of adventure…

Explains how experiential programs and organizations can improve relationships with their insurance companies by understanding the insurance industry's perspective and techniques of risk management. Suggests 22 specific items of information that experiential education organizations should share with insurers to demonstrate understanding and…

This paper argues that, although the increased use of outdoor components in management courses has led to a resurgence of interest in the approach, it remains, nonetheless, mistrusted and misunderstood by many trainers. (Author/SSH)

At California State University, Fresno, all incoming students take a full-semester, three-unit course that includes topics on academic preparation but also focuses on issues and topics commonly associated with experiential and adventure education. These areas include communication, listening, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Recognizing the…

High performance teams allow conflict to surface and then work toward understanding and resolution. Often when teams are in conflict, they appear to be in chaos. What may be occurring is that the conflict has allowed the team to access new information, and what appears to be chaos is actually reorganization around a new perspective. Capitalizing…

First developed and tested in 1989, the Adventure Model suggests that as adventure participants become more skilled and specialized, they experience predictable changes in several participation behaviors. While previous studies supported the model, they were carried out with college students having similar skill and motivational characteristics.…

Through an introduction to some of the literature and personalities of the adventuring tradition, the article explains several common elements of various forms of adventure: degree of difficulty, element of danger, commitment, and understandable stress. It also questions and explains the purpose of adventure experiences. (SB)

Outdoor instructors should know legal considerations including inherent dangers, program objectives, participant awareness, participant evaluation, supervision, professional conduct, safety considerations, and negligence. Threats of law suits can be diminished with care, "foreseeability," appropriate techniques and equipment, and well-prepared…

Uses the Outward Bound School in Colorado as a metaphor for a school that emphasizes putting practice into theory, which suggests a willingness to improvise on the part of teachers and students who are fully capable of figuring out for themselves the individual and social imperatives of education. (Author/IRT)

Examines the impact of camping on pediatric cancer patients in the United States and Britain. Finds some evidence of increases in physical and social activities and knowledge about cancer and its treatment, and decreases in self-engaged activities. Notes that some studies point to potential deleterious effects from an extensive focus on disease.…