This study examined the effect of three physically integrated camping programs (physical integration alone or with disability awareness or inclusionary adventure programs) on adolescents' acceptance of peers with disabilities. Pretests and posttests indicated that physical integration did not make significant attitudinal changes, but both other…

Male firefighters participated in a standard or modified ropes course to determine if risk-taking propensity might change as a result of adventure training. The expectation that a modified course simulating real firefighting would better transfer such training to the workplace was not substantiated. Both samples increased their risk-taking…

Interpretive techniques for encouraging participants to experience a deeper level of environmental growth during outdoor activities include group discussions, creative writing, artistic expression, visualization, sensitization, group activities introducing participants to various aspects of the environment, reflective thinking, the use of…

The most important skill for the transformational leader is building relationships through positive and effective communication. Provides guidelines for supporting and encouraging group members, setting the tone for the group, modeling communication behaviors, use of voice patterns, active listening, reflective communication (paraphrasing),…

Reviews theories of leadership development relevant to the design of outdoor adventure programs for corporate executives and managers. Summarizes likely objectives and methods of outdoor development programs and their theoretical basis. Presents a framework for program comparison that correlates leadership outcomes with learning methods at…

During a 1-day ropes course, 84 university residence assistants were exposed to 1 of 3 facilitation techniques (no debriefing, debriefing following experience, and using metaphors to frame upcoming experience). Results indicate that the experience was effective in producing individual and group change, metaphoric facilitation produced greater…

Identifies expedition types reflecting different educational values including classic quests, pursuits of wealth, scientific explorations, wilderness existentialism, and military missions. Examines conceptualization, preparation, action, and reflection/reporting as "critical" phases of adventure education experience. Discusses…

Meta-analysis of 143 effect sizes in 43 studies of adventure programming for adolescents found an overall effect size of 0.31. Summary effect sizes of outcome categories differed significantly among categories, however. Effect size was related to program length and participant age but not to delinquent status. Discusses the lack of pertinent…

Describes Project Choices, a residential treatment program for drug-abusing adjudicated adolescents that employs the adventure-based counseling model to instill change. Describes Project Choices goals as being the reduction of conduct-disordered behavior associated with delinquency and drug use. Presents program evaluation results which suggest…

Outlines the theory and practice of debriefing and considers its importance in experiential learning and outdoor adventure education. Discusses theories of transfer of learning; levels of cognitive processing in relation to sequence of debriefing questions and activities; establishing supportive group behaviors; 10 soft skills needed by debriefing…

Insights from chaos theory--the interconnectedness of everything, nonlinear cause and effect, leverage and the "tipping point," and the importance of aligning interventions within a system--are applied to social action and illustrated via the role of adventure education in school and community interventions in the Brattleboro (Vermont) Leadership…

Participants at a British workshop on outdoor education and spiritual development concluded that outdoor programs provide special opportunities for developing spiritual awareness; maximizing relevance to everyday life is essential; and facilitators need good group-work skills. Participants also discussed contemplation versus excitement in outdoor…

"Moments at the edge" occur when adventure participants reach the boundaries of their assumptions and mental frames and are ready to experiment with a new, more successful, mindset. Facilitators can support this experiment if the moment is recognized. Several indicators of the edge are described, and a case study of "edgework"…

E. Paul Torrance believed that creativity, like other skills, could be taught. His test to assess creativity is described. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes that the right combination of personal characteristics and encouraging environment produces creativity, and that children cannot be taught creativity. The adventure process creates an…

A study of five undergraduate physical education classes explored the influence on positive and negative affect of different types of physical activity. Results indicated that running, skiing, and challenge course activities, especially the 14-foot wall, increased positive affect more than other activities. Implications for physical education…