Outdoor educators frame programs as rites of passage because of similarities with Van Gennep's first two stages of a rite of passage--separation and transition. The model is generally ineffective because of the goal of conformity associated with the model's third stage--reincorporation. Smaller communities may be able to use the model to…

As part of two outdoor workshops (n=37 and 38) for Master of Business Administration students focused on team building, teams completed case studies. A control group completed case studies without the outdoor component. Results clearly indicated that outdoor education can accelerate team development and the evaluation method proved useful. (SK)

Describes numerous benefits of ropes courses including (1) increasing self-esteem; (2) promoting physical fitness; and (3) fostering group cooperation. Traces the history of ropes courses. Emphasizes safety through construction standards for ropes courses outlined in "Safety Practices in Adventure Programming" by Priest and Dixon. (KS)

Describes incident where group engaged in training exercise was almost "rescued" by Coast Guard, although Coast Guard had been alerted that training exercise would be taking place. On another occasion Coast Guard did not react to actual report, thinking it was training group. Group was studying grey seal breeding colonies in…

Describes methods and goals for several activities to be used in ropes courses. Details calculation of loads for suspended ropes used in the exercises, and selection of rope based on type of activity and number of people on the rope. Contains several diagrams and photographs. (KS)

Reviews the literature related to experience-based training and development (EBTD) programs and physical safety. Discusses injury rates, cardiac arrest, and apparent and real risk for clients of different ages. Suggests that EBTD programs need a comprehensive documentation efforts to clarify and evaluate safety records. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Examines ways in which outdoor adventure programs can guard against charges of negligence and the possibility of lawsuits without diluting challenge or participant satisfaction. Discusses risk management, insurance, safety guidelines to use in the development of program-specific standards, and accident prevention. Contains 19 references. (SV)

Discusses historical examples of how fieldnotes of explorers are altered for publication, particularly in case of Samuel Hearne's "A Journal from Prince of Wale's Fort in Hudson Bay to the Northern Ocean 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772." Suggests readers view explorers' narratives as reflections of tastes and ideologies of their age and books as…

Provides advice on how an adventure program can protect itself from the risk of being sued. Defines terms dealing primarily with civil liberty and describes the four criteria for negligence. Lists strategies for preventing litigation, responding appropriately to an accident, seeking legal counsel after an accident, and using contributory and…

Five stages of development in the facilitation of adventure experiences in order of sophistication are letting the experience speak for itself; speaking for the experience by the instructor; debriefing the experience through reflection; frontloading the experience with prebriefing; and framing the experience isomorphically. (KS)

Action learning is being used in corporate training; teams or work groups take an actual problem to the training program, work on solving it, commit to an action plan, and are accountable for carrying out the plan. Some companies include personal-growth training, such as outdoor adventure learning, as a component of team building. (JOW)

Discusses empowering youth as means of prevention/intervention. Considers empowerment programs such as those used by Ekerd Therapeutic Wilderness Camping System. Focuses on challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities of extended wilderness trips. Notes that proactively empowering adolescents requires adult leaders who are sensitive to…

Maple Leaf Outdoor Centre (Ontario) has added year-round outdoor education facilities and programs to help support its summer camp for disadvantaged children. Schools, youth centers, religious groups, and athletic teams conduct their own programs, collaborate with staff, or use staff-developed programs emphasizing adventure education and personal…

A veteran adventure educator offers pearls of wisdom: identify those people who want/need to meet, and encourage them to do that; identify something that no one else wants to do, and do it well; failing forward with confidence regularly produces better results than confident discussion; play mitigates fear; a good idea doesn't care who has it; and…

Surveys a variety of conflicting philosophies and their underlying values that have influenced the development and direction of outdoor adventure education. Suggests that outdoor adventure education and experiential ways of learning are intrinsically at the margins of pedagogy and demand a generalized framework that incorporates and balances…