The Northland Wilderness Experience (NWE) was established in 1985 to provide outdoor therapeutic programs for at-risk youth from the Northland region of New Zealand. The program involved a physically challenging 10-day expedition, followed by an 18-month followup period of group outdoor activities offered every 2 weeks. By the end of 1989, 280 youth had worked through 32 expeditions run by NWE. The first four chapters examine: (1) the process of assessing change and the experiential nature of research and evaluation for NWE; (2) at-risk behavior and why youth become at-risk; (3) approaches to achieving change through the wilderness experience; and (4) profiles of youth who have attended the NWE, giving information on the nature and extent of their at-risk status. The remaining three chapters look at the degree of personal change achieved by program participants. Because of frequent revisions of questionnaires, data were analyzed from only 250 participants. Questionnaire results following the 10-day expedition indicate that the experience had a positive impact on most youth and provided a catalyst for behavior change. Results from the Wilderness Self-Esteem Scale administered prior to the wilderness experience and 6 months afterward indicate significant decreases in behavior associated with helplessness and chronic low self-esteem and significant increases in coping behaviors associated with high self-esteem. At-risk behaviors decreased substantially, especially in relation to trouble with the law, and relations with families and friends improved. Includes the followup questionnaire and the Wilderness Self-Esteem Scale. (LP)