Leisure Studies Commons^™

Learning About Ethical Outdoor Leadership, Karen Fox, Mark Reed

Research in Outdoor Education

Outdoor adventure programming has responded to changing societal and individ­ual needs by enlarging the goals and objec­tives of programs beyond the boundaries of the outdoor trip. Program missions, goals and objectives regularly include integrating people with and without disabilities, rein­forcing appropriate school and societal be­haviour in youth at risk, enhancing the self­ esteem of young people, teaching environ­mentally sound behaviour, and enhancing restorative healing for women survivors of abuse and people with terminal illness. These broader goals and objectives place different demands upon the outdoor leader and situate an outdoor trip within a larger context. This larger context connects out­door …

Moods Of 3-Week And 5-Week Outdoor Expedition Participants, Pamela E. Foti, Suzanne R. Daiss

Research in Outdoor Education

The purpose of this research project was to investigate and document the cycle of mood states displayed by outdoor recreation expedition participants. It was hypothesized that an individual's moods pass through a predictable cycle during the beginning, middle, and end phases of a 3-week to 5-week outdoor expedition.This cycle would include fluctuations in mood states such as anger/hostility, confusion/bewilderment, de­pression/dejection, fatigue, tension/anxiety, and vigor. It was anticipated that ten­sion/anxiety would be high in the beginning, medium to high in the middle, and then low at the end. Depression/dejection was ex­pected to be low in the beginning, high in the middle, …

Anxiety And Outdoor Adventure: A Study Of State Anxiety And Activity Performance, Ben F. Tholkes

Research in Outdoor Education

This study explored the relationship between participant anxiety and perfor­mance in an outdoor adventure activity (a high ropes course). It has been widely sug­gested that a correlation exists between anxiety and performance of complex motor tasks during a physical activity (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990).

Methods, Measures, And Madness: Possiblities For Outdoor Education Research, Karla Henderson, Karen Fox

Research in Outdoor Education

In this keynote presentation, the authors outlined the "Top Ten Reasons Why We Need More and Better Outdoor Education Research Methods and Measures" as the basis for our further discussion.

Wilderness Leadershiptraining:Influence On Judgment And Decision Making, Mike Mcgowan, Rogene Mckiernan

Research in Outdoor Education

A repeated measures design was used to examine changes in the level of moral deci­sion making attributed to participation in the ECOEE field studies program.

How Deep Ecology And Critical Social Theory Come Together In Outdoor Travel Guiding: On Thediscovery Of Being A Researcher, Bob Henderson

Research in Outdoor Education

The author describes planned research:

With 10 years of reviewing and keeping selections from the travel journals of over 50 trips, winter and summer, it seems appropri­ate at this time to address an Outdoor Edu­cation Research Symposium with a story of realization and research findings that speak to a liberation from oppressive cultural forces for a radically new conception of self (of "being a researcher"). Influences of nar­rative inquiry, emancipatory research, fem­inist theory and perspectival heuristic studies are all involved in shaping the ways of knowing, ways of teaching, and ways of valuing presented here as a new approach to …

On Evaluating Environmental Education, Ilka List

Research in Outdoor Education

Are we doing what we think we are doing in our outdoor environmental education programs? We need answers in order to improve our programs, as well as to convince funding organizations that we de­serve their money. Although most funding agencies know how difficult it is to evaluate qualitative experience, they still ask us to try. I think that children's art can provide such a tool. Although many people are not at all familiar with interpreting children's art, the skill is not difficult to learn, and the artwork reveals a great deal.

Reconnecting With Nature: A Vision For The Future, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors (Ceo)

Research in Outdoor Education

Conference Announcement for the Second Coalition for Education in the Outdoors National Conference held in October, 1994.

Camp Peregrine Research: An Investigation Of The Development Of Environmental Empathy, Diana Sweet Wilson

Research in Outdoor Education

Our research goal at Mohonk Preserve' s Camp Peregrine during the past five years has been to discover bet­ter ways to give children opportunity to experience the environment that results in a deep empathy for the organisms and their physical habitats. Empathy for non-human characters involves the focusing of attention on the other and the assumption of the role of the other, as well as cognitive activities that lead to understanding of the other's sit­uati9n (Hoffman, 1993). We link adventure, scientific inquiry, and storytelling to ac­complish these goals.

Front Matter, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors (Ceo)

Research in Outdoor Education

The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors initiated a Research Task Force in 1990 with the purpose of supporting the conduct of research in the field and the dissemination of the results. The Symposium at Bradford Woods and these proceedings offer evidence of the success of this task force. At the 1992 Symposium, there was general agreement that the symposium be a regular occurrence. Information on future events will be available through the Coalition Office.

This article includes the Editors and Research Committee for Volume 1 as well as the Table of Contents.

Research In Outdoor Education: Individual And Personal Growth, Simon Priest

Research in Outdoor Education

This article contains the text of a keynote presentation at the Inaugural Symposium at Bradford Woods, January 1992, which focused on research into individual and personal growth through outdoor education.

Summary Of The Human/Environmental Interaction Discussion, Karla Henderson, Lisa V. Bardwell

Research in Outdoor Education

Summarizes the group discussion held following Bardwell's keynote on The Restorative Experience and Outdoor Education.

A Bigger Piece Of The Puzzle: The Restorative Experience And Outdoor Education, Lisa V. Bardwell

Research in Outdoor Education

This article contains the text of a keynote presentation at the Inaugural Symposium for Research in Outdoor Education at Bradford Woods, January 1992. The presentation focused on outdoor education as a restorative experience.

Summary Of Individual/Personal Growth Discussion, Simon Priest, Alan Ewert

Research in Outdoor Education

Summarizes the group discussion held following Priest's keynote on Individual and Personal Growth.

Research In Outdoor Education: Group Development And Group Dynamics, Leo H. Mcavoy, Denise S. Mitten, James P. Steckart, L. Alison Stringer

Research in Outdoor Education

This article contains the text of a keynote presentation at the Inaugural Symposium for Research in Outdoor Education at Bradford Woods, January 1992,. The presentation focused on the development of positive group dynamics.

Summary Of Group Development/ Group Dynamics Discussion, Leo H. Mcavoy, Anderson B. Young

Research in Outdoor Education

Summarizes the group discussion held following the keynote on group development and group dynamics.

Summary Of Therapeutic Uses Discussion, Michael Gass

Research in Outdoor Education

Summarizes the group discussion held following the keynote on therapeutic outdoor recreation.

Therapeutic Uses Of Adventure-Challenge-Outdoor-Wilderness: Theory And Research, H. Lee Gillis

Research in Outdoor Education

This article contains the text of a keynote presentation at the Inaugural Symposium at Bradford Woods, January 1992, which focused on research into therapeutic recreation.

Fear In Outdoor Education: The Influence Of Gender And Program, Anderson B. Young, Alan Ewert

Research in Outdoor Education

Using the Situational Fear Inventory, outdoor course participants identified the degree to which they experienced social-based and physical-based anxieties at the beginning, middle, and end of their course. Levels of social-based fears were higher and more resistant to modification. Females expressed higher levels of fears. Most fears were reduced significantly through program participation.

Optimal Experience Among Campers In A Resident Camp Setting, M. Deborah Bialeschki, Karla A. Henderson

Research in Outdoor Education

The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess optimal experience, also known as "flow" and "quality of experience," in a resident camp setting. Campers from a private coeducational children's camp in the southeastern United States were asked to record descriptions of their involvement, attitudes, and feelings during randomly selected times during two camp sessions in 1991. The research questions addressed were: How do experiences associated with a quality of experience and flow occur in the resident camp setting? How frequently do they occur? What implications does an understanding of flow have for providing better camp experience.,? Based on this …

Outcomes Of Adventure Program Participation By Adolescents Involved In Psychiatric Treatment, Jeffrey P. Witman

Research in Outdoor Education

This study investigated selected outcomes of adventure program participation by adolescents involved with psychiatric treatment. This study was one component of a larger study of adventure outcomes among adolescents in treatment A random (N=42) sample of program participants at 12 sites (hospitals, treatment centers) were involved. The participants were asked a week after their involvement in adventure experiences, to indicate the extent to which they had shared information about the adventure experience with others and bad applied attitudes and skills gained in the program. The findings suggested that adolescents in treatment talk about the adventure experience and apply it in …

Neuroendocrine Reactivity During The Naturalistic Stress Of An Outward Bound Course, Camille J. Bunting, Cynthia Kuhn, Redford B. Williams

Research in Outdoor Education

Recent studies have found that subjects with high hostility propensity have greater catecholamine (CA) and cortisol (Cf) levels during laboratory stressors. The present investigation sought to determine if similar patterns would be found in the naturalistic setting of an Outward Bound experience, and if high versus low aerobic fitness would influence CA and CT levels in this setting. Sixty-six individuals volunteered for the study from participants who had registered for a nine-day 'adult intensive' Outward Bound course. Thirty-one subjects were selected from those who volunteered. The Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory was completed by each subject prior to arriving for their course …

Psychological Rationale For Adventure Therapy With Hospitalized Adolescents, H. Lee Gillis, Alan Williams, Helen Hollis

Research in Outdoor Education

Inpatient and residential therapeutic programs for adolescents are often fairly generic in format relying heavily on traditional, insight-Oriented approaches to treatment without regard to how the intellectual functioning of the adolescent might impact upon therapeutic effectiveness. This study examined the WISC-R profiles of two treatment populations and presented a theoretical rationale for using adventure based treatment based upon the participants performance on verbal and performance subscales. It is hoped that the article might be used to help justify the implementation of adventure therapy in psychiatric treatment facilities and lead to further research to test the proposed hypotheses.

Outdoor Leadership: A Question Of Vision And Ethics, Karen M. Fox, Leo H. Mcavoy

Research in Outdoor Education

Outdoor education increasingly includes programs for youth-at-risk, multi-cultural groups, battered women, and other special populations. The diversity of such groups and their needs and expectations place additional demands upon the outdoor leader. "Good judgement" on a trip with seniors may not be identical to "good judgement" on a trip with youth-at-risk; group exercises appropriate for young males of color may be inappropriate for women who have been abused. The diverse populations and situations will require outdoor leaders to become more self-aware, reflective, and sensitive to culture, race, and gender differences (Greenleaf, 1970; Shapiro, 1988; Terry, 1988). Resolving conflicts and ethical …

Phenomenological Study Of Wilderness Experience And Human Development, Maurice Legault

Research in Outdoor Education

This study is aimed at better understanding the phenomenon of interaction between the individual and the natural environment from a human development perspective. It is a qualitative study focusing on the scientific study of the human experience in a natural environment The main theoretical context for this study is that of phenomenology (Husserl, 1859-1938), from which stems phenomenological psychology, whose founder Giorgi (1931- ) defined it as being the study of phenomena as experienced by enlightened human beings, and the research methods for the study of these phenomena (Giorgi, 1983). The focus is thus the Lebenswelt, which in Husserlian terminology …

The Adventure-Based Counselor As A Group Counselor, Jaclyn S. Gerstein

Research in Outdoor Education

Through the use of a group counseling format in conjunction with the adventme activities, participants in the growing number of adventure-based counseling programs are gaining a better understanding of the consequences of their behavior patterns. The purpose of this investigation was to identify those group counseling skills relevant to adventure based counseling. The subjects were the supervisors and counselors from the adventure based programs. Participants were asked to respond to a mailed questionnaire. 'fh1ough this investigation, those skills relevant to adventure.-based counseling were identified. The investigation was designed to take the first steps in examining adventure -based counseling as a …

The Impact Of A Corporate Adventure Program, William J. Quinn, Robert Vogl

Research in Outdoor Education

Corporations continue to use adventure challenge activities to create or enhance a sense of cohesion, or team, within their corporate culture. The purpose of this study was to document the perceived benefits of an "Adventure Challenge" program on a _short term basis. The program was designed to meet specific expectations held by high ranking employees of an international accounting firm. The goals for the program were developed in consultation with instructional designers and their superiors responS1ole for the finns' training and devel<>J>ment This paper reports on efforts t.o document the impact of an adventure challenge program integrated into …

Facilitators: One Key In Implementing Successful Experience­ Based Training And Development Programs, Richard J. Wagner, Christopher C. Roland

Research in Outdoor Education

An increasing number of corporate experience-based training and development (EBTD) programs are being implemented in both the profit and nonprofit sectors throughout the United States, and a host of other countries. In a survey recently published in Training and Development Journal, Wagner, Baldwin, and Roland (1991) found that 13% of U.S. Training Directors reported that their organizations currently used some form of experience-based outdoor training and development The qualitative and quantitative data that have been generated to date on EBTD have indicated that individual and group behaviors appear to change positively after subjects have participated in these training programs. One …

Evaluation Of A Comprehensive Challenge/Adventure Program For Sexually Abused/Exploited Youth, Thomas E. Smith

Research in Outdoor Education

This study attempted to validate the challenge/adventure methodology as applied to sexually abused/exploited youth in a residential treatment placement by measuring personality and behavioral changes in those youth. The Fresh Start Program is a special living and learning placement for youth between the ages of 12-18. Youth in placement typically present a complex and variable assortment of educational, psychological, and behavioral problems. The youth live in foster family homes, which operate under the "Family Education Model" for behavioral management and behavioral improvement There are two homes on the grounds of the large camp and retreat center facility in Northern Wisconsin, …

The Impact Of Total Employee Participation In An Experience-Based Training And Development Program, Or Corporate Adventure Training Program, On The Corporation's Work Climate, Simon Priest

Research in Outdoor Education

Experience-based Training and Development (EBTD) or Corporate Adventure Training (CAT) has had a short history of usage and a long history of problems· with its credibility. Proponents of EBTD/CAT have claimed it was an effective and appropriate way to build teams, develop individuals and improve companies. They stated their case on a moderate collection of personal anecdotes and testimonies. Opponents of EBTD/CAT have claimed it was a sham, like many of the group oriented encounter techniques of the sixties. They cemented their opinion by pointing to a clear lack of research evidence, failing to substantiate the impact of such programs. …