An adventure consultant shares lessons about creativity. Steps to being creative are: look for connections; be willing to experiment and fail; be open-minded and seek input from others; and practice, practice, practice. Examples of different versions of an adventure activity illustrate several creative techniques. The impact of time deadlines on…

Describes five games (two for preschool children, three for all ages) used in adventure-, challenge-, and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props needed, instructions, and variations. The games act as icebreakers; build group trust and cooperation; or nurture positive,…

Describes three group-processing activities used with youth or adults in adventure- and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props needed, and instructions for group processing and reflection. Involves stimulating campfire discussion for various purposes, journal writing…

Describes enhancing the outdoor adventure experience by engaging the spirit. Strategies include creating spirit-related expectations, refocusing, making space for rituals and ceremonies, looking for metaphors, including intentional experiences as catalysts to deeper meanings, and offering opportunities for reflection. Backpacking at night on the…

Outlines a low-cost introductory adventure program. Discusses proper activity sequencing to ensure participation and group unity, adaptation of activities to participant needs, incorporation of briefing and debriefing, and the leader's role. Describes ice breakers, trust-building activities, and simple rope courses. (SV)

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…

Describes how to teach rock climbing to elementary school students using balance dome cones, which are small, cylindrical- shaped cones that are rounded at the top, seven inches in diameter, and four inches high. Students step on the cones as they explore and discover their balance limits in various unnatural movement positions. Individual and…

This paper examines current standards and procedures used in rope and climbing courses and offers alternatives to standard practices. The techniques and issues covered include belay techniques, belay signals, and the use of the initiative wall. Current techniques are often not the most efficient or even the safest, but they have stood the…

Offers advice and practical suggestions on how to facilitate challenge activities when working with diverse groups that include disabled persons. Lists tips concerning access and safety considerations, communication, group dynamics and teamwork, and modifications to specific activities. (SV)

This handbook presents a collection of over 35 experiential and adventure-based activities using only a single item of equipment--a 15-foot long section of 1-inch tubular climbing webbing, called a raccoon circle. Some of the activities are quiet, some are loud, and they range from low to high challenge levels. Different-sized groups can be…

Describes nine group activities used to build cooperation and teamwork in adventure-, challenge-, and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props needed, instructions, ideas for post-activity group processing and reflection, and facilitator tips. Target groups include…

This guide provides basic background information about outdoor and environmental education for interested educators. Collected articles summarize current thought, trends, and practices in outdoor and environmental education. Examples of current programs are selected to demonstrate both the variety and excellence of programming in this area. These…

Twelve exercises are presented that use ropes as aids for reviewing and debriefing. By positioning themselves along a rope continuum, people make self-assessments visible to others. Ropes can be shaped into graphs to depict reactions to experiences. The facilitator can ask questions to help people reflect on their positions. A Web site provides…

Describes nine group problem-solving and communication initiatives used in adventure- and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props, instructions, and tips for post-activity group reflection and processing. Activities emphasize teamwork, communication skills, and a…

As a teacher, the author is always interested in novel pedagogical methods for presenting complex concepts and material in genetics that interest and engage the students, while helping them understand and recall the lesson. In this article, she describes sock and yarn models that allow students the opportunity to examine the meiotic process in a…