Advocates use of rituals to foster intimate, caring relationship with one's place and to develop a sense of community within a group. Describes "Talking Staff" and "Medicine Wheel" as tools for debriefing, performance of camp chores, and fostering ecological awareness and a sense of place. (NEC)

Defining "high risk" and "adventure" programs, this article discusses the more prominent issues of the controversy surrounding the growing demand for certification of adventure education program leaders. (Author/SB)

Adventure programming is the deliberate use of adventurous experiences to create learning in individuals or groups, often with the goal of improving society or communities. Adventure programming may focus on recreation, education, individual or group development, or therapy, or on a combination of these. This second edition contains 61 chapters by…

A graduate student in a nontraditional experiential program in environmental education at the Audubon Expedition Institute (Belfast, Maine) reflects on an experience in which she and her peers faced an ethical decision about whether to pay a fee to paper companies in order to hike in the North Woods. Describes the processes that allowed the group…

Describes the Cooperative Extension Water Watchers Program (Washington) that brings together participants from diverse backgrounds, introduces them to environmental and natural history topics, encourages discussion of "hot" issues, and concludes with participants volunteering in environmental projects. The program is successful because…

A study examined experiences of nature among eight adolescents during a 12-day wilderness trip. The trip generated feelings of good will toward nature but no increase in environmentally responsible behaviors. Group norms emphasized social interaction and constrained attention to nature. Outdoor educators should consciously plan for transfer of…

Reports on a study to examine and assess stress-levels of factors of anxiety, depression, and hostility present in a camp staff during a ten-week resident program. Results indicate that anxiety, depression, and hostility do not correlate directly or inversely with each other. (TW)

Extended field trips have the potential to provide students with direct experience in learning about the natural world, as well as opportunities for the development of group cohesiveness. This document describes a program developed by a community college in which general biology students spend 3 days in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The…

Under the direction of the National Audubon Society Expedition, a special nine-month school tours the United States and in the process its students learn all about their country and come to a better understanding of themselves as well. Each year approximately 20 students from diverse backgrounds and ranging in age from 15 to 23 years participate…

A young woman educated in North America who came to Chile to teach experiential environmental education realized that she would have to reconcile her educational ideals with the reality of Chilean culture, which does not support questioning, critical thinking, gender equality, democratic participation, or self-directed learning--the underpinnings…

Backpacking serves as the vehicle for teaching basic secondary school subjects in this curriculum guide which suggests various learning activities for teaching human relations, environmental education, and camping. The activities, some for the classroom and some for the trail, are designed to help students observe, draw conclusions, and develop…

This report provides an evaluation, for the school year 1982-83, of the Resident Environmental Classroom project for Chapter I classroom teachers and students in the Cleveland Public Schools. The project is designed to provide students with direct experience with the natural environment, exposure to experiential learning concepts, exposure to a…

Compiled for teachers whose sixth grade students participate in the resident camping program of the Dixon Public Schools (Dixon, Illinois), this guide offers extensive and detailed information for use in planning the camp curriculum. Activities are suggested for environmental study, group socialization, and recreation. Environmental study units…

The goals of "Operation Awareness", a 1974 summer program involving coeducational high school canoeing, camping, and study, were to acquire knowledge; acquire outdoor living skills; promote involvement in a conservation work project; and provide the opportunity for social, emotional, and physical growth through group living. Students,…