Basic principles of the nature therapy model are described, integrating the author's personal journey and examples from fieldwork and theory. Four aspects are nature as "sacred space"; nature as therapeutic setting; healing potential of nature's physical and aesthetic elements and connections to "universal truths"; and…

Outdoor educators clearly feel that the outdoors is a powerful tool for spiritual development. Although outdoor educators are not homogeneous in their understanding of spirituality, there does seem to be a significant amount of common ground, dubbed the "neighborhood of outdoor-spiritual proximity." Views of this neighborhood and aspects…

Briefly outlines the historical backgrounds of Confucianism, the Chinese educational system, and adventure education. Points out a common ideal of Confucianism and adventure education: "jen," or humanity and benevolence leading to teamwork. Summarizes contributions that adventure education can make to Chinese education, as well as…

Two case studies illustrate the differences between two perspectives on adventure activities and therapy: in "adventure therapy," adventure activities were a tool within a psychotherapeutic intervention with a disturbed delinquent, while in "therapeutic adventure," adventure activities offered opportunities for a group of…

Describes two meetings on youth development in the new millennium, held in Oxford (England) in November 1998: a workshop to plan youth conferences and trainer training courses related to the contributions of adventure and outdoor experiences to young people's cultural, moral, and spiritual development; and an international conference, sponsored by…

Outward Bound Czech Republic developed a course for international participants in which everybody is simultaneously an actor and viewer in a 2-week theater play. A five-stage process of developing "dramaturgy" allows instructors to adapt the scenario to participant needs and thus enhance the likelihood of challenge and transfer of…

Provides the outdoor adventure educator with a working knowledge of self-esteem to inform practice and allow communication between practitioners. Discusses a practical model of self-esteem, methods of increasing global self-esteem, evidence that adventure increases self-esteem, and relevant guidelines for framing adventure activities. (SV)

A female outdoor educator who had recovered from anorexia nervosa reflects on the boundaries between her personal and professional identity as she anticipates taking on a research role in adventure-therapy programs. Gender issues in outdoor education are discussed in relation to women's body image and eating disorders. (SV)

A study of self-esteem found no strong evidence that self-esteem is a good thing in its own right or can lead to other benefits. Self-esteem was strongly related to locus of control, self-efficacy, and a general positive attitude but relatively immune to change. Implications for outdoor education programming are discussed. (TD)

A trainer in personal development gives advice, in the form of reflective questions, to group facilitators on appropriate language use, interpreting nonverbal communications (body language), and the appropriate use of nonverbal communications. (TD)

The transformational leadership style, in which power is delegated to participants who then work to their capacity to complete required tasks, is appropriate for all people to combat the current tendency to consume experiences without developing responsibility or commitment. A model of personal growth through adventure is outlined. (SAS)

Outlines environmental, equipment, and social changes related to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expedition since 1956, and debates the need to restore the expedition's physical challenge or to emphasize the developmental inner journey of the mind and spirit. Considers whether the purpose of the expedition is a physical challenge or a developmental…

Views experiential learning as metaphor development. If a participant's enactment of a personal metaphor leads to an impasse during an adventure activity, this moment of "stuckness" is an opportunity to develop new images that generate new options for action. Facilitators must be sensitive to such situations and assist in widening…

Describes an adventure activity in which a group achieved a seemingly impossible goal by changing the way it imagined the task. Discusses the sequence of steps in metaphor development that led to the triggering of a generative metaphor: a new image of the task that allowed reframing of the problem and its eventual solution. (SV)

Outward Bound Czech Republic offers a personal development program for international participants that goes beyond the physical outdoor activities traditionally associated with adventure education. Dramaturgy uses "scenarios" in course design, allowing instructors to integrate a range of social, physical, creative, and reflection…