In this paper I argue that every learning situation may be based on an implicitly religious essence. It may be visible in experiential education, which utilizes challenge, adventure, and other unsafe situations intentionally and purposely. According to Rudolf Otto, the sacred as well as religion is characterized by awe and trembling…

Outdoor adventure activities are increasingly popular among older adults. We conducted a scoping review to examine trends in the scholarly literature on this topic. Several interdisciplinary databases were searched, and studies were independently screened for eligibility during two rounds of review (title and abstract, and full text). Our review…

Nature-based adventure (NBA) interventions can be broadly understood as any intervention of adventure occurring in a natural setting not necessarily involving a licensed mental health professional. Evidence suggests that some NBA interventions improve people's health. Although encouraging, the strength of this evidence is often impaired by the…

Group status hierarchies can affect individuals' experiences (e.g., sense of belonging) and the group's outcomes (e.g., cohesion) in group-based outdoor adventure education programs. The study aimed to explore how specific interpersonal status processes, which we also call the "relational status game," within an expedition group, affect…

Background: Scholarship has demonstrated the influence of hegemonic masculine norms on values and practices in outdoor adventure education. However, recent publications indicate that men outdoor leaders may be increasingly aware of gender biases and consequently changing their practice. To date, few publications have considered men outdoor…

This paper presents an ethnography study that explores the formulation of interculturality from the unique experiences of sail trainees who were bound by space and time during a sailing voyage across the North Sea. The author immersed herself as a mentor-researcher into a 107-year-old tall ship's expedition, sailing across 1000 nautical miles.…

Thru-hiking, when an individual hikes the entire distance of an extended trail, is a growing pastime for adventure enthusiasts. Resilience, mental toughness, and motivation are facilitators for completion of ultra-endurance activities; however, there is little research on these constructs in thru-hikers. The current study examined experiences of…

Although sensuous and embodied engagement is an integral part of child--environment relationalities, the intersections of aesthetics, children and environments remain scarcely addressed. As a response, this study develops a concept of 'aesthetic flux' to delve into the sensuous dynamics of matter and bodies in the context of a storying workshop in…

Background: Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) predominantly centers learning around individual goal setting and experiences and has not traditionally elevated Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Purpose: This research focuses on understanding how student learning and inquiry is affected through OAE that emphasizes the importance of IKS as a…

Background: Current research in outdoor adventure education advocates for deeper attention to place and the role that place and the more-than-human world play in pedagogical processes. However, historical and socio-cultural analysis of the roots of OAE reveals an educational approach that encourages adversarial human-nature relations toward the…

This research note argues the outdoor adventure profession needs census research studies. Although conceptually simple, a census is a laborious process needing methodological guidance. This paper provides suggestions for conducting a census. Four previous outdoor adventure census projects are referenced. These, along with the U.S. Census, are used…

The clinical integration of adventure within counseling and other therapeutic environments is well researched (Delaney, 2020; Gass et al., 2021; Schoel & Maizell, 1988). Similarly, the use of adventure education has demonstrated active exploration of course content, intrapersonal awareness, and interpersonal experiences (Christian et al.,…

Background: The use or non-use of mobile technologies and social media in residential outdoor adventurous education (OAE) remains contested and generates an often-cited for-and-against argument in both theory and practice. Purpose: This qualitative study explored instructor perceptions of mobile technologies and social media in their practice as…

Over the past several decades outdoor adventure recreation programs (OARPs) have seen an increase in popularity on university campuses across the country. This study used the Leisure Motivation Scale (LMS) developed, to measure motives for participation; that is, the study investigated college students' motivations to participate in OARPs.…

Challenge, adventure, and risk in outdoor adventurous education (OAE) have long been recognised as foundational components in the framing of valuable and transformational experiences for participants. Whilst the literature has identified the benefits of these types of learning experiences, what has remained largely absent is an interrogation of…