According to participants at Northern Illinois' Spring Colloquium on Adventure Education, adventure programs can spark enthusiasm, inspire vision, and bring to the level of consciousness the underlying questions of life and meaning. Such programs can prepare people to seek adventure safely and without damage to the environment and can be defined broadly enough to incorporate programs and experiences that lack physical risk. These three basic philosophies were considered of equal value by participants who responded to a questionnaire dealing with the philosophy, values and goals of Adventure Education and the value of the colloquium itself. Respondents felt that experiences of the nature presented at the colloquium belong in the public schools. Participants were asked to indicate the extent to which they felt prepared to take part in or lead adventure experiences. Those who felt well prepared considered adventure experiences as unique opportunities to develop one's potential and worth. They also felt the colloquium was well done and actually provided an opportunity to develop leadership skills. Those who did not feel well prepared tended to feel that the colloquium fell short of their expectations. Overall, however, participants indicated that the concerns of risk, liability and insurance were well covered and that the program provided an adequate rationale for adventure programs and enough actual outdoor experiences. (DS)