Many people believe in the value of outdoor experiential education opportunities such as organized camps for youth, but few instruments have been developed to measure the central youth development outcomes of camp. The purpose of this paper is to present the psychometric properties including the internal consistency and validity of scales designed…

In a speech at the Symposium for Experiential Education Research 2003, Henderson discusses the importance of theory in building a body of knowledge. She says that to use information to create a body of knowledge, researchers must continue to develop and apply theory, and to address the emerging opportunities for evidence-based research and…

Religion and spirituality influence people's lives and behavior. Eight major religions are briefly explained so that experiential educators can examine what they mean and draw implications for addressing spirituality in educational programs. Excerpts from new federal guidelines about religion and schools are presented to consider from a global…

Suggests that experiential educators must be concerned about the intersection of human and environmental factors, and that ecofeminism provides a framework for examining this intersection. Defines ecofeminism and discusses its benefits and shortcomings as a foundation for social, educational, and environmental philosophy and practice. Contains 16…

A total of 24 self-identified women of color took part in focus groups and interviews concerned with attitudes toward the outdoors and involvement in outdoor activities. Analysis focuses on social support for participation, family influence, peer influence, role models, perceived isolation, sociocultural influences, discomfort and fear, personal…

Shows how qualitative evaluation may be used to analyze outcomes and describe elements of an outdoor experience that made it valuable to women participants. Reports 22 participants in 5-day Womens' Week Program sponsored by Madison (Wisconsin) Girl Scout Council met needs for self-understanding, personal growth, and recreation. (NEC)

Explores the complementary contributions to experiential education research that are offered by an interpretive approach using qualitative methods and a positivist approach using quantitative methods. Discusses the utility of the interpretive approach in examining the multiple realities that influence human behavior. (SV)