The processes behind many adventure education programs remain poorly documented, and how development is fostered through adventure is not well understood. While a number of theory-based articles do exist, little empirical research has been available to influence experiential education program design. This study explores the roles that participant…

Many forms of adventure therapy, in particular wilderness therapy, rely on challenges in the outdoors to achieve objectives of client change. While nature is drawn on as a medium for therapy and healing, some adventure therapists give nature little if any mention when it comes to explaining therapeutic success. The dominant paradigm in psychology…

Two current movements of experiential learning receiving attention in mainstream educational reform are service-learning and outdoor education/adventure programming. Although sharing common philosophical roots, these movements have branched out into a variety of different applications and approaches. With increasing pressures on educational reform…

Research on service-learning programs has detailed the benefits of service-learning for White, English-only, college preparatory students. However, rarely has research focused on the impacts of service-learning on Hispanic, second language learners. In part, this is due to the low participation rate of these students in service-learning programs.…

The literature on facilitation describes the skills, methods, models and theories of facilitation but gives less coverage to the assumptions and philosophies that underpin the processes by which facilitators develop. This paper reviews the literature on facilitation and provides a typology, which classifies the different approaches to facilitator…

Experiential educators claim to value student-centered learning, yet the values, as evidenced in practice, are often teacher-centered. The purpose of this article was to increase awareness of the inconsistencies between espoused values, and values in practice, effecting teacher and student power relationships during the facilitation of…

The facilitation of experiences through group discussion is well documented in adventure education literature. Using an ethnomethodological approach this article draws attention to how the leader in these facilitation sessions structures the discussions. It is argued that the current practice of facilitation based on verbal discussions conducted…

Hierarchical linear modeling (HIM) is an approach used in data analysis to better understand how program outcomes are affected by the "nested" nature of data collected in many studies. An outcome can be considered variables such as an individual's self-efficacy, social skills, or more targeted outcomes such as demonstrated reading and mathematical…

Human service interns completing their four-year Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Tennessee participated in this study which focused on investigating student internship experiences from the perspective of three different internship stage models. the three models studied include those of Infester and Boss (1998), Sweitzer and King…

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to empirically evaluate the effects of a 21-day wilderness therapy program (WT) on the defense styles, perceived psychosocial stressors (expressed concerns), dysfunctional personality patterns, clinical syndromes, and maladaptive behaviors of 109 troubled adolescents, as measured by the Defense Style…

Findings from meta-analyses of outdoor education, psychotherapy, and educational innovations are presented to help determine the relative efficacy of adventure therapy programs. While adventure therapy effects are stronger than those of outdoor education, they are not nearly as strong as those of individual psychotherapy. Benchmarks are derived…

A national survey of outdoor behavioral healthcare programs that annually serve over 10,000 clients and their families found that over 80 percent of programs were licensed by state agencies. Private placements outnumbered adjudicated programs by nearly five to one, and less than 25 percent of client treatment costs were covered by insurance…

A study examined the effectiveness of the experiential component of a first-year college environmental course concerning water pollution in Toms River, New Jersey. A survey of 542 students who took the course with or without the river project found that the experiential component improved student interest, stimulated critical thinking, and…

A passage is quoted in which the meaning of one's life is the reflecting of light (truth, wisdom) into the dark places of others' hearts and minds. Personal anecdotes illustrate that outdoor leaders and teachers can be reflectors to their students or clients or, conversely, can receive reflections from them. A message from the Hopi elders reminds…

Experiential learning is not linear, but is a cyclical interaction with clients. Engage clients by making them feel needed. Focus on what works for them instead of what does not. Help them develop the capacity to author their own beliefs and values. Most importantly, be guided by compassion for others. (Contains 32 references.) (TD)