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…

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…

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…

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…

Significant increases in global self-esteem and the four subdomains of physical self-worth were measured in 66 males and 60 females with a mean age of 15.1 years who participated in a (British) Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme expedition, indicating that adventure education can be a vehicle for personal and social development. Contains 21…

A week-long residential program in the United Kingdom combines ritual with psychotherapy to assist men in coming to terms with the meaning of masculinity. The program recognizes no fixed notion of manhood, but aims to support each man as he finds within himself, and marks with ritual, the next step in his unique journey. (TD)

Participants at a British workshop on outdoor education and spiritual development concluded that outdoor programs provide special opportunities for developing spiritual awareness; maximizing relevance to everyday life is essential; and facilitators need good group-work skills. Participants also discussed contemplation versus excitement in outdoor…

Discusses the importance of rites of passage to traditional cultures, especially the vision quest of Native Americans. Suggests that the absence of such rites in materialistic cultures has led to a separation from nature, which underlies many modern problems. Describes Wendl-Berry's vision quest and a center that offers vision quests of various…

Describes the current situation of adventure education in Germany. Discusses sites in schools and youth clubs, important carriers of adventure education in Germany, popular methods and activities, the concept of "metaphorical learning" as a means of transferring learning to everyday life, publications, principles of experiential…

Third Wave is a Christian charity based in Derby (England) that offers training in vocational skills, preindustrial crafts, horticultural and agricultural skills, environmental education, and woodland survival skills to disadvantaged people at city and farm locations. Third Wave employs a holistic approach to personal development in a community…

Walk and Talk Experiences combine challenging outdoor experiences, group living, and opportunities for reflection and discussion to promote self-exploration and personal development. The British program has served various client groups, such as adolescents and people with disabilities or special needs. Activities on several weekends are described.…

A 5-day school-based experiential personal development course was evaluated via pre- and post-program pupil self-assessment questionnaires administered at three comprehensive schools in northern England. Behavior changes were modest, except in confidence, where students at one school showed substantial improvement. Results were used to make course…

The recently revised national curriculum for England and Wales includes changes that emphasize the importance of personal, social, and environmental education; citizenship and learning across the curriculum; and education for sustainable development. Outdoor education can make significant contributions to areas of the curriculum that address…

A study examining the effect of outdoor adventure experience on student self-concept surveyed 30 British secondary students in a 5-day residential outdoor course and a control group of 30 students. Self-concept scores of the experimental group rose during the course and 3 months later, while the control group showed no significant change. (TD)