This paper presents an overview of the need for theory in the field of adventure therapy. It also outlines one way of conceptualizing theories of human change as they relate to adventure therapy. The field of adventure therapy is young and has not had time to develop a coherent theoretical base. In order to contribute to the development of a…

Drawing on the experience of a 21-year mentoring relationship between two rural school administrators, this paper describes 11 components of an effective working mentorship. These elements are: establishing the relationship, the communications process, setting goals, determining skills, time commitment, broadening the protege's horizons,…

Minnesota high school students and teachers are learning the technology of simulation and integrating it into business and industrial technology courses. Modeling and simulation is the science of using software to construct a system within an organization and then running simulations of proposed changes to assess results before funds are spent. In…

This paper describes W.A.S.H. (We All Speak Here), an experiential learning strategy that provides learners (individuals or groups) with a means for exploring, discussing, and discovering their thoughts and feelings on any idea, issue, or concept. This strategy is part of a larger model in which students develop a deeper understanding of learning…

The need for new approaches, methods, and techniques in cross-cultural training and intercultural education is paramount. This collection of more than 30 exercises and activities aims to help begin a regular flow of materials into the stream of resources available to professionals in the intercultural field. The emphasis in the collection's first…

This paper describes a study designed to explore the learning environments of doctoral and master's degree counselor education programs. Counselor educators (N=8) from four states were interviewed; four Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) programs were represented. The focus of counselor education at…

This digest examines the positive effects on emotional well-being of several types of outdoor education programs. Although many outdoor education and experiential programs enhance emotional growth, such "therapeutic" outcomes may be considered incidental to program goals. In contrast, programs aimed primarily at "therapy"…

This digest examines the value of outdoor experience for young children, reasons for its decline, ways to enhance school play spaces, and aspects of developmentally appropriate outdoor environments. Young children appear to benefit from being outdoors and especially need the broad experiential base provided by being outdoors. The richness and…

An outdoor education leader's job is quite complex--the planning, logistics, preparation, teaching, watching, being aware of safety can be overwhelming. Pulling it all together so that participants can express what they learned from the experience is sometimes overlooked. The reflective process is integral to the success of learning, yet it takes…

In this paper, multiple authors present research findings on the components and outcomes of an outdoor education trip involving college students, responses to the findings, and recommendations for a research agenda. The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program at Indiana University provides classroom and outdoor experiential…

Outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) is an emerging mental health intervention/treatment to help adolescents overcome emotional, psychological, and addiction problems. Currently, over 100 OBH programs in the United States use elements of wilderness therapy to address adolescents' problem behaviors and foster responsibility and personal growth.…

The fourfold purpose of this study was to determine if student attitudes toward community service, student attitudes toward civic involvement, student attitudes about life skills, and student attitudes toward civic engagement and service learning differed based on enrollment in a course with a service learning component or enrollment in a course…

Paul Petzoldt, an early pioneer in outdoor education, saw the need for trained outdoor leaders. This paper presents material from unpublished papers retrieved after his death that clarify and expand on his philosophy of leadership development. Key ideas such as: judgment, 20-20 vision, and use of wilderness expeditions, are expanded upon and…

A 4-year longitudinal study of English 15-19 year-olds' learning experiences was used as the basis for the development of a theoretical model describing and analyzing young people and their learning in a modern world. Although much contemporary policy assumes that learning is regulated by teaching and standards monitoring, that learning…

Defining moments are situations that ask us to step forward in irreversible courses of action that shape our personal or professional identities. These moments of truth happen quickly and reveal something new about ourselves that had been hidden or only partially known. In a process known as "edgework," experiential educators and…