1. Adventure Education

2. Definition – Adventure Ed.
Actively engaging participants in authentic experiences that have benefits and consequences; focused on intra and interpersonal development

3. Q&A What are some ‘synonyms’ for adventure education?
Project adventure, team challenge, cooperative activities
What are some examples of contrived adventure type activities?

4. Related to but not: Outward Bound (loosely)
Outdoor/Wilderness education
More about recreation and education in natural settings
Less about contrived activities and personal/group growth
May incorporate some elements of adventure education (challenge by choice and personal growth but it is different)
Examples: Orienteering, rock climbing, camping, kayaking, mountain biking, etc

5. Generalized History of AE
4H, YMCA, YWCA
Kurt Hahn (Germany, Gordonstoun-Scotland)
Outward Bound
NOLS
Project Adventure (make advantages of outward bound available to everyone)
More recent
AEE, ACCT, specializations

6. Adventure Education Values process of participation and promotes:
Cooperation (collaborative problem solving)
Challenge oneself (expand horizons/abilities)
Risk assessment
Trust in others
Problem solving
Self-esteem/confidence
Communication (speaking and listening)
Tolerance for differences
Exploring personal limitations

7. Adventure Education
Stretch Zone Experience

8. Teacher Roles Safety enforcer Rule enforcer Encourager
Teach spotting, mindful of safety ALWAYS
Rule enforcer
Keep students on task according to the rules
Encourager
Problem presenter, NOT SOLVER
Be patient, use subtle hints if necessary
Modify challenge if necessary
Tone setter
Create atmosphere of respect, enjoyment, trust; redirect negative or unacceptable behavior; “blind” or “mute” dominant people so other leaders might emerge.

9. Experiential Learning Cycle
Activity
Briefing
(frontloading)
Debriefing

10. Experiential Learning Cycle
STEPS – all are important
Explanation of the task (briefing)
Usually in the form of a story or scenario (sinking ship etc)
Experience or physical activity (activity)
Reflecting (debriefing)
Group discussion
Challenge students with questions to promote affective growth for group and individuals
Apply or transfer learning to real-life settings

11. Experiential Learning Cycle
Debriefing
Experience,
Reflect (what happened)
What does it mean
Now what (application)
Do’s and don’ts

12. Debriefing Types: Let experience speak for itself
Tell them what happened (well, improve, learned) – not recommended
Questions that guide participants to discoveries - most common
Subtype: Tie experience back to frontload emphasis
Self facilitation – journals, pose own Q’s, create poem

13. Debriefing
Observe the students during the challenge, take notes if necessary. Debriefing helps groups realize what is going on – the big picture. This includes the way the group was communicating, working out conflicts, how the group made decisions, and how individuals helped or hindered the group. By gaining insights to these things, the group will pull together.
From Cayuga Nature Center

14. Sample Debriefing Q’s How did you feel when…? What did you do when…?
What happened when…?
What did the group do when…?
Did everyone’s idea get heard?
Was there any one leader? Who?
Did everyone like the final solution?
What was the biggest highlight for you?
What was the biggest challenge?
What was the biggest disappointment?
Have you learned anything about yourself?

15. Sample Debriefing Q’s What effective communication were used?
How did your teammates enable you to succeed?
How did everyone work together?
What would you change if you could do it again?
What did we learn? What helped us to do that learning?
What worked well? Not so well? How could we improve our work together?
Did the conversation move us closer to our goals? How?
Did we actually focus on the students' work, or on other issues? (personal)
Did we follow the process as we planned? If not, why? How could we improve our process?
How might we build on this conversation?
On what issues were individuals willing to compromise?

16. Sample Debriefing Q’s
How did your team work as a group? Was there conflict in the decision making process?
How did the students discern important messages from less important communications? Were certain communications automatically given priority or ignored? How does this compare with the flow of information in the real world?
Who else had the same experience?
Who reacted differently?
What do you understand better about yourself/your group?
What might we draw/pull from this experience?
What does that suggest to you about [communication/conflict/etc.] in general?
How does this relate to other experiences you’ve had?
How could you apply/transfer that?
What might you do to help/hinder yourself?
How could you make it better?
What modifications can you make work for you?

17. Sample Debriefing Q’s Linked files: Additional questions 1

18. Full Value Contract Social contract Student ownership
Written or verbal
Actions toward others
Student ownership
Contracts are the guidelines
May want to have each student sign a contract prior to participating.
Example 1
Example 2

19. Challenge by Choice
Definition – participants may choose the level of learning that promotes optimal learning
Honor a student’s ability to decline so long as they don’t abuse the choice.
As an alternative to yes/no choice options, provide an appropriate range of options. For example, on the pamper pole, one student may choose to jump from top while another chooses to climb only 5 feet up
Respect choices
Stretching their potential
Example

20. Possible Activities
High Elements: Group or individual challenges in the air requiring a belay for safety (pamper pole, ships crossing)
Low Elements: Group or individual challenges that require spotting (nitro crossing, spider’s web…)
Field Initiatives: Group or individual challenges on the ground, not spotting required
Ropes courses are typically outside, project adventure typically takes place in a gymnasium

21. Levels of Difficulty Not all elements are made the same Beginning
Intermediate
Advanced
All aboard
Wild Woosey
Hickory Jump
The maze
Mohawk Walk
The Wall
Whale Watch
Porthold
Trust Fall
TP Shuffle
Spiderweb
Fidget Ladder
(Project Adventure Inc.)

22. Risk – Perceived v. Actual
General Perception of Risk
Actual Frequency of Injury
Actual Potential Severity of Injury
Warm-up games and activities
Low
Moderate
Low challenge course elements
Low to Moderate
High challenge course elements
High
Very Low
Moderate to High
(Adventure Program Management Training Manual, Project Adventure Inc., 2005)

23. Injury Rate Comparison
Activity
Injury Rate (per million hours of exposure)
Project Adventure challenge course activities
4.3
Backpacking
192
Downhill skiing
724
Competitive Orienteering
840
Basketball
2,650
Soccer
4,500
(20 Year Safety Study, Project Adventure Inc, 2005)

24. PE at Chenango Forks, NY Combination of Adventure and Outdoor Ed.
Indoor climbing wall in pool
Mountain biking at local state park
Kayaking/canoeing at local pond, state park, and pool
Ropes course and tower in woods alongside school
Lower grades completed extensive project adventure curriculum and various low elements prior to advanced components

25. Emphasis of Standards within Adventure Education
1. Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
Minor
2. Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
3. Participates regularly in physical activity.
4. Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
5. Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
Major
6. Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction.
Reference:  Moving into the Future: National Standards for Physical Education, 2nd ed. (2004), p. 11

26. Assessment Portfolio Rubrics Journals Others Group focus
Document progress
Positively independent
Select examples
Rubrics
Journals
Others

27. Websites

28. Sample Activities Sample activities 1 Sample activities 2
Common and popular
Sample activities 2
Over 200 activities
Dr. Cummiskey’s facilitator notebook
Team building bible

29. Knot Tying You Tube Videos
Figure 8 Knot
Figure 8 Loop
Figure 8 Follow Through (used for direct tie-ins)
Super 8/Double Figure 8
Butterfly Knot (aka Alpine Butterfly Knot)
Double Fisherman’s
Prussic knot
Overall website for all of the above knots if you prefer animated tutorials

30. Other Resources Sample program Websites: http://wilderdom.com/pa.htm

31. Competencies Checklist
Adventure programs want facilitators to have the proper training in order to promote participant success and minimize potential liability. This may involve mastering several competencies laid out in a checklist or self-assessment format
Example self assessment

32. Summary Innovative curricular strategy Student-centered
Meets NASPE standards

33. Activity Design your own project adventure activity. Must include:
Briefing (story)
4 possible debriefing Q’s
Relate to activity, not just generic Q’s from PPT