Denise Mitten

Prescott College · Sustainability Education & Adventure Education

Background A universal adjustment to pandemic restrictions for the colleges and university outdoor programs we interviewed was limiting travel. This forced outdoor programs to modify their offerings. Some chose to use closer outdoor venues. Purpose This investigation sought to understand if college outdoor leaders believed they achieved or could a...

Using a descriptive, exploratory study of recent developments in outdoor adventure education (OAE) fields in India, the authors report on the significant contributions of Indian OAE practitioners in promoting healthy human-nature relationships. Semi-structured interviews with Indian OAE practitioners revealed an underlying interconnectedness betwee...

Practitioners encourage participants to examine and perhaps change or create new stories. Like participants, practitioners ought to examine their stories about their practice to discern if they are accurate or relevant for participants. This paper explores program components through the lens of pace. Main areas discussed are how pace impacts a) rel...

Language about nature helps shape how people think about and relate to nature. Language can encourage or discourage healthy relationships with the more-than-human worlds (another way to refer to nature or natural environments). Much of the common language used to describe natural environments and humans' relationships to them in Western countries a...

This brief article summarizes five trends and issues discussed during a moderated panel and round table discussion at the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER) in November 2023. The aim of this session was to expand on prior documented trends and disseminate current experiential and outdoor...

Attarian, 2001; Bobilya et al., 2010; Roberts, 2021) and disseminate current experiential and outdoor education (EOE) trends, issues and related research. These are only a few of the many EOE trends and issues but they represent both meta trends/issues such as cultural representation in the outdoors and program specific trends like whether or not t...

This paper explores the extent that cultural risks impact led outdoor activity (LOA) programs. The Networked Hazard Analysis Management System (NET-HARMS) was adapted to consider cultural factors in risk prediction. An expert analysis was conducted and validated by seven subject matter experts using signal detection paradigm and Matthews correlatio...

This research project explores the terminology used in fields related to outdoor education, including outdoor therapies. Through literature review and ongoing brainstorming, the project identified nearly 50 terms used to describe these fields. These terms range from broad concepts like "outdoor education" and "adventure education" to more specific...

This study explores the influence of childhood and adolescent experiences with nature on the pro-environmental behavior and career choices of Indian Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) practitioners. 25 practitioners were interviewed, revealing three key factors shaping their connection to nature: time spent in outdoors, positive role models, and par...

This research, through a descriptive and exploratory methodology, traces developments and challenges that exist in safety and risk management in the Indian outdoor adventure sector. India has experienced rapid growth in outdoor adventure fields in the last three decades, with local, national, and international organizations offering a range of outd...

Delegates from 22 countries and four continents assembled in Ireland during September 2019, for the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning (EOE Network) conference which was themed on the celebration of diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. Conference delegates were invited to have their presentations consid...

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) now known as COVID-19 changed the world and the outdoor adventure and experiential education (OAEE) fields were not immune. These changes significantly impacted various OAEE programs in multiple ways and at different levels of intensity. Purpose: The purpose of this study...

This paper reviews the literature to identify strategies to recognize cultural factors’ influence on risk and safety in led outdoor activity (LOA) programs. Review of the LOA literature indicates outdoor adventure programming’s underlying constructs were developed under the Western cultural paradigm (Chang et al., 2016; Warren et al., 2014). For ex...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

This book contains 8 chapters that discuss and explore these positive outcomes by delving into how humans perceive and respond to the natural world. It also looks at the different stages of human development and how societal perspectives regarding natural landscapes have changed over time. These perspectives influence our responses to current issue...

Embedding a gender-aware and social-responsive culture is one of the many challenges which confronts the outdoor profession. Creative methodologies and feminist research has the potential to unlock new insights and knowledges about outdoor embodiment and embolden change. This paper offers a fresh research approach to interrogate the lived experienc...

Within the field of adventure/wilderness education, there is significant discussion around implications of diversity, equity, and inclusion work on risk and safety. This paper identifies cultural risks by applying systems thinking, which is arguably now the dominant approach in safety science. Specifically, in this article, we describe an adaptatio...

This is an unusual article in that it brings together the perspectives of many on this journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and...

This is an unusual article in that it brings together the perspectives of many on this journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and...

The twofold purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate various moderators that might influence the effect of participation in an outdoor orientation program on first-year college students’ relationships with the natural world and to examine the potential influence of instructors on participants’ biophilic expression. The theory of biophil...

Happy to announce the publication of the special edition for the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership: A Critical Exploration of Girls’ and Women’s Experiences in Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership.

While gender equity appears to be moving at glacial speed in contemporary societal debate, many argue advancement toward equitable outdoor leadership has been stymied. Hearing and responding to lived experiences and stories can be an impetus for transformational change. The experiences of all genders, as well as nonbinary and agender people, attest...

Background: Critical examination by adventure educators in North American colleges and universities reveals that students receive messages about the nature of adventure education through both the intentional and hidden curriculum. Purpose: The study was designed to discover adventure education’s hidden curriculum and its potential effect on women i...

This introductory chapter outlines the initial impetus for the Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning, along with our quest to be proactive in pursuit of social change and equity. The authors recount a personal and historical perspective about the cultural and structural identity of women in outdoor learning, providing a snap...

The author provides background about women’s outdoor trips using examples of early women’s expeditions, research, and observation. She describes differences in the aims of men and women as they designed boys’ and girls’ camps, respectively, from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. The author explains how women’s trips designed by women are often d...

The authors explore women’s representation in adventure education (AE) literature positing the question: what messages about women are manifest in the scholarly literature and during the publishing process in AE? Data were gathered using a feminist content analysis of five commonly used texts and through citation indices created for the Journal of...

Christy’s story highlights the draw that many women feel toward the outdoors, many times starting as a kid playing outdoors. She traces her path in what she physically did as well as some of the ways that being in outdoor environments and being in them with women affected her. A bit of the behind-the-scenes of Woodswomen is explained after Christy’...

Many of the leadership practices frequently employed by women have greatly influenced mainstream outdoor learning environments (OLEs) and have been adopted as common practice. In general, women’s influence in the field of adventure programming and OLEs has brought greater congruency between ethical conduct towards participants and leaders of all ge...

In this book inspiring women from around the globe share their outdoor leadership journeys. This chapter seeks to provide support and encouragement for women in outdoor learning environments (OLEs) while at the same time, being realistic about the prejudice and glass ceilings women still face. More information about lesser-known women influencing O...

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of participation in an outdoor orientation program on first-year college students’ relationships with the natural world. The theory of biophilia was used as a lens through which to understand human-nature relationships. Eighty-five first-year college students on a 21-day outdoor orientation progra...

This Handbook serves as a starting point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in outdoor learning environments (OLEs). Women choose to participate actively in outdoors careers, many believing the profession is a level playing field and that it offers alternatives to traditional sporting activities. They enter outdoor learni...

A growing trend in environmental research is the quantification of the human-nature relationship. This review of human-nature psychometric instruments should be used as a reference for individuals seeking to incorporate these tools into their outdoor and environmental education research. Extensive literature review and autoethnographic techniques w...

A mail survey employing 4 connection to nature indicators—Connectedness to Nature, Nature Relatedness, Inclusion of Nature in Self, and Environmental Motives—determined that conservation gardeners exhibit a strong multi-faceted connection to nature. The results demonstrated that individuals have an emotional connection to nature, are pro-environmen...

Women leaders in outdoor environmental education (OEE) have begun to discuss the invisibility cloak that seems to envelope us. Women comprise approximately half the OEE professionals; however, women still face gender bias resulting in challenges of recognition and access to the upper echelons of the profession. Data show that implicit prejudice and...

This chapter examines the benefits of adventure education and of pairing adventure and environmental education in urban environments. By participating in outdoor activities, people learn about their surroundings and places they might not otherwise visit. These group experiences enhance social ties and may promote pro-environmental behaviors, which...

In developed countries many people spend little time in direct contact with the more-than-human world and react with pervasive fear and mistrust of ‘nature’. This chapter explores repairing our relationships with the more-than-human world and enabling us to positively engage with the more-than-human world as we face complex and challenging decision...

The human-nature relationship can be quantified using connection to nature indicators. A mail survey of conservation gardeners (n = 180) provided insight into four such indicators (Connectedness to Nature Scale, Nature Relatedness Scale, Environmental Motives Scale, and Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale). The indicators selected allowed for the eva...

Adventure Education: Theory and Applications allows students to - get a broad view of adventure education and programming; - explore the role of games, low- and high-element courses, and outdoor pursuits in adventure education; - use key concepts, student activities, and Web-based research to enhance the learning process; - employ real-world exampl...

Research has connected sedentary lifestyles with numerous negative health outcomes, including a significant increased risk for mortality. Many health care professionals seek ways to help clients meet physical activity guidelines recommended by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the World Health Organization, and the American Col...

Investigations surrounding wilderness visitors came about through a desire to understand humans choosing to explore and experience the wilderness and addressed: What are visitors experiencing? How is the natural environment influencing the quality of the experience? What are the concerns for visitors, the environment, and how can managers and park...

Background/Question/Methods The Journal of Sustainability Education (JSE), started as a class project, is entering its third year of applying ecological and ecosystem knowledge twinned with a commitment to social justice to further the field of sustainability education. The JSE journal grew out of a doctoral mentored course of study within a sust...

Experiential education is a holistic philosophy of education that grounds many peo-ple's pedagogy. Similar to aspen trees, the roots of experiential education spread wide. In Sourcebook of Experiential Education: Key Thinkers and Their Contributions, Tom Smith and Cliff Knapp add to our understanding by following a far-spread and ancient root syste...

Background/Question/Methods Academic Service Learning (ASL) engages students in meaningful projects with community partners. In this example, FSU professors both volunteer at the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) and use it as a place to engage students in projects. MRWA has been an ideal partner for a number of Ferris State University (FSU...

Background/Question/Methods Ferris State University is one of eight institutions participating in the Political Engagement Project (PEP) sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and The New York Times. The project strives to create a civically engaged campus through classroom initiatives ac...

While the overall aim of this project was to conduct a pilot study to help the researchers better understand connections between short-term outdoor adventure experiences and body image in women over forty, a secondary aim was to test methods for gaining this information. In particular, ways to make valid control group comparisons were explored. Con...

One of the rewarding aspects about guiding an outdoor trip or being part of an outdoor trip is having a great group experience. Some groups seem to be easy to work with and everything flows well; other groups never seem to get off the ground and the trip is a disappointment. Sometimes it seems magical when everything goes smoothly. In a well-functi...

Risk is a cornerstone of most adventure programs. Perceived risk is often used as a central variable in attempts to promote participant growth (Berman & Berman, 2002). Often the actual activity is fairly safe; the facilitators keep the perceived risk high in order to have participants learn to take risks. Teaching about risk often can be more sophi...

According to some, three functions of leadership are essential to the welfare of group members. These are the responsible leader, the effective leader, and the psychological leader. Except for the responsible leader (we will talk about co-leaders during the course) these are functions of leadership that are not necessarily tied to a single person....

During this lesson students learn the importance of role clarification and shared leadership. Understanding how to share leadership roles and which roles can be shared with participants is an important leadership skill. A trip is safer and the successes and failures of the experience more readily accessible to the participants if they feel control...

In the international context, the meaning of terms such as adventure therapy, therapeutic adventure, wilderness therapy, bush adventure therapy, and the various other related terms still form a major part of the discussion of international gatherings. This is the fourth text to come out from the International Adventure Therapy Conference (IATC). In...

In the early days of the Association for Experiential Education, it was often noted that experiential education was experience rich but theory poor. In 1985, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) published the first edition of this book to help rectify the dilemma. We are pleased to introduce the 4th edition of the original text, which h...

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Minnesota, 2003. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-132).

This is a short article based on transactional analysis: According to some, three functions of leadership are essential to the welfare of group members. These are the responsible leader, the effective leader, and the psychological leader. Except for the responsible leader these are functions of leadership that are not necessarily tied to a single p...

The Nature and Meaning of Adventure Therapy in the International Context Dr. Christian M. Itin, MSW Humboldt State University Dr. Denise Mitten Ferris State University In the international context, the meaning of terms such as adventure therapy, therapeutic adventure, wilderness therapy, bush adventure therapy, and the various other related terms s...

In a well-functioning group, individuals contribute to group decisions, complete individual and group tasks, and demonstrate trust and respect for each other. As groups form and developed, individual processes are completed and group processes are also completed. Giving no direction, groups may not develop through desired stages and may not functio...

In a well-functioning group, individuals contribute to group decisions, complete individual and group tasks, and demonstrate trust and respect for each other. As groups form and developed, individual processes are completed and group processes are also completed. Giving no direction, groups may not develop through desired stages and may not functio...

Adventure therapy often is used as a complementary healthcare modality for people wanting growth and development in behavioral aspects. This paper defines and describes complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and examines both the support for CAM and some constraints to the acceptance by some healthcare professionals of CAM. It outlines how ad...

As interest in CAM continues to increase, schools of medicine, nursing, and other health professional training programs are being encouraged to integrate content on CAM into curricula. To assess the attitudes of faculty and staff toward CAM in medicine, nursing, and pharmacy within an academic health center. A survey was used to obtain data on gene...

In the last few decades, intentional communities have blossomed. More people want to live in community, not just for economic need but also for the nurturing and caring relationships that can come from living in community. Similarly, a goal of many outdoor and adventure education programs, now, is for participants to have group experiences that inc...

The Wilderness Experiences for Women Offenders Program was designed to help women participants learn new skills and ways of being that would help them stay out of jail.

Survey of 274 women who completed an all-women outdoor adventure program examined motivations to participate in such a program; expectations, feelings, and perceptions about the program; and the outcomes and effects of the program on their lives. The average respondent was 42 and had at least a four-year college degree. Contains 20 references. (SV)

Women traveling in the outdoors has been seen as an anomaly, different, and even wrong. Negative attitudes have been reported about women traveling together in the outdoors as well as their physicality (Blinde & Taub, 1992; Lenskyj, 1987; McClintock, 1996). Conversely, the tradition of men going off into the woods to hunt, fish, and express male bo...

This paper reviews the research literature published between 1992 and 1995 on group development and group dynamics in outdoor education and closely allied disciplines. The research is categorized in six general dimensions: (1) how the personal characteristics, skills, and experience that individuals bring to the group influences group dynamics and...

To many outdoor leaders and educators, the wilderness represents home. Many leaders feel comfortable there, connected to the earth, themselves, and others. Many people choose this profession in order to share these feelings with participants. Outdoor leaders want to help others receive the gifts of the wilderness and experience the joys of "coming...

Group leaders who offer affirmations to participants in outdoor education encourage healthy relationships and group cohesion and increase individuals' self-esteem. Personal affirming includes actions and statements that make participants feel comfortable in their environment, support capable work, and encourage behavior change in a supportive and c...

The author addresses two major questions: (1) What ethical dilemmas exist in providing adventure therapy for women as it is commonly practiced? and, (2) Given what we know, how can adventure therapy be of the most therapeutic value to women? Research regarding the effectiveness of adventure therapy is mixed and inconclusive. A competing hypothesis...

Emphasizes the importance of leader awareness of the discomfort and need for emotional safety that may surface for women survivors of sexual abuse during an outdoor experience. Discusses survivor's self-perception and how this affects the outdoor experience; the impact of natural elements on survivors; and how to help survivors develop coping strat...

Over the past 15 years I have heard directly from women and girls about life changes and positive experiences they have attributed to their participation in outdoor trips, particularly all-female trips. They have expressed personal benefits regarding empowerment and self-esteem.

Much of the practical and scholarly attention in outdoor education has focused on the individual and personal growth dimensions of outdoor education processes and experiences. Outdoor education, however, is usually not a solitary process. It happens in the context of a course, a trip, an outing, a lesson, a group. Practitioners in the field know th...

Examines effective leadership strategies for promoting positive group experiences on outdoor trips by recognizing diversity and people's fears about diversity and by encouraging participants to express their perspectives and wants. Presents examples from Woodswomen, an adventure program that offers wilderness trips for women. (SV)

We have found that by practicing stress management while participating in risky or stressful activities that the positive benefits of challenges are enhanced and the negative impacts of stress minimized.

Outlines 10 principles of leadership and program design derived from the philosophy of Woodswomen, Incorporated, an adventure program for women of all ages. Elaborates on the principles of developing an atmosphere of security and safety, encouraging individuals to set their own goals and agendas, and avoiding a success/failure approach to challenge...

We also examined pages 7-12 of the Lee-Thomas (2008)1 paper in considerable depth. We noted the differences between the two staging systems. We noted the differences in the author's earlier and later responses to audience questions, and considered the implications that each has for conveyance of information and for encouraging enlightenment and gro...