Where has the Adventure Gone?

1. Where has the Adventure Gone? Bringing Risk Back into the Outdoors ORIC Conference, Sydney, October 11-12, 2003 James NeillCenter for Applied Psychology,University of Canberra

2. Objectives • Argue for positive perceptions of “risk” • Look at how adventure education can provide “risk education”

3. Riskhas become a hot topic…

4. Risk has become a science, a philosophy, an ethical issue, an art form, and a commodity. David Blaine, fasting 44 days in a plastic box above the Thames, Sept. 2003

5. We have been “dealing with risk” since the beginning of time…

6. …only the lucky survived… Yet, we have been “dealing with risk” since the beginning of time…

7. Two Basic Views of RiskNegative & Positive

8. Philosophy of R- and R+ R- philosophy“risk aversity”e.g., insurance, law R+ philosophy“risk engagement”e.g., exploration, sport

9. “…One crowded hour of glorious lifeIs worth an age without a name."Thomas Mordant, 18th century R+ R- ?

10. Adventure Education:A Double-Edged Sword R- Kurt Hahn observed that Outward Bound was a double-edged sword – it cut and it healed R+  “moral equivalent of war”

11. “Virtually all Outdoor and Adventure Education programs embrace the value of risk as a means of education and self-discovery.“ [R+]- Adventure Risk Management

12. Adventure education structures learning about R+ and R-

13. Healthy societies create formative risk-based educational experiences. e.g., indigenousRites of Passage

14. “…without adventure civilisation is in full decay”- Alfred Whitehead

15. UnhealthySociety Healthy Society Risk Education Risk Mis-Education e.g., • drug abuse • self-harm / suicide e.g., • rites of passage • adventure education

16. Unhealthy societies… Over-controlRisks Under-controlRisks

17. Example of Risk Education

18. Example of Risk Education R- e.g., safe sex class GOAL: avoid negative consequences R+ e.g., Karma Sutra workshop GOAL: obtain positive consequences

19. UnhealthySociety Healthy Society Risk Education Risk Mis-Education Management of R-  or bias R- Management of R+ Balanced Unbalanced  or bias R+

20. The Risk Pendulum (Zeitgeist) • The Zeitgeist has swung the risk pendulum in society towards “Risk Aversity” in recent decades 2000’s? 1960’s R+ RISKEMBRACING R- RISKAVERSE 1990’s 1970’s 1980’s

24. Playing Outside is Under Threat Recent British research has found that children are increasingly playing indoors. • Adult intolerance forcing children to be mini-adults • Increased fear of child molestation • Decline of extended family, increase in single parents • Perceived inaccessibility of outdoor places in urban society

25. The Risk of Becoming Too Safe? “Willi Unsoeld was once asked by a fearful mother if he could guarantee her son's safety; no, he told her. But by sheltering her son from risk, he added, she would guarantee the death of his soul.” (Rick Pender)

26. The Risk of Becoming Too Wild? R+ = admired McCandless immensely for his courage and noble ideals R-= that McCandless was a reckless idiot, a narcissist who perished out of arrogance and stupidity

27. Evolution of “Safety Practices” • Increased popularity of activity • Industry self-regulates • No litigation • Legal restrictions • Professional standards • Litigation a common concern • Difficult to operate • Standards required • Lawsuits common • Increased accidents • Early standards • 1st litigations (Priest, 1999)

28. Future Evolution of Outdoor Education? A paradigm shift can stimulate new growth The point is to react creatively before its too late (Arne Stjernholm Madsen 2001)

29. Positive & Negative Risks in Outdoor Education P (PhysicalLoss) = ~everyday life P (PsychologicalLoss) = ~20% “no change” = 15% P (PhysicalGain) = ~99%? P (PsychologicalGain) = ~65%

30. PsychologicalEffects of Adventure Education 15% nochange 65% positivechange Hattie et al1997 20% negative change No change

31. As an Industry, Let’s Get Positive about Risk

32. "The latitude for innovation has never been broader- if only our minds can stretch to it."- Gary Hamel

33. Simple Outdoor Education • A backpack, a bit of food, and a plan • Students can conduct their own expeditions • Simple gear • Solo

34. Participants can Learn to Manage Risks

35. Use Holistic Range of Challenges Time

36. Risk +Support=Growth

37. Use the Spectrum of Choice

38. Incorporate“Risk Education” intoOutdoor Education

39. Research Healthy Risk Taking • I am good at deciding whether a risk is worth taking. • I avoid actions which risk my health and well-being. • I think carefully about the consequences of my risky actions. • I balance my risk-taking behaviors -- I am not too risky or too cautious. • I make effective use of risk-taking in my life.

40. Research Healthy Risk Taking

41. Conclusions Risk management can be reinvigorated by seeing: • risk as an opportunity (R+)- risk as a TOOL • risk education as aGOAL

42. R+ R- Adventure educators need to guide society with regard to fear, risk and safety.

43. Ideas will be collated online for ways to increase R+ in outdoor education, i.e., positive experiences of risk. • Emailjames@wilderdom.com Copy of materials:www.wilderdom.com/Risk.html