The benefits of being outdoors in a leisure context are widely acknowledged across a range of disciplinary perspectives (including tourism, therapeutics, education and recreation). These benefits include the development of: health and wellbeing; social skills; leadership and facilitation skills; personal, emotional and reflective abilities; confidence and identity creation. Drawing on a variety of perspectives, geographies and approaches, this book explores the opportunities that leisure in the outdoors provides for learning, developing and challenging. The authors in this collection challenge dominant discourses of outdoor leisure through their selection of outdoor activities, theoretical approaches and modes of representation. All offer fresh insights and thinking into how leisure in the outdoors can be understood. The book covers a range of outdoor conceptualisations that challenge the reader to think deeply and broadly about the common threads which bind the broad field of outdoor leisure together. The experiences explored in this book range from suburban outdoors to wild places, surfing to mindful reflection, and trail walking to Nordic skiing, and encompass a broad spectrum of people.

Outdoor Adventure Education: Foundations, Theories, Models, and Research steeps students in the theories, concepts, and developments of outdoor adventure education, preparing them for careers in this burgeoning field. This text is based on author Alan W. Ewert’s pioneering book Outdoor Adventure Pursuits: Foundations, Models, and Theories. Ewert and Sibthorp, both experienced practitioners, researchers, and educators, explore the outdoor adventure field today in relation to the changes that have occurred since Ewert’s first book. The authors present a comprehensive text on outdoor and adventure foundations, theories, and research that will provide the basis for the next generation of professionals.

This practical text offers simple activities and lesson plans for young people in a variety of school and community settings. The author examines why outdoor education is important and includes a step-by-step guide for planning field trips through to a complete outdoor education programme.

′"Bureaucracy is the reason for the decline in school trips". A statement often quoted. But it is a myth that there is a decline in school visits... It′s competent people, not paperwork, that make visits safer′ - Ian Park, ex-Chairman, Outdoor Education Advisers′ Panel ′Every man and woman who is involved in the development or education of young people - however slightly - should be chained to one of the Barns of Bynack and not released until they have read this book cover to cover′ - Alan Bantick, wildlife conservationist, lecturer, photographer and guide ′Bob Barton′s balanced and well thought out book will help anyone involved with the planning and management of outdoor activities for young people. Bob explores the issues that need to be considered when developing and implementing outdoor policies and procedures, in an interesting and thought provoking style, drawing on his wealth of outdoor experience′ - Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive, The Duke of Edinburgh′s Award ′This book fills a gap which sorely needed filling. The safety versus adventure debate is discussed in a thoroughly refreshing way and should inspire a new generation of teachers and youth workers to take their charges into the great outdoors. The book should be required reading for every Health and Safety Officer throughout the land to improve their understanding of what Adventure Educators are trying to achieve′ - Doug Jones, County Officer, Outdoor Education and Adventure Activities, Bedfordshire County Council ′A distillation of years of experience in adventure activities and an essential guide to getting the proper balance between adventure and safety′ - Nick Barrett, Chief Executive of the Outward Bound Trust Providers of outdoor education must strike the right balance between adventure and security. Effective risk management enables providers to deliver lasting educational value without breaching their moral and legal duties of care. This practical guide shows how genuinely adventurous outdoor activities can be provided to acceptable standards of safety. Drawing on the author′s own experience as an expert mountaineer, instructor and consultant, the systems and processes of successful outdoor adventure are clearly explained using real life examples and case studies. Bob Barton is Safety Adviser to the Outward Bound Trust and works as a consultant on the management of adventure activities.

This book brings together an international group of authors to discuss the outdoor environmental education (OEE) theory and practice that educators can use to support teaching and learning in higher education. The book contents are organised around a recently established list of threshold concepts that can be used to describe the knowledge and skills that university students would develop if they complete a major in outdoor education. There are six key sections: the theoretical foundations and philosophies of OEE; the pedagogical approaches and issues involved in teaching OEE; the ways in which OEE is a social, cultural and environmental endeavour; how outdoor educators can advocate for social justice; key approaches to safety management; and the need for on-going professional practice. The threshold concepts that form the premise of the book describe outdoor educators as creating opportunities for experiential learning using pedagogies that align their programme’s purpose and practice. Outdoor educators are place-responsive, and see their work as a social, cultural and environmental endeavour. They advocate for social and environmental justice, and they understand and apply safety principles and routinely engage in reflective practice. This book will provide clarity and direction for emerging and established outdoor educators around the world and will also be relevant to students and professionals working in related fields such as environmental education, adventure therapy, and outdoor recreation.

The present study aims to illuminate the way participant learning in adventure experiences intersects with broader social, cultural and institutional contexts, and was guided by the following questions: How is participant experience constructed in a facilitated, small group adventure setting? How is the construction of the adventure experience related to the intentions and orchestrations of the trainer? How is the construction of the adventure experience related to the institutional and social context in which it occurs? This study used grounded theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) and cultural-historical activity theory (Engeström, 1987; Leontiev, 1977; Vygotsky, 1978). Activity as an analytic device facilitates the mapping of historical, social and cultural influences on local action, while grounded theory helps maintain close attention to local phenomena. Aside from making methodological advances, I develop several major concepts. First, I identify the object of adventure education as the morally improved and socially interdependent subject. It is this object that defines and establishes the conditions toward which the activity is oriented and must be understood. Second, Participation frameworks position the subjects as interested actors who negotiate and align with one another through the course of different exercises. As an analytic device, participation frameworks help identify the way subjects expect the workshop to conform with their goals, and act on the basis of their expectations. Third, collaborative ideation is the process through which the object of adventure education is realized. There are two sub-parts to collaborative ideation: vertically mediated action, or the ways participants encounters with speech, kinesthetic poses, and physical instruments are orchestrated by the trainer for particular effect; and horizontally mediated action, or the ways participants become resources for each other s learning. These factors reflect a complex process of interaction in which participants experience contradictions between the actions required for involvement in the adventure, and the social expectations they have for situations.

`This is simply the physical education book of its time. The editors must be congratulated on bringing together so many quality authors from so many different parts of the world. As a handbook, it represents how far the study of physical education has moved forward in recent times. What we have is a clear portrayal of physical education at the start of the 21st century′ - Mike Jess, University of Edinburgh `This Handbook is a "must read" for all physical educators who are serious about understanding their subject and developing their practices. The list of authors involved reads like a "who′s who"′ of physical education at a global level - the editors are to be commended on bringing together such collective expertise - this is a key strength of the book. The Handbook successfully expresses a view of knowledge about physical education pedagogy which embraces different research traditions and emerging areas of interest across the global scholarly community′ - Jo Harris, Loughborough University `This comprehensive and eclectic exploration into the field of physical education draws on the vast expertise of its renowned international contributors with astounding results. The Handbook of Physical Education serves to firmly reinstate physical education to its position as the core discipline of sport and exercise science. The Handbook is destined to become an indispensable academic resource for scholars, students and enthusiasts of physical education for years to come′ - Pilvikki Heikinaro-Johansson, University of Jyväskylä What is the current condition of the field of physical education? How has it adapted to the rise of kinesiology, sport and exercise science and human movement studies over the last thirty years? This Handbook provides an authoritative critical overview of the field and identifies future challenges and directions. The Handbook is divided in to six parts: - Perspectives and Paradigms in Physical Education Pedagogy Research; - Cross-disciplinary Contributions to Research on Physical Education; - Learners and Learning in Physical Education; - Teachers, Teaching and Teacher Education in Physical Education; - Physical Education Curriculum; - Difference and Diversity in Physical Education. This benchmark work is essential reading for educators and students in the field of physical education.

New and Key Features of the Third Edition: Includes a new Chapter 2, International Perspectives on the Implementation of Standards Includes a new Chapter 4, Building the Curriculum Includes a new Chapter 6, Creating Curricular Assessments Discusses the process of designing a standards-based curriculum by developing goals that are based on a sound philosophy Explores assessment and the importance of documenting students progress toward the standard Examines how teachers can provide students with opportunities to achieve their learning goals through challenging and motivating choices.

The overall focus, scope, and purpose of this Special Issue on outdoor adventure is to provide the current and anticipated future trends, offer innovative ideas for new programs, support decision making for managers to move plans and intentions into action, inspire pioneering staff training and leadership development, incite policy reviews and revisions, promote resource (re)allocation where needed, and stimulate culture shifts among outdoor leaders and managers. Furthermore, this Special Issue is situated within the existing literature by depicting major trends in the field, exploring organizational issues and successes, identifying gaps between research and practice, and formulating solutions to some of the field’s most pressing challenges. Of particular interest were manuscripts reporting the following: • Adventure education across diverse cultures; • Innovative partnerships for experiential education outdoors; • Land management agencies working with adventure education programs; • Leadership and/or management issues and challenges; • Programming advances, participation trends; • Recruitment and retention of diverse staff, workforce enhancement; • Social groups/identity and outdoor spaces (e.g., people of color and outdoor adventure; women in the outdoors—where have we been, where are we going?; LGBTQ trends and future directions; youth and outdoor adventure); • Socioeconomic factors and solutions; • Technology influences and adventure education; • Working with schools/school districts and being in sync with curriculum needs, supporting transportation challenges, etc.