Helping factors in outdoor adventure education: An exploration of how they vary across intervention stages of group process during an expedition

ABSTRACT

Despite the recognized positive effects attributed to outdoor adventure education programs, few studies have examined the mechanisms involved therein, particularly with regard to factors that influence group process. The purpose of this qualitative research was to examine an outdoor adventure education program utilizing Yalom’s helping factors in relationship to established groupwork intervention stages. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 individuals who participated in an 18-day outdoor adventure expedition. Findings shared include the conditions and group stages that helping factors emerge and suggest the relevance of offering adventure-based programs in nature settings for effective groupwork.

KEYWORDS:

• Groupwork
• nature
• outdoor adventure education
• helping factors
• group stages

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Cégep de l’Outaouais for their support in this research, the research assistants and all the participants who made this study possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Virginie Gargano

Virginie Gargano is an assistant professor at Laval University and has over 18 years of experience in adventure therapy and outdoor education. She has designed and delivered numerous programs in Quebec, Canada, and provides training to health professionals on how to incorporate nature and adventure into their professional practice. Her research explores the specific mechanisms of outdoor activities and their relationship to human health.

Nevin J. Harper

Nevin Harper is a professor and career outdoor educator. His research explores human-environmental relationships, primarily through evaluation of outdoor education and therapeutic interventions. He is the author of Nature-based Therapy and editor of Outdoor Therapies and remains active as an instructor trainer in outdoor leadership.