Cathryn Carpenter

Looking at the landscape of adventure therapy: making links to theory and practice

This Special Issue of The Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning [JAEOL], titled ‘Outdoor and adventure therapy’, reflects a growing application of adventure education and outdoor learning experiences for desired psychotherapeutic and psychological benefits. This can be seen in practice utilizing the therapeutic qualities derived from doing and being outdoors for general mental health benefits (Mind, 2007; Maller et al., 2008), or structured psychotherapy taking place outdoors (Linden & Gurt, 2002; Gilbert, Gilsdorf, & Ringer, 2004; Santostefano, 2004; Holmes, 2010; Jordan & Marshall, 2010). Given the World Health Organization’s prediction that within the next 10 years (by 2020) depression will be the second largest cause of ill-health (Murray & Lopaz, 1996; Herrman, Saxena, & Moodie, 2005), the need for psychological therapies to actively respond to these concerns is greater than ever. This need is further supported with clinically diagnosed mental health disorders becoming more prominent in young people across the world. For example, 10% of children under 16 years of age in the UK are reported to have such conditions (Green, McGinnity, Meltzer, Ford, & Goodman, 2005), and in Australia (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2007) 26.4% of young people aged 16–24 years are reported to have a mental illness, along with intentional self-harm or suicide being ranked as the 10th leading cause of all deaths in 2008 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). Although these figures aren’t representative of all countries, there will be alarming similarities in other international contexts. Thus, improving the mental health of populations with effective intervention and prevention strategies is imperative, especially for any endeavour that promotes human development.

Profiling Outdoor Leadership

This paper examines the role outdoor recreation and education plays in the development of generic leaders who have a positive relationship to the natural world. Three questionnaires (Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire - MLQ; the New Ecological Paradigm Scale - NEP; and the Connectedness to Nature Scale - CNS) were administered online to 104 international outdoor leaders through five online networks. The three instruments assessed the nexus of transformational leadership theory and outdoor leadership. A descriptive analysis of early findings from the project are outlined in this paper. The results can be viewed as an appropriate platform for understanding outdoor recreation and education leaders’ ecological perspectives and the generic, transformational leadership skills.

Defining Moments: An Examination of the Gender Divide in Women's Contribution to Outdoor Education

Abstract: Throughout our collective experiences in the outdoors, defining moments have helped ignite innovation and provided inspiration for women and men in the outdoor profession. Women’s representation among the ranks of the senior leaders and researchers in the outdoor field is disproportionately low. As such, women in outdoor education today still face challenges being recognized and accessing the upper echelons of the profession and academy. An incident at the 6th International Outdoor Education Research Conference in 2013, where women donned an invisibility cloak provided the impetus for our paper. Significant progress has been made in the past three decades; however an imbalance and gender asymmetry still exists today. At the core of our profession is the development of leadership and individual potential; it is therefore imperative that we examine our indiscernible footprint within the profession. The paper aims to generate practical solutions and strategies for those grappling with ways to improve their leadership impact and attain gender equity in their career goals.

Indicators of host community readers in refugee relocation programs: factors that contribute to a positive relocation experience

This paper proposes that successful relocation programs are twofold; they not only rely upon readiness factors for new arrivals, but are also dependant upon host communities that are well equipped to embrace diverse cultures in a holistic way. Determinants of mental health such as economic resources, capacity building enterprises, government policies, innovative training initiatives through employment and service providers, assist in securing and sustaining a positive settlement experience (VicHealth 2005). Ensuring that relocation and resettlement programs are adequately sourced, monitored and improved, is essential to the implementation of inclusive, responsive and innovative settlement practices. Exploring the means through which regional and rural communities monitor, implement and reflect upon current relocation practices highlights best practices tied to settlement experiences for migrants and refugees. Most importantly, this paper seeks to document and make public those indicators that best reflect host community readiness in migrant relocation programs. Voicing and highlighting essential infrastructures needed for the implementation and planning of relocation programs allows for worthwhile and solid futures for host communities, new arrivals and the overall Australian population.

Enhancing social capital through experiential learning: a case study of reconnecting adolescents to education and employment

This case study reports on the practice of a program designed to enhance the social capital of young people through reconnecting them to education and employment.