Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit will introduce students to the foundational principles of a number of programs that utilize the outdoors for therapeutic interventions for specific populations. The unit will examine the historic development of these therapeutic interventions that utilise the outdoors and explore the range of applications of these emerging alternative health programs. The use of outdoor settings and outdoor pursuits as part of such therapeutic health interventions will be investigated. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside a young person as a mentor and to apply the principles of mentorship in a community outdoor adventure therapy program.

2026 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Describe different therapeutic interventions and t...

Learning Outcome 01

Describe different therapeutic interventions and their use of outdoor settings and programming

Describe a variety of natural environments in outd...

Learning Outcome 02

Describe a variety of natural environments in outdoor programming and in particular their use to achieve program outcomes in therapeutic interventions

Describe the importance of therapeutic interventio...

Learning Outcome 03

Describe the importance of therapeutic interventions within the context of a world concerned with health and wellbeing issues.

Explain the professional practice of an Adventure ...

Learning Outcome 04

Explain the professional practice of an Adventure Therapy and Wilderness Therapist

Outline the risk assessment needed to be undertake...

Learning Outcome 05

Outline the risk assessment needed to be undertaken for a participant of an therapeutic interventions process.

Describe the management issues that could arise in...

Learning Outcome 06

Describe the management issues that could arise in an Adventure Therapy program

Describe a variety of therapeutic approaches and t...

Learning Outcome 07

Describe a variety of therapeutic approaches and the importance of efficacy and understand how to facilitate a group towards specific outcomes

Outline the key concepts of a successful mentor re...

Learning Outcome 08

Outline the key concepts of a successful mentor relationship

Content

Topics will include:

  • Therapeutic Interventions models and their use of outdoor settings and programming
  • Defining adventure therapy and wilderness therapy
  • Group facilitation in the adventure therapy context
  • Health and wellbeing of clients of adventure therapy programming.
  • Adventure therapists and wilderness therapists professional practice, logbook currency
  • Risk Assessment and management for specific client groups
  • Concepts of mentorship
  • Applications of the mentoring practice in the context of outdoor therapeutic interventions
  • Personal behaviours patterns and their effect on the mentoring relationship
  • Privacy and ethics of the mentor relationship

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.  Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies.

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1:  Fieldwork organisation, presentat...

Assessment 1: 

Fieldwork organisation, presentation and review

Weighting

45%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8

Assessment 2: Paper: The outdoor adventure expe...

Assessment 2: Paper:

The outdoor adventure experiences as a therapeutic process

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO8

Assessment 3: Group Presentation: Empathy and E...

Assessment 3: Group Presentation:

Empathy and Efficacy

Weighting

25%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8

Assessment 4 Logbook

Assessment 4

Logbook

Weighting

P/F

Learning Outcomes LO4, LO5, LO6, LO8

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Teaching and learning strategies may include resources sessions, tutorials, lectures, field work, and reflective/critical thinking activities, which will be delivered in a 2-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial, as well as field work activities. Teaching and learning strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Crisp, S. (2004). “Envisioning the birth of a profession”. In Bandoroff, S., & Newes, S. (Eds.). Coming of age: The evolving world of Adventure Therapy. Proceedings of the Third International Adventure Therapy Conference. CO: Association for Experiential Education.

Davis-Berman, J. and Berman, D. (1994). Theoretical understandings Of Wilderness Experiences.Wilderness Therapy: Foundations Theories and Research. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt            Publishing Co.pp109 – 133.

Miles, J. in Gass, M. (Ed). (1993). Wilderness as Healing Place. Adventure Therapy: Therapeutic Applications of Adventure Programming. Dubuqu, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. pp 43 – 56.

Newes, S., & Bandoroff, S. (2004). “What is adventure therapy?” In Bandoroff, S., & Newes, S. (Eds.). Coming of age: The evolving world of Adventure Therapy. Proceedings of the Third International Adventure Therapy Conference. CO: Association for Experiential Education.

Nicholls, V. & Gray, T. (2007) Sense and Sensibility: Reality and romanticism in human / nature relationships. Proceedings of the Fourth International Adventure Therapy Conference. Connecting with the Essence, Rotorua, Aoretearoa, New Zealand

Pryor, A., Carpenter, C., & Townsend, M. (2005). “Outdoor education and bush adventure therapy: a socio-ecological approach to health and wellbeing”. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education. 2005; 9(1): 3-13.

Pryor,A. in Richards, K., and Smith, B. (Eds). (2003) The Outdoor Experience Program: Wilderness Journeys for Improved Relationships with Self, Others and Healthy Adventure. Proceedings of the 2nd International Adventure Therapy Conference: Therapy within Adventure

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