NCJ Number
66111
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING AND ORIENTING PARTICIPANTS FOR A WILDERNESS TRAINING EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO COUNTER DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
WILDERNESS TRAINING AS EPITOMIZED BY THE COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND PROGRAM, IS A SERIES OF PROGRAMED PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMSOLVING TASKS CONDUCTED IN THE WILDERNESS. PHYSICAL CHALLENGES ARE CREATED IN EXPERIENCES OF BACKPACKING, ROCK CLIMBING, CANOEING, SAILING, AND ROUTE-FINDING. SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENT IS ATTAINED THROUGH TEAM TASKS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BUILD SKILLS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR TRANSFERABLE TO FUNCTIONING IN A NORMATIVE MANNER IN THE COMMUNITY. APPLICANTS UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED IN OUTWARD BOUND SHOULD BE SCREENED OUT. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR PHYSICAL FITNESS TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES POSED IN OUTWARD BOUND. INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO PARTICIPATE AND SUCCEED IN THE PROGRAM IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS; INVOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. DELINQUENTS PAST THE ONSET OF ADOLESCENCE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM THAN YOUNGER DELINQUENTS. WHILE ALL TYPES OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATED IN OUTWARD BOUND, THOSE WHO ARE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED IN NEED OF CLINICAL SUPERVISION DO NOT DO WELL IN THE PROGRAM. DELINQUENTS WHO HAVE THE ANALYTICAL ABILITY TO TRANSFER BEHAVIORS LEARNED IN THE PROGRAM TO COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE LASTING RESULTS. FOLLOW-UP OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD BE PRESENTED AS A COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF CLIENT SELECTION AND ORIENTATION. REQUIREMENTS OF THE FOLLOW-UP SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF CONTRACTS WITH PARTICIPANTS BEFORE THEY BEGIN THE PROGRAM. THE ORIENTATION SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT OUTWARD BOUND IS AN ARDUOUS GROWTH EXPERIENCE MORE THAN IT IS A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY. PREPARATION FOR THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE THOROUGH, PARTICULARLY FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. PARENTS AND 'SIGNIFICANT OTHERS' SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ORIENTATION EXPERIENCES. (RCB)