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Outdoor Leadership Training in Higher Education

Some people approach the outdoors as a survi­ val challenge: a competition of humans against nature. In any contest there has to be a loser. Often that loser may be either nature or humans; and all too often, both can end up as losers. In "beating" nature, humans leave the scars of conquest behind: extinct species, trodden vegetation, soil erosion and litter. In losing to nature, humans may also receive a share of damages such as negative memories, social embarrassment, physical injury, and occasional fatalities. It seems senseless that a competitive scenario has to occur in such situations. Therefore, the time is appropriate to promote a new attitude of humans with nature, where the two co-exist in harmony, and where neither suffers at the expense of the other. To achieve this and to reduce the problem of the accidents and impact, an altered approach is necessary. The approach requires that people who go into the outdoors obtain adequate prepara­ tion and education before they attempt their first trip. Ford (1981) supports this approach on the basis that the urban dweller "cannot gain knowl­ edge of outdoor recreation other than through edu­ cation" (p. 119). Petzoldt (1974) contends that many people's first wilderness experience is often a negative one, confirmed by a series of miserable conditions which "indicate poor leadership" (p. 149). Therefore, it appears that there is a need for realignment of outdoor experiences into a non­ competitive mode via education and competent outdoor leadership to improve the elements of safety, enjoyment and environmental conservation in outdoor pursuits and adventure activities.