Two annotated bibliographies cover the empirically-based therapeutic adventure Literature up through 2007
The two bibliographies listed here combine to cover the history of empirically-based therapeutic adventure research through 2007.
Moore & Russell (2002) builds on the work of of Friese, Pittman, & Hendee (1995). As the title indicates, "Studies of the Use of Wilderness for Personal Growth, Therapy, Education, and Leadership Development: An Annotation and Evaluation," Moore and Russell focus on the use of wilderness for a wide variety of therapeutic and educational purposes. Within their 200+ cited studies they cover many research efforts focused on the therapeutic use of adventure-based activities. The introduction included at the beginning of the piece describes the parameters of the review in more detail.
Young (2007) lists empirical studies focused on experiential programs that generally can be categorized as either Adventure Therapy or Therapeutic Adventure (AT/TA) Programs [See: Itin, C. (2000). Adventure therapy vs. Therapeutic adventure. In K. Richards & B. Smith (Eds.), Therapy within adventure: Proceedings of the international adventure therapy conference (2nd, augsburg, germany, march 20-24, 2000 (pp. 175-184)]. Studies were not included here if they already appeared in Moore & Russell's bibliography. The Young (2007) bibliography uses Gass's Evidence-Based Practice Research Rubric to evaluate the studies.
Although literature from the juvenile justice field was included, "Boot Camp" related studies were not. Furthermore, although some studies about camps as interventions are included here, the camping literature was not specifically queried. Also, even if a study explored therapeutic constructs, unless it was conducted with an at risk, special needs, or clinical population, it was not included; a couple exceptions were made due to a study's overt attempt at making conclusions relevant to therapeutic programming, see for example: Kemp (1998) and Neill & Heubeck (1998).
Here are two additional sources that contain AT/TA empirical studies not found in either of the two bibliographies listed here:
Shore, A. (1977). Outward bound: A reference volume. Greenwich, CT: Outward Bound.
Richards, K., & Smith, B. (2003). Therapy within adventure: Proceedings of the international adventure therapy conference (2nd, augsburg, germany, march 20-24, 2000).
Documents:
Moore & Russell (2002). Studies of the use of wilderness for personal growth, therapy, education, and leadership development: An annotation and evaluation. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho-Wilderness Research Center.*
Young (2007). Therapeutic Adventure Annotated Bibliography. Prepared for KIN 885, fall 2007, Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Outdoor Education Program.
Gass (2007). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Outdoor Education Program.
*This study is also available at: www.its.uidaho.edu/wrc/publications.