What does a young person need to thrive in the world? That’s a question with many answers that all together comprise a list that we all call “life skills.” If you ask different people what skills are on this list, you will get different answers and varied opinions about which skills are more important. The fact is there is no definitive list of life skills. The following list includes skills that are generally considered important across a variety of populations, in no particular order they are:

1. Interpersonal communication*
2. Negotiation and conflict management
3. Empathy*
4. Teamwork & cooperation*
5. Decision making and problem-solving*
6. Critical thinking
7. Internal locus of control*
8. Managing feelings (decreases in depression, aggression & anxiety*)
9. Managing stress (increased resiliency*)
   
   *Denotes significant, positive outcomes through participation in Adventure programs.

This is an interesting list that gets most of us thinking “what about ________.” Somebody reading this right now is already thinking something really obvious was left off the list. It’s also interesting how each of these skills interacts with the others. The whole list is a kin to a “toolbox” and the individual skills are the “tools.” Each of us has a toolbox at home that we use to build and repair things. Sometimes we’re building a bicycle for our child’s birthday, to patch up a hole in the wall, to hang a picture, repair storm damage, to build a deck and so much more. Likewise the life skills “toolbox” can be used to repair and build things in one’s life.

Adventure helps youth develop their “toolbox” of life skills in a way that’s timely, significant, individualized and transferable to every aspect of their life. This is accomplished at Encompass through an intentionally designed and professionally delivered Adventure program where youth learn from experience and facilitated reflection. To illustrate this idea, let’s go on a kayaking trip with a group in Virginia Beach.

Sitting a few inches above the water in a 12 foot long, red kayak are two middle school age boys. They will work together to propel their kayak through the channels, currents, wind and confusing marshes that the group will encounter on this day. Which of the above life skills were pulled out of their “toolbox” during this kayaking excursion? On this day, the boys had a couple tools with them already and just needed more experience to use them more effectively. Those included “negotiation” about how to position themselves in the kayak and where they would go. They also used “teamwork” and utilized individual strengths to keep their kayak going in the right direction. There were some “tools” missing from their “toolbox.” Among those tools, one boy was having difficulties “managing feelings” and “managing stress” because he was anxious about being on the water and feeling safe. The other boy was lacking “empathy” for his partner’s feelings. This lead to an argument between the two and their kayak didn’t make any progress. In fact their kayak just drifted aimlessly pushed around by outside forces, the wind and currents. Staff intervened in a manner that encouraged these boys to take stock of their “toolbox,” identify the current problem and come up with a plan of action that they could execute together. In a short time the two boys where starting to getting it and their kayak was cutting through the water headed in the right direction. Pretty neat, but how does this experience help them out in other areas of life? One of the boys had troubles managing his feelings and managing stress in other areas of his life. At home he struggled with depression and felt like everyone in the neighborhood was out to get him. At school he experienced similar circumstances, but because of his large size he would intimidate others. The kayaking experience gave him a new model to work with others, cooperating and communicating with them instead of avoiding or bullying them. He learned to identify what was stressing him and how to cope with those outside forces that put pressure on us all. The experience was a positive one for him; he realized he could do some things he didn’t think he could, like kayaking. But more than just kayaking, he learned he could work with others, communicate his feelings and needs, cope with stress in productive ways, and experience feeling of happiness.

What does research tell us about the outcomes of Adventure programs? In last season’s newsletter, we learned what types of clinical concerns Adventure Programs had the most significant impact on, specifically focusing on teenagers and axis I, II & IV of the DSM IV (Clark et al. 2004). We take another look at this question in this season's newsletter and scratch the surface of how physical activity positively impacts youth.

 

Adventure programs are physical in nature and many programs closely parallel the benefits of aerobic exercise. Take for instance the series of bicycling programs offered by Encompass, which include rides from 5 to 25 miles and some very strenuous mountain biking courses. All of which increase the participants heart rate for prolonged periods, an important measure of individual physical effort. But the benefits go beyond our physical health and into our mental health. In general, moderate forms of aerobic exercise have been shown to have significant positive impacts on our mood, focus, cognitive ability and many other facets (Ratey 2008). In one study, the impact of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression was assessed. The study measured significant reductions in PTSD, anxiety and depression after exercising and the benefits were maintained through the one month follow-up (Manger & Motta 2005). These experiences with exercise also had a positive affect on an individual’s self-efficacy. Several studies observed that self-efficacy improved following an adventure experience (Brody et al 1988) and this increase was maintained through the 1 year follow-up (Koelser 1994).

Kayaking requires you to learn better balance and to be aware of your body's position relative to the water. Lean too far in any direction and the laws of gravity will send you head first into the water. This is a good lesson to teach youth on our kayaking trips. Lead by experienced guides, both skillfull in handling a kayak and skillfull in educating youth, the lesson has strong connections to their lives back home. Striking a balance when you're young can be a challenge. Lean too far in one direction and he falls head first into trouble. It might be trouble at home, at school, with the law, or any number of things. That's why it becomes important for him to learn how well he is balanced and what directions he might be leaning back at home, at school or elsewhere. The difference between an inexperienced kayaker and on that is experienced, is what happens to them when they hit fall into the water.