Amelia Earhart

 http://ameliaearhartfacts.com/

By today’s standards, Amelia Earhart would not be considered an adventurer just because she was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo. However, in the 1930’s Earhart defied almost all of the standards set for women at the time; this combined with her skills as a pilot is a definite reason to consider her an adventurer. Earhart saw her first plane when she was ten years old but she wasn’t impressed until she was taken for a ride by pilot Frank Hawks; from then on Earhart was hooked on flying. However, since she was a woman it was not considered to be conventional for a woman to fly a plane and therefore she had to work in secret to learn to fly and eventually become the first woman and second person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Earhart won numerous awards and continued to break records until her death when she attempted to fly solo around the world in 1937.

            Personally, I consider an adventure to be an activity or action that breaks the norms and societal expectations that are typically in place. Since Amelia Earhart did this not only by flying but also in her personal life, I would consider her an adventurer. She also placed a large degree of risk into her life by flying planes because they were not exactly the safest vehicles at the time. Therefore, to echo some of the definitions we thought of in class, Earhart was: doing something she had never done before, risking her life and breaking societal norms in order to be an adventurer.

The Official Website of Amelia Earhart. Biography. Retrieved Oct. 3, 2010,  from http://www.ameliaearhart.com/about/bio.html. 

--Ruby

Ranulph Fiennes

Born with British blood, Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham Fiennes has accomplished many 'firsts,' similar to modern adventurers. From soldier to expedition leader, his stiff upper lip attitude pushes him beyond the capabilities of normal individuals. He was the first to circumnavigate the globe along its polar axis. Miles away from crossing Antarctica unsupported. He had a heart attack climbing Everest the first time, then failed the second time spitting distance away. He finally climbed Everest the third time in 2009. He ran seven marathons in seven days. Guinness Book of World Records gave him the title of 'Greatest Modern Adventurer.' Oh yeah, and he's 66.

References

Imagine: http://bananaontherun.blogspot.com/2008/11/sir-ranulph-fiennes.html
Henley, J. (2007). I am not a madman. In The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2007/oct/05/features11.g21

Ken Kesey was born on September 17th, 1935 in La Junta, Colorado. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest. As a young adult, he enrolled in a creative writing program at Stanford, where he excelled. While at Stanford, in 1959, he volunteered to be part of a research study that tested a smorgasbord of psychoactive drugs. This led to the creation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and inspired his own experimentation with psychadelic drugs. He formed a ragtag group known as the Merry Pranksters, that traveled the country in a bus called "Furthur" (future and further), engaged in peaceful demonstrations and guerrilla theater. He helped shape the culture of the 60s.

Reference:
Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. (1998). Retrieved October 06, 2010 from University of Virginia: http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/​exhibits/​sixties/​kesey.html .

Erik Weihenmayer

On March, 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind man to climb Mount Everest.  On September 5, 2002, Erik Weihenmayer succeeded his goal by climbing all seven summits.  I choose this adventurer because he defines all sense of the word adventure.  A blind man climbing Mt. Everest is a huge accomplishment.  People die every year on top of Everest and this guy kicked ass by doing it without having one of the crucial things you need- eyesight.  He is also one of about 150 people to climb the seven summits.  He takes danger, excitement and adventure to the next level.  He was also one of the guides that helped a group of young Tibetan climb Mount Everest - all of them were blind as well.  On top of being one of the most respected climbers out there, he is also a marathon runner, long distant cyclist, acrobatic skydiver, snow skier and does para gliding.  I picked Erik Weihenmayer because he redefines the word impossible and takes adventure to the next level.

-Meghan Jordan

Source: http://www.blindsightthemovie.com/characters.html

Why Individuals Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Qualitative Approach to Benefits.

The article explores the reasons why individuals hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the U.S. Interviews were conducted with four levels of AT hikers, namely day hikers, weekenders, multiday users, and thru-hikers. It was stated that hiking has more benefits than may be realized by potential users, as the number of U.S. citizens afflicted by obesity and diabetes grows as the result of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. The research supported hiking as an activity for a healthy lifestyle, and it was found that hiking is not only physically healthy but psychologically beneficial as well.

Goldenberg, M. , Hill, E. , & Freidt, B. . (2008). Why individuals hike the appalachian trail: a qualitative approach to benefits. Journal of Experiential Education, 30(3), 277-281.

--Ruby 

The Impact of Participation in an Inclusive Adventure Education Trip on Group Dynamics.

Abstract

The purpose of this ethnographic case study was to understand the impact participation in an inclusive 3-day rock climbing trip on the group dynamics seven participants ages 10-14 years that included a 13 year old male diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. The five stage model of group development (Tuckman, 1965; Tuekman & Jensen, 1977) was used as the lens to guide the design and data analysis of the study. Not withstanding the limitations of this study the findings suggest that the participants in this 3-day inclusive rock bonded as a group over the duration of the experience. The catalyst for the change in group dynamics on this trip was the explicit teambuilding session conducted by the trip leaders. Recommendations are provided to help to facilitate positive group dynamics within inclusive groups.

References
Sutherland, S., & Stroot, S. (2010). The Impact of Participation in an Inclusive Adventure Education Trip on Group Dynamics. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(1), 153. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier database.

Exploring Relationships of Trust in 'Adventure' Recreation

Abstract:
A central concept in the notion of leisure, and therefore also of recreation, is freedom. In this article we argue that freedom in organised recreation, especially in activities involving some degree of deliberate risk-taking (i.e. in adventure recreation), is preserved through relationships of trust between recreation organisers and participants. This article seeks to outline the theoretical field of trust and to begin to explore the concept of trust in the context of adventure recreation. A recent criminal conviction in New Zealand has highlighted the issue of trust in recreation and serves as a point of departure for the purposes of exploring conceptualisations of trust and their application to the adventure recreational context. Trust does not appear to have attracted attention in the recreation literature to date, yet it may provide a useful means of negotiating the contested terrain created at the nexus of recreation culture (in particular adventure recreation), recreation management and application of the law.

References

Lynch, P., Jonson, P., & Dibben, M. (2007). Exploring Relationships of Trust in 'Adventure' Recreation. Leisure Studies, 26(1), 47-64. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.