Outdoor Adventure and Experiential Education and COVID-19: What Have We Learned?

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) now known as COVID-19 changed the world and the outdoor adventure and experiential education (OAEE) fields were not immune. These changes significantly impacted various OAEE programs in multiple ways and at different levels of intensity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the OAEE fields and identify how OAEE organizations have responded to those impacts. Methodology/Approach: Using a three-phase study and a multi-method approach to data collection and analyses, respondents from 115 OAEE organizations (N=115) were asked to indicate how and in what ways their organizations have been impacted by the pandemic and in what ways their organizations have responded to those challenges. Findings/Conclusions: Many organizations responded not being ready for the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant impacts were noted from most of the OAEE organizations responding and included closings, staff reductions, and downsizing as well as operational changes. Many organizations reported ways they are attempting to mitigate the pandemic effects. Implications: Important questions were raised in this paper as to how well prepared the OAEE fields might be for the next crisis.

Hiking: A Low-Cost, Accessible Intervention to Promote Health Benefits.

Research has connected sedentary lifestyles with numerous negative health outcomes, including a significant increased risk for mortality. Many health care professionals seek ways to help clients meet physical activity guidelines recommended by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the World Health Organization, and the American College of Sports Medicine in order to promote active lifestyles and improve overall wellness. Hiking is a cost-effective intervention that encourages people to be physically active while spending time in nature. Time in nature can lead to health benefits through contact with the natural elements, participation in physical activity, restoration of mental and emotional health, and time with social contacts. Benefits may be immediate, such as decreased blood pressure, decreased stress levels, enhanced immune system functioning, and restored attention, or transpire over time, such as weight loss, decreased depression, and overall wellness. Health care providers are ideally positioned to recommend and prescribe hiking to clients. Federal, state, and local natural resource agencies are beginning to partner with health care professionals to promote outdoor nature-related activities. Examples of successful doctor and other health care practitioner partnership programs are described, along with tips for getting started.

Attitudes toward CAM among medical, nursing, and pharmacy faculty and students: a comparative analysis.

CONTEXT: As interest in CAM continues to increase, schools of medicine, nursing, and other health professional training programs are being encouraged to integrate content on CAM into curricula. OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitudes of faculty and staff toward CAM in medicine, nursing, and pharmacy within an academic health center. DESIGN: A survey was used to obtain data on general attitudes toward CAM, personal use, training needs, and perceived barriers to use. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The survey was taken of 627 faculty and students employed or enrolled at the University of Minnesota. The overall response rate exceeded 50% for both students and faculty. RESULTS: More than 90% of faculty and students believe that clinical care should integrate the best of conventional and CAM practices and that health professionals should be prepared to advise patients about commonly used CAM methods; 88% of faculty and 84% of students indicated that CAM should be included in their school's curriculum. While there were similarities between the 3 faculty groups, the nursing faculty expressed the greatest interest in practicing CAM. CONCLUSIONS: Faculty and students within medicine, nursing, and pharmacy have favorable attitudes toward the integration of CAM within education and clinical care. Personal use of CAM and training is limited. Lack of evidence is perceived to be the most significant barrier to integration of CAM into Western medicine. The high degree of receptivity suggests the need for both faculty training and curriculum development.