Outdoor Research Collaborative

This time six years ago Covid-19 changed the world forever. In all the changes and tragedy, the importance of nature took a central role. Something the collaborators at the ORC already have made central to our work. On the anniversary of the pandemic, we would like to highlight the recent publication by ORC Collaborators, Anthony Derringer, Denise Mitten and Aaron Leonard with colleagues, Erik Rabinowitz and Joel Clegg, who looked at how college programs adapted during this time. See the link below for access to the article.

Deringer, S. A., Mitten, D., Rabinowitz, E., Leonard, A., & Clegg, J. (2025). Use of Nearby Nature in College Outdoor Programming. Journal of Experiential Education, 48(1), 4-21.

https://bit.ly/4sQiQKN

The ORC wants to recognize the array of programs supporting wellness in the outdoors. Thanks to for sharing this important group of organizations we should be familiar with, support and follow!Brown Girls Climb

"February 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month! ✊🏾🙌🏾
In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson started Black History Month to combat the exclusion of Black history from education.
“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” - Carter G. Woodson Black History Month is meant to encourage people of all diasporas to learn about and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans, because Black History is an integral part of American History.

This month, Brown Girls Climb would like to celebrate our Black community members in the outdoors. We have been and always will be outside, connecting with nature and breaking new ground in climbing, mountaineering, and beyond.
While seeking community in the outdoors, it is all too common to find yourself as the only Black person in the group, even at meetups and events geared toward People of the Global Majority (PGM). That is why we are excited to share this list of organizations creating experiences predominantly for Black folks. From climbing to scuba diving, we hope this list helps you to find your community and get outside."

https://bit.ly/4lt4rBUbr

February 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month! ✊🏾🙌🏾 In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson started Black History Month to combat the exclusion of Black history from education. “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” - Carter G. Woodson Black History Month is meant to encourage people of all diasporas to learn about and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans, because Black History is an integral part of American History. This month, Brown Girls Climb would like to celebrate our Black community members in the outdoors. We have been and always will be outside, connecting with nature and breaking new ground in climbing, mountaineering, and beyond. While seeking community in the outdoors, it is all too common to find yourself as the only Black person in the group, even at meetups and events geared toward People of the Global Majority (PGM). That is why we are excited to share this list of organizations creating experiences predominantly for Black folks. From climbing to scuba diving, we hope this list helps you to find your community and get outside. Know of any other organizations creating experiences for Black outdoor enthusiasts? Drop a comment below. 💬👇🏾

We are excited to see the work of one of the PhD students part of the ORC Student Group highlighted. Congrats Zoe Reep, we are so proud of the impact you are making!

Making the great outdoors more accessible to everyone | ASU News Americans adore the great outdoors, flocking to national parks and relaxing in their local green spaces.A 2025 report by the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade group, found that 181.1 million people — nearly 60% of all Americans age 6 and older — recreated outdoors. That’s a 3% increase fro...

This year, the Outdoor Research Collaborative (ORC) was glad to have a booth at the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Program's Conference—our first time attending since 2023.

Our relationship with NATSAP has evolved over time. While the ORC no longer receives research funding from NATSAP, many of our collaborators continue to engage with NATSAP and OBH programs in new and different ways—focused on evaluating outcomes, supporting accountability, and advancing safe, ethical, and effective practice across outdoor and residential care settings.

It was encouraging to see more community-based programs represented, along with residential programs expressing genuine interest in incorporating outdoor and adventure therapy in thoughtful, intentional ways.

We also appreciated NATSAP’s decision to invite Dr. Corey Jentry—a well-known critic of residential and substance abuse treatment centers—as the keynote speaker. Centering client voice and lived experience is essential, and this felt like a meaningful step toward accountability and growth within the field.

ORC recognizes and supports NATSAP’s efforts to move forward Stop Institutional Child Abuse legislation, as well as the ethical and legal regulations for youth transport and treatment.

As always, ORC remains committed to research that centers informed consent, trauma-informed care, and human rights. We are grateful to colleagues in this space who share these commitments and continue to push the field toward greater transparency, integrity, and care.

So excited to announce the publishing of a new chapter by our ORC Collaborators, Adventure Therapy in Trauma Treatment, included in the new book Introduction to Trauma Counseling. We are working to spread the word about the adventure therapy as an effective option for counselors in any setting. Below is the article citation and a link to the book.

Lung, D. M., Tucker, A. R., Norton, C. L., & Beale, B. (2026). Adventure therapy in trauma treatment. In J. R. Reyes & J. Haas (Eds.), Introduction to Trauma Counseling: Inclusive Approaches (pp. 175-196 ). Cognella Academic Publishing.

https://titles.cognella.com/introduction-to-trauma-counseling-9798823349505?srsltid=AfmBOooWTALOIVDS_yQh5vVqBtm9gc8Kb-NSX-ZpxcOUuQx_oWPzcCsB

Great weekend of presentations from ORC Collaborators and other amazing outdoor education colleagues at the 17th Biennial Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) Research Symposium. Thanks to 2nd Nature Trek and CEO for connecting professionals around important dialogues on access and equity in natural spaces. .deringer .w.gonzalez

🎙️ ORC Collaborator Spotlight! 🎙️

We’re excited to share that Dr. Cian Brown kicks off Season 2 of The Humanistic Counselor Podcast*!

In this episode, Cian discusses existential adventure therapy, drawing from the recent article:
Brown et al. (2025). Navigating adventure therapy: Using existential theory as a guide.

We’re proud to celebrate Cian’s contribution to the field.

On Spotify: https://bit.ly/4rTTn3u 🎧

Existential Adventure Therapy w/ Dr. Cian Brown The Humanistic Counselor · Episode

The Outdoor Research Collaborative is committed to partnering with leading organizations in the outdoor health field. Several of our members also serve as representatives to the Nature and Health Alliance—a national research and practice network dedicated to advancing public understanding of the health benefits of nature connection.

Dr. Christine Norton, Dr. Cian Brown, and Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan all contribute to the Alliance’s mission to “support collaborative research, promote interdisciplinary studies, and strengthen national policy efforts” related to nature and health.

Learn more about the work of the Alliance here:

Redirecting to https://www.natureandhealthalliance.org/

🎙️ Tune in: our very own ORC collaborators Dr. Laura Mills and Dr. Joanna Bettmann Schaefer join Dr. Will White on the podcast Stories from the Field to dig into outcome research around wilderness and outdoor behavioural health: “What do wilderness therapy outcomes really tell us?”

They explore why family engagement is such a powerful predictor of success, how adopted and neurodiverse adolescents often experience different outcomes, and why a teen’s sense of belonging in treatment matters. Joanna and Laura also discuss the importance of transparency, ongoing outcome measurement, and listening to those who felt harmed by treatment. For parents, professionals, and anyone seeking facts over assumptions, this episode brings clarity to what outcome research really shows about wilderness therapy today.

🎧 Listen here: Episode 290: The Truths about Wilderness Therapy: What Outcome Research Shows https://bit.ly/4ihMmVS

Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors

Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors: 290: The Truths about Wilderness Therapy: What Outcome Research Shows What do wilderness therapy outcomes really tell us? In this episode, Will talks with researchers Dr. Joanna Bettmann Schaefer and Dr. Laura Mills, two leading researchers studying outcomes in wilderness therapy and residential outdoor treatment. Drawing on data from thousands of adolescents across m...

During the 2025 Association for Experiential Education's International Conference, ORC Collaborator, Dr. Bobbi Beale, was honored and chosen to give the 2025 Marina Ewald and Kurt Hahn Address. During her address she highlighted the importance of understanding the neuroscience of trauma, the strength of resilience through community and the power of action and hope.

Bobbi Beale, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and a Co-Director of the Center for Innovative Practices & the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health COE at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Beale has over 30 years of practice and expertise in trauma, resilience, system of care and behavioral health treatments for children, youth and families. Specializing in Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) and Adventure Therapy, she spends most of her time training, consulting, researching and providing technical assistance to support providers serving youth and their families that are involved in multiple service systems. She is currently working with a native owned and operated healthcare system in Alaska, designing non-traditional therapy programs for Native Alaskan youth and families that have personal, cultural and historical trauma histories. For over 20 years, Dr. Beale has used adventure therapy due to its natural alignment with trauma informed care and anti-oppressive practices to bring awareness and change to systems of care that keep punishing participants for having trauma responses to their environments. She is co-author of the textbook, Adventure Group Psychotherapy and has served as a volunteer leader in many roles at AEE including chairing the Heartland regional council, launching CORE (Council on Research & Evaluation), serving on the board of directors, and leading the Social Justice Task Force.

We’re proud to have you as part of the ORC community — your dedication, leadership and scholarship continue to elevate the field.

Association for Experiential Education

While today is a day to give thanks in the United States, we want to share resources about how all of us, but especially settlers on this land, can acknowledge, honor and act to support our indigenous and First Nation neighbors and community members. Below is an excellent resource from the First Nations Development Institute.

Understanding Thanksgiving from Our Side of the Table | First Nations Development Institute Understanding Thanksgiving from Our Side of the Table   Native communities have their own diverse practices to celebrate family, resilience, community and giving thanks. And giving thanks doesn’t just happen around this holiday we call Thanksgiving. We hope this year, you will take this time t...

Excited to highlight the amazing work of our ORC Collaborators at this year’s AEE International Conference. At the conference, the ORC engaged in ongoing conversations at the our booth, our ORC Collaborators presented 12 different workshops, and we were all able to join for an ORC Social. Thank you to all of your and we hope you join us next year in Estes Park, for AEE's 2026 International Conference.

Below are the list of impactful presentations and presenters:

Adventures in Resistance: Exploring Social Justice Activists & Strategies for Personal Practices with Bobbi Beale

Beyond the Buzzwords: Experiential Tools for Goal Setting, Evaluation and Enacting Point B with Nicholas Magle-Haberek

Empowering from the Start: Building an Anti-Oppressive Framework for Experiential Education with Anita Tucker, Christine Lynn Norton, Esther Ayers, Deidra Goodwin, Diana Gonzalez, Kathy Chau Rohn

Experiential Advocacy: How Individuals Create Sustainable Change At Home with Deidra Goodwin, Aaron Leonard

Healing Invisible Wounds: Nature-Based Therapy for Operational Stress Injuries in Emergency Service Professionals & Veterans with Aaron Leonard

Individual Adventure Psychotherapy: Riding the Facilitated Wave with Trauma-Informed and Anti-Oppressive Practices with Anita Tucker, Bobbi Beale, Gary Stauffer, Maurie Lung, Tony G. Alvarez, Kim Sacksteder

Play for Grown Ups (and Growth Mindset)! With Maurie Lung

Reviewing the “Reviewer”: The Undervalued, Indispensable, Yet Thankless, Role of the Peer-Reviewer. Will You Serve? With Joanna Bettmann Schaefer

SEER Session 3: We are Human Before We are Labels–Transfiguring Testimonios with Adventure Therapy with Christine Lynn Norton, Esther Ayers, Diana Gonzalez

The Humanistic Risk Management Model: A Trauma-Informed, Systems-Thinking Approach to Assess and Manage Risk with Christine Lynn Norton, Kynetta Sugar McFarlane

The Intersection of Inclusion, Psychological Safety, and Program Risk Management with Kim Sacksteder

From Trail to Trust: Outdoor Adventure as a Bridge to Peer Support for Guardians with Aaron Leonard

Stay tuned for insight, innovation, and collaborative energy as we push forward the field of outdoor, experiential and adventure therapy practice & research together.

Attached are some pictures of our collaborators in action at the conference in workshop, in the booth and at the ORC Social.