Research

Throughout its history, Wilderness Inquiry has conducted and encouraged research on its trips and programs in order to document outcomes and to seek ways to continually improve the quality of its service. These efforts have taken many forms, from very personal inquiries into the effects of individual participation to Congressionally mandated studies on how the federal government can improve access to outdoor recreation.

Researchers often use Wilderness Inquiry programs as a field site for conducting research. This page is designed as a resource for interested persons to connect with research by and about Wilderness Inquiry. We hope you find it useful!

RESEARCH CONDUCTED ABOUT WILDERNESS INQUIRY

Research is currently being conducted on Wilderness Inquiry's family and gateway programs by researchers at the University of Minnesota. Many additional research studies have been conducted over the years about various dimensions of WI programs.

McAvoy Research
• Therapeutic Recreation Journal Publication

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLICATIONS

Anderson, L.S. (1994). Outdoor adventure recreation and social integration: A social psychological perspective. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. PDF Document | View as HTML

Anderson, L., Schleien, S., McAvoy, L., Lais, G. & Seligman, D. (1997). Creating positive change through an integrated outdoor adventure program. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 31 (4), 214-229.  PDF Document

Anderson, L., Schleien, S., McAvoy, L., Lais, G. (1994). Wilderness Adventure Recreation and Social Integration: What's Going on Here? Research on Leisure Programs and services for Special Populations: Clinical and Community Focus.  PDF Document

Anderson, L., Schleien, S., McAvoy, L., Lais, G. & Seligman, D. (1993). Integration Through Adventure: Results of a Three-Year Longitudnal Study. The purpose of this study/evaluation effort was to investigate the effectiveness of extended integrated outdoor adventure programming conducted by Wilderness Inquiry in enhancing friendship development between persons with and without disabilities, increasing positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities, promoting outdoor skill acquisition, and impacting quality of life and generalization beyond the outdoor experience. Report Submitted to the U.S. Department of Education Grant #H128J00034  PDF Document

Erickson, B., Buswell, D., Passo, M. (2003) Adaptive Equipment Used for Wilderness Expeditions. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666 Beth Erickson spent a summer at Wilderness Inquiry documenting various pieces of gear we've developed and used so that people with disabilities may fully participate in our programs. PDF Document

Holman, T., Goldenberg, M., McAvoy, L., & Rynders, J. (2003). Outcomes-consequences-values of an integrated wilderness adventure program.  The Journal of Experiential Education, Abstracts, 25, (3) 353.

Kratil, D.S. (1995). The effect of an inclusive outdoor adventure on the quality of life of persons with and without disabilities. Unpublished master's paper. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Lais, G.J., McAvoy, L.H., & Fredrickson,L.M. 1992.  Wilderness accessibility for people with disabilities:  A report to the President and the Congress of the United States on section 507 (a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Washington: National Council of Disability. PDF Document | View As HTML

McAvoy, L. Understanding Means-End Theory for Wilderness Inquiry Trips. Study of how the benefits and outcomes of an integrated outdoor adventure program are related to the personal values of the participants using means-end theory. PDF Document

McAvoy, L. (2001). Research update-outdoors for everyone: Opportunities that include people with disabilities. Parks and Recreation. 36(8): 24-36.

McAvoy, L. (2000) Disability as diversity.  In, Allison, M. & Schneider, I. (Eds.) DiversityIssues and the Recreation Profession:  Organizational Perspectives.  P. 47-72. State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

McAvoy, L., & Lais, G. (1999).  Programs that include persons with disabilities.  In J. Miles & S. Priest (Eds.), Adventure programming (pp. 403-414).  State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

McAvoy. L. & Lais, G. (1996). Nature based human values and persons with disabilities. In Driver, B.,  Dustin, D., Baltic, T., & Peterson, G.(Eds.) Nature and the Human Spirit: Toward an Expanded Land Management Ethic (pp. 351-365). State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

McAvoy, L., Lais, G., Anderson, L. & Schleien, S. ((1995).  Wilderness and persons with disabilities: A review of research and policy directions. Trends, 32(1), 33-37, 48.

McAvoy, L., Roehl, J., Rynders, J. Leader Integration Competencies and Staff Training in Adventure Programs. A study to identify leadership competencies necessary for leaders in integrated outdoor adventure programs. PDF Document

McAvoy, L., Schatz, E., Stutz, M., Schleien, S., & Lais, G. (1989).  Integrated wilderness adventure:  Effects on personal and lifestyle traits of persons with and without disabilities. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 23(3), 51-64.

McAvoy, L. & Schleien, S. (2001). Inclusive outdoor education and environmental interpretation.  Taproot. 13(1): 11-16.

Newman, J.A. (2001) Effects of Participation in Wilderness Inquiry's "Gateway" Program on the Social and Leisure Functioning of Adults with Cognitive Disabilities. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  PDF Document

Rynders, J. (2001). Recreation: Key to a more fulfilling quality of community life. In S. Pueschel (Ed.), A parents guide to Down syndrome. Paul H. Brookes Publications, pp. 247-270.

Rynders, J. & Low, M. (2001). 'Adrift' in the educational mainstream: The need to structure communicative interactions between students with Down syndrome and their nondisabled peers. Down Syndrome Quarterly, 6, (1), 1-8.

Schleien, S.J., McAvoy, L.H., Lais, G. & Rynders, J.(1994). Integrated outdoor education and      adventure programs. Champaign, Il: Sagamore.

Scholl, K. Exploring Family Adventure in the Outdoors. The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.  PDF Document

Scholl, K. (2000) The Influence of an Inclusive Outdoor Recreation Experience
On Families that have a Child with a Disability. Study to identify the programming characteristics that support family outdoor recreation experiences when a child with a disability is a family member. Project FIT 1998-2000. PDF Document

Scholl, K. (2002). The influence of an inclusive outdoor recreation experience of families that have a child with a disability: An exploratory study.  Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Scholl, K.,  McAvoy, L. & Smith, J.  (1999). Inclusive outdoor recreation experiences of families that include a child with a disability. In Stewart, W. & Samdahl, D. (Eds.) Abstracts from the 1999 Symposium on Leisure Research (p. 9). Ashburn, VA: national Recreation and Park Association.

Scholl, K., McAvoy, L. & Smith, J. (2000). Benefits and components of an inclusive adventure program for families with children who have a disability. In Stringer, L.A., McAvoy, L. & Young, A. (Eds.),  Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Fifth Biennial Research Symposium  Proceedings (pp.72-81). Cortland, N.Y: Coalition for Education in the Outdoors.

Sproles, Kraig. The Hartford Study. An initial attempt to study the effects of the Wilderness Ability Adventure program. PDF Document

Sproles, Kraig. (1997). Overcoming Barriers to Employment: The Wilderness Ability Adventure Program. Unpublished Masters Degree Thesis. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota.

Stringer, L.A. and McAvoy, L. (1992). The need for something different: Spirituality and wilderness adventure. Journal of Experiential Education, 15(1), 13-20.

Stutz, M.E. (1988). Effects of an integrated wilderness adventure on the trait anxiety level and lifestyle of participants. Unpublished masters paper. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

**More information about ongoing research on Wilderness Inquiry can be found by visiting the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration's Research and Training Center on Community Living website: http://ici.umn.edu/wiresearch/home

RESEARCH PERFORMED BY WILDERNESS INQUIRY

Improving Access to Outdoor Recreational Activities on Federal Lands. June 27, 2000. Principle Authors: Greg Lais & Mike Passo Are all terrain vehicles necessary for people with disabilities to visit our National Parks? No, but alternative means for people with disabilities to visit natural areas is necessary, says a new report presented to Congress by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit and Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

On November 10th, 1998, President Clinton signed this report, Public Law 105-359, requiring the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to determine ways to improve access for persons with disabilities to outdoor recreational opportunities made available to the public on federal lands.

In recognition of its national leadership and expertise on the issue, Wilderness Inquiry was selected by these agencies to develop recommendations. WI gathered suggestions to improve access to outdoor recreation from many sources, including federal agency personnel, people with disabilities and outdoor recreation service providers. We began work on the project in December 1999, and released the recommendations in June 2000.

This is but one of many recommendations for how federal land management agencies can improve access to outdoor recreation for 54 million Americans who have disabilities. The report contains many recommendations for improving accessibility, but the primary conclusion is that accessibility for people with disabilities needs to be made a higher priority. Although progress has been made over the last 25 years, federal agency efforts are hamstrung by insufficient funding, a lack of understanding, and a lack of leadership.

The study was mandated by Federal law and conducted by Wilderness Inquiry.
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Access Board Cost Analysis of Outdoor Developed Areas
Sept. 24, 1999
Wilderness Inquiry, Inc.

The primary goal of this document is to identify the scope of trails, picnic areas, camping areas, and beaches that are anticipated to be built or significantly altered per year in the U.S., and to determine the economic impact of the proposed accessibility standards on agencies that construct these outdoor developed areas.

The U.S. Bureau of Public Debt contracted with Wilderness Inquiry, Inc., to conduct the study requested. A 501(c)(3) organization, Wilderness Inquiry provides activities that integrate people with and without disabilities into the outdoor environment, including many that take place in the outdoor developed areas being discussed for inclusion in the American’s with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

The cost analysis report is based on proposed scoping and technical provisions developed by the Regulatory Negotiation Committee. The most recent material developed by the Committee is available for review through the Access Board.

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Report to Congress on Section 507 (a) of The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
June 1, 1992
Principal Author: Greg Lais

The primary goal of this document is to satisfy the requirement of Section 507(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

"The National Council on Disability shall conduct a study and report on the effect that wilderness designations and wilderness land management practices have on the ability of individuals with disabilities to use and enjoy the NWPS as established under the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.)"

The National Council on Disability (NCOD) contracted with Wilderness Inquiry of Minneapolis, MN, to help conduct this study.
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