Poster Presentation about the benefits and risks of adventure education specifically relating to rock climbing

1. Risks and Management
• Types of risks such as low risks through to high risks and physical risks and emotional
risks. (Prouty et al,. 2007)
• Low risks are: children having a small chance of getting hurt. Activity is not dangerous.
• High risks are: children have a very big chance of getting hurt.
• Physical risks- body, skin is harmed such as child gets a bruise or cuts their knee.
• Emotional risk- affect self esteem, confidence or individual’s belief.
• Prouty et al (2007) states that physical risks can produce emotional upset such a child
cuts their knee open then they lose confidence and does not want to go rock climbing
again.
• Prouty et al. (2007) states that in adventure education ‘risks are unavoidable and
important in adventure education.’ ‘Activity will be managed but can not eliminate the
risks.’
• Knight (2011) agrees with Prouty et al (2007) that activities and play cannot eliminate
all risks for children because she states that without risks children may grow up to not
be able to manage risks , themselves or their environment.
• To manage risks the EYFS (2017) states that practitioners must complete a risk
assessment of everything that could cause harm or be a risk to children, the level of the
risk and how to minimise the level of risk.
• For rock climbing to minimise the level of risks children are equipped with helmets and
harnesses at Calshot.
• The play safety forum state that risk assessments should also include the benefits of
the activity for the children and not just the risks.
• In 1993 the play safety forum created the managing risks in play provision based on
this statement ‘ Children need and want to take risks when they play.’
• Play provision aim is to ‘respond to children’s needs and wishes by offering stimulating
and challenging environments for exploring and developing their abilities.’
• In 2008 the forum created the risk-benefit assessment form were it gives practitioners
the opportunity to write the benefits and risks activities can have for children.
Calshot activities centre-
• One of the biggest outdoor adventure centres in Britain
• Offers a variety of water and land based activities for all
age groups.
• Variety of indoor and outdoor activities such as skiing,
archery, rock climbing
• Rock hoppers club- 4-7 year olds.
Benefits of rock climbing for children
• Many of the benefits helps children’s development for example,
physical and social and emotional development (EYFS., (2017).
• Social development benefits- boosts their self confidence and
self esteem by climbing and having a go. (Siegel et al., 2015)
• Sense of achievement after climbing the wall (does not matter
how high they climbed).
• Social skills can be developed by motivating and encouraging
class mates to try to climb or to keep climbing or by reassuring
class mates that it is alright. (emotional development)
What is adventure education?-
Adventure education is defined by Bruce (1991) as open
ended play, sometimes defined as free flow play. Where
the activity or activities are child lead.
Children decide how they are going to play and what they
are going to play with.

4. Bibliography
• Bruce, T. (1991) Time to Play in Early Childhood Education. London: Hodder & Stoughton
• Department for Education (2017) Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS). {online}
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/669079/Early_years_foundation_stag
e_profile_2018_handbook.pdf (Accessed 20/10/19)
• Knight, S. (2011) Risk and Adventure in Early Years Outdoor Play: Learning from Forest Schools. London: SAGE
• Play Safety Forum. (2002) Managing risk in play provision: A provision statement. {online}
http://www.playengland.org.uk/media/120462/managing-risk-play-safety-forum.pdf (Accessed 30/10/19)
• Play Safety Forum. (2008) Risk-Benefit Assessment Form: Worked example. {online} http://www.playengland.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2015/10/psf-risk-benefit-assessment-form-worked-example.pdf (Accessed 30/10/19)
• Prouty, D, Panicucci, J and Collinson R. (2007) Adventure Education: Theory and Applications. Champaign: Human Kinetics
• Siegel, S and Fryer, S. (2015) Rock climbing for Promoting Physical Activity in Youth. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Volume 2(1) pp
1-9
• Steers, R, Mowday, R and Shaprio, D. (2004) INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL TOPIC FORUM: THE FUTURE OF WORK MOTIVATION THEORY.
Academy of Management Review. Volume 29(3) pp 379-387.
• All photos and images came from google images or trip advisor.