Outdoor, Adventure, and Experiential Programming in child welfare utilizes nature-based activities to promote the well-being and development of at-risk youth.
These programs focus on building trust, teamwork, and resilience through engaging experiences that encourage personal growth and social skills. By providing a safe and supportive environment, they aim to empower children in foster care or other challenging situations, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing emotional stability.
Publications
Norton, C. L., Tucker, A. R., Wiebe, A., D’Amore, N., Chiapuzio, B., Bessone, M., Holmes, L., & Ortiz, R. (2026). Using the Adventure Therapy Experience Scale (ATES) to explore client experiences in an adventure therapy program for youth involved in child welfare. The Journal of Foster Care, 7(1), 1-28. https://jfc-ojs-ttu.tdl.org/jfc/article/view/61
Tucker, A. R., Beale, B., Norton, C. L., Walsh, H., Keefe, M., Holmes, L., & Wermer-Colan, A. (2025). The Ohio adventure therapy coalition: A statewide trauma informed group work initiative for youth involved in CPS. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 20(3), 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2024.2386163
Norton, C. L., Schultz, M., Benton, A., Boden-McGill, C. & Kiosoglous, C. (2019). Outdoor adventure-based group work to promote coping and resilience among child welfare workers. In -T. J. Carter, C. J. Boden-McGill, & K. Peno, (Eds). Transformative learning in professional learning contexts: Building resilient professional identities for work-based practice (pp. 197-220). Information Age Publishing.
Norton, C. L., Tucker, A. R., Farnham, M., Borroel, F., & Pelletier, A. (2019). Family enrichment adventure therapy: A mixed methods study examining the impact of trauma-informed adventure therapy on children and families affected by abuse. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 12(1), 85-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0133-4
