Clearly, there are people who seek out the thrills and spills of adventure and are willing to pay for the experience, but perhaps with minimal risks associated with it. This has led to an increase in the popularity of outdoor adventure tourism. Activity providers around the globe work hard to create memorable and exciting experiences, often in areas of outstanding natural beauty with the primary goal of generating the atmosphere of adventure. But there is one proviso – it must be as safe as possible! Therefore, these adventures must be managed and reasonably predictable. Just like the most experienced and rational explorers actively plan, manage and control their adventures to ensure their personal safety… even Alex Honnold.
Modern life, characterised by constant change, consumerism, social media, terrorism, global pandemics and climate change have made risk, uncertainty, stress and adversity feature in our daily lives. Is it time for outdoor adventure to carve out a new image, one which is softer, less masculine and more holistic in its approach to physical and mental well-being? Perhaps ‘needs’ such as freedom, enlightenment, happiness, safety, relaxation, nature, healing and reflection (rare commodities these days) are becoming higher on people’s list of priorities.
In some ways, I wonder if the pedagogy of adventure is evolving. Is there an opportunity for outdoor experiences to strengthen its relevance for the 21st century by offering a more nurturing pedagogy that is ‘needed’ for the times we live in?
For me, to genuinely appreciate the attraction and meaning of adventure, we should aspire to look beyond the physical aspect of adventuring and look toward the psychological benefit that flows much deeper. I wonder if the goals of being and becoming, fuelled by our emotional, spiritual, social AND physical wellbeing are the real reasons we adventure. Perhaps the risks, challenges and uncertainties of knowing our true selves are the adventure we aspire to every day. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is about the journey, not the destination”.