All-girls adventure programmes: what are the benefits?

Abstract

This study examined the benefits of all-girls adventure programmes from the perspective of adolescent girls. Participants included 361 girls aged 10–17 years from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds who completed a variety of adventure programmes. Adventure activities included rock climbing, sea kayaking, mountaineering, backpacking, canyoneering and mountain biking. The programme philosophies of each organization are rooted in a strength-based approach for programme planning and implementation which focus on supporting positive physical, social and emotional growth of girls. Using an open-ended survey and qualitative methods of coding, three themes emerged illustrating the benefits of these all-girls programmes from the girls' point of view: feelings of safety and comfort, increased connection to others, and freedom from stereotypes. The girls also considered how their experience may have differed if the setting had been co-educational (co-ed).