Acknowledge that youth come to outdoor adventure recreation programs with differing perceptions of nature. Staff should take
the time to learn more about the positive and negative beliefs that new participants hold and what beliefs predominate. In some cases, the “nature as frightening and dangerous” theme may prevail, with these youth feeling emotional duress in outdoor adventure recreational settings and great reluctance to participate. In others, the “nature as a place for fun” theme may be more important, with youth not taking proper safety precautions or protecting the natural setting during use. Some views may not be understood at all by beginners, such as the “nature as dirty” theme. Discussions with youth can help to identify individual as well as group needs, particularly if youth are new to outdoor adventure recreation.