provided away forviewerstoexperience 2007). 51.7 millionviewersforthe finale (Anderson, premiere had15million viewers andgrew to off theisland.Ifoundoutthatshow’s $1 million.Eachweeksomeone wasvoted other inhopesofwinningthegrandprize and thenindividualscompetedagainsteach they were dividedintotwoteams.Teams 16 individualstoadesertedislandwhere 2007). Thenin2000,ashowbythenameof form ofpageantsorgameshows(Anderson, around formanyyears;itwasfirst inthe I learnedthatreality televisionhasbeen program. when theycomeforanadventure education and howiteffects whatwedowithgroups why peoplehavethesethoughtsandimages to dothatstuff?”, Idecidedtotryfind out stuff on today?” or“Thisisnothingcompared tothe going tobethefirst onekickedoff theisland Survivor not goingtobedoingthatstuff theydoon where Iheard commentssuchas“We’re After workinginmanyadventure programs such as perhaps informedbytheirfavouriteprogram, based onwhattheyhaveseentelevision, different from ours:theirexpectationsmaybe us, however, theirexpectationsmaybequite programming field. Whenpeoplecometo — afantasticopportunityfortheadventure programs withinschools and companies growing appreciation ofgroup dynamics Over thepastfewyears,there hasbeena than thecontextyouare tryingtoconvey? a different understandingandexpectations adventure programming topeopletheyhave Have youeverfeltthatwhenexplaining by KevinLindner Expectations of Adventure Programs : Altering Participants’ E Survivor Survivor wasintroduced: thisshowbrought or The AmazingRace ducation forCharacter becameaculturaleventthat . , are we?”or“Whois . Whendoweget other reality showslike television companiesquicklydeveloped Due tothewidepopularityof learning program. going toparticipateinanadventure-based for manyindividualswhentheyhearare together tosurvive.Thoseimagesstandout activities inwhichgroups hadtowork produced activitiesthatpeople watched, adventure through others.Theshow lead inaninitiative task.Unfortunatelyfor to participateinanactivity ortotakethe be theoneswhowantto thefirst people setting, framingorreflection. Theytendto to getrightintothingswithout anycontext- who are ready foranything, andwhowant they are theoneswhoare extremely excited, arrive attheadventure educationprogram, found thatwhenthesetypesofindividuals them thrilling.From myexperience,Ihave in thesetasksandexpecttoultimatelyfind excited bytheopportunitytoparticipate of thereality shows,feelexhilaratedand have seenchallengingactivitiesonsome on group buildingisexciting.Participants participate inanadventure program focused For someindividuals,thechanceto heard about. programs thattheymayhavewatchedor may bebasedonthevariousreality television program, theirexpectationsofourprograms they are goingtoparticipateinanadventure their group together. Whenindividualshear produce andfeelthatthisisthewaytobring seen thetypesofactivitiestheseshows community andyouthgroup leadershave shows, companies,classroom teachers,and of thesecompetitivechallengereality common goal.With thegrowing popularity to showhowgroups canworktowards a and Fear Factor that use“ordinary” people The AmazingRace Survivor ,

5 PATHWAYS Education forCharacter 6 PATHWAYS usually equatestobeingeliminatedfrom the a taskorvoicingconcernontelevision—it seen theresults ofnotbeingabletoperform even duringanactivity. Manyofthemhave run through theirheadsbefore andsometimes perform acertaintask. All ofthesethoughts want tolettheirteamdowniftheycannot happens onthetelevisionshowsanddon’t the program’s activities.Theyhaveseenwhat program andwanttohaveaveryclearideaof before comingtotheadventure education individuals wanttoknowwhatishappening learning experience.Ihavefoundthatthese activities plannedfortheiradventure-based reaching theprogram siteorseeingtheactual of nervousnessoranxietybefore even on televisionandhavedevelopedasense as theyhavewatchedthesedifferent activities reluctant tocometheadventure program On theotherhand,someindividualsmaybe numerous excitingtasksinstead. to focussolelyontheaccomplishmentof reflecting onthegroup process andwants tends tobe(andremains) disinterested in have affected thistypeof individual who within agroup. Thereality televisionshows an understandingoftheprocess takingplace taking partinaprogram designedtofoster have more “thrilling”experiences insteadof had whentheyarrived.Theywere hopingto expectations thattheseexcitedparticipants the activitiesastheyare not meetingthe of theseparticipantsbecomebored with some adventure program leaders,many different goals inmindfortheparticipants. have foundthatdifferent reality showshave arriving andparticipating in anactivity. I of adventure programming before even affect aperson’sexpectationsandperception a continuumofhowreality televisioncan As youcansee,there are twoextremes on “that” person. verbally sincetheydon’twanttobeknownas engage inthechallengeeitherphysicallyor tendency tobequietandnotwantactively in you.Ihavefoundtheseparticipantsa group orgroup membersbeingdisappointed success. of eachmemberwithinthegroup toachieve environments andtoleverage thestrength with newpeopleinnovelandchallenging Survivor that happensontheshow. Lastly, theshow activities are culturallybased duetothetravel in underothercircumstances. Manyofthese would neverhavetheopportunitytoengage participate inchallengingactivitiesthatthey and theirrelationships together. Thepairs The AmazingRace risks theyavoidintheirdailylives.Theshow participants trytoconquerfearsbytaking on personalgrowth andmotivation, as For instance,ashowlike found thatat the endofdayitistruly themes inadventure programming, Ihave situations. Whenusingthese reality show can grow asindividualsandgroups inunique demonstrated manyways in whichpeople Ultimately, reality televisionhas participating intheactivities. ensure thateveryonewouldfeelcomfortable who needit,whileatthesametimetryto that senseofexcitementfortheindividuals some adventure program settingstocreate important formetoapplythesethemesin negative group responses. Ifoundthatitwas and growth insteadofcompetitionand but changetheactivitiestostress cooperation that reality televisionshowshaveprovided, a prize.Ihaveutilizedsomeofthethemes programs, whichare notjustaboutwinning the expectationsofadventure-based learning to makesure thattheparticipantsunderstand behaviours. At thesametime,itisimportant is anintriguingwaytodevelopgroup these showsindesigningadventure programs an ultimategoal.Ihavefoundthatusing how toapplysuccessfulbehavioursreach regarding whatisconsidered successfuland show givesthevieweradifferent perspective with theaward ofamonetaryprize.Each other andeachshowendsthesameway: participants learnmanythingsabouteach Within thesereality televisionthemes, aimstoteachparticipantswork triestofocusonpartners Fear Factor focuses and thepersonalgrowth ofeveryindividual. want toachieve:thedevelopmentofgroups not overtaketheoutcomesthatweultimately their reality television-based expectationsdo in anadventure education program, sothat understanding ofwhatwillbehappening make sure thateveryparticipant hasaclear the yearstocome.Consequently, wemust will probably takeondifferent formsin for manyyears.Inaddition,reality television of televisionprogramming thatwillbearound programs. Realityshows have becomeaform common languageandexplanationsofthe individual inourprograms through our understanding oftheexpectationseach important thatallparticipantshaveaclear Art credit: Sarah Horsley Conestoga College. a courseinSmallGroupCommunicationsat Adventureworks! AssociatesInc.andteaches currently workingasaSeniorConsultantwith Program DirectorinOntarioforfive years.Heis Kevin LindnerworkedasanOutdoorEducation Anderson, K.(2007,December1).Hasreality References magazine/20071201/page13.html from www.realscreen.com/articles/ Magazine TV finally run itscourse? . RetrievedDecember15,2007, Realscreen Education forCharacter

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