Challenging interpretation to discover more inclusive models: The case of adventure tour guiding

Participation in higher risk outdoor adventure activities has increased significantly in recent years and this trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. It is suggested in this paper that the general focus of much current interpretive practice excludes those elements central to the outdoor adventure experience, namely, risk, the experience of nature in its rawest form, and the ability to interact with nature with no imposed values. This paper puts forth the argument that if the underlying objectives of interpretation relate to the social value of the quality of interaction with nature, the ethics of care for nature and a greater appreciation of the consequences of human action on nature and local cultures, then new approaches need to be introduced. The paper discusses how in allowing outdoor adventure guides to become interpreters we may begin to develop a more inclusive model for outdoor interpretation.