Character Through Outdoor Adventure Education? The (Delimiting) Hope of Modern Virtue Ethics

Background: The long-held assumption of character development through outdoor adventure education (OAE) maintains some adherents; however, growing criticism calls into question its efficacy. Yet, current social/environmental crises signal the immediate importance of moral education. Purpose: This article highlights the importance of character in moral assessment and guidance and registers the need for an account of character relevant to OAE's social/environmental aims. It suggests a modern virtue ethical lens as a philosophical and practical way forward for OAE's moral educational mission. Approach: This article searches the OAE literature for substantiating evidence (rational and empirical). Then, in light of this search, a virtue ethical account of character, including its development, and relevance to OAE, is outlined. Conclusions: Evidence for character development through OAE is nearly non-existent, and semantic, philosophical, and empirical critiques loom large. If OAE wishes to continue its moral mission, then an account of character-promisingly provided in virtue ethical theory(s)-that can withstand these critiques is needed. Implications: Applied to OAE, modern virtue ethical theory provides an account of character, copes with the critiques, and supplies socially/environmentally relevant curricular and pedagogical guidance for future practice, while likely delimiting our claim to character development.