The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the ability of mountaineers to identify risks using KYT photos of mountain routes, as well as the determining factors of that ability. Data were collected from 544 ordinary mountaineers and 30 experienced mountaineers, who tend to act as mountain leaders. They were shown photos of mountaineering routes and asked to identify risks for mountaineers based on the photos, in a period of five to ten minutes. Risks were identified by four other experienced mountaineers using the verbal protocol method. The results indicated that 1) although, in general, the mountaineers could identify risks in the photos according to the characteristics of the area depicted in the photos, some mountaineers showed a low ability to identify risks, 2) there were particular problems with identifying potential risks, and 3) while no difference in the ability to identify risks was found between groups with different amounts of mountaineering experience, the ability deteriorated with age. Experienced mountaineers identified the risks of mountaineering routes not only by perceptible cues in the photos, but also by inference of risk source details using an induced “schema of the mountain area,” and identified and evaluated risks in a manner similar to the recognition-primed decision model (Klein, 1998). The issues faced by mountaineers related to the ability to identify risks were discussed from the perspective of preventing mountain accidents.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effect camping on self-concept by using meta-analysis. The results show that the impact of camping on the change in self-concept is smaller for the “Self-Confidence” (d=0.02) and the “Self-Perceived by others” (d=-0.02) relative to the “Achievement Motivation” (d=0.23) and the “Self-Effort” (d=0.27). This suggests that “Achievement Motivation” and the “Self-Effort” factors are more easily impacted than others. This also suggests the possibility that how results appear varies depending on factors such as the timing of the surveys and age level. Through a systematic review, this study quantitatively organized previous studies on camping and clarified the current status and future challenges. Further accumulation of empirical research is required in order to acquire more accurate results.

Most researcher have reported that camping has psychosocial effect on participants. This study consisted of two purposes: primary purpose was to clarify effects of long-term camping on its participants’ over-adaptation, secondary purpose was to investigate the process of changing social adjustment of adolescents who have psychological problem (e.g., adolescents who cannot go to school or who have developmental disability). The targeted camp was long-term adventure camping organized by National Institution for Youth Education. The participants comprised of 16 adolescents of which four of them suffering from psychological problems. The questionnaire survey was administered to all participants before camping, the last day of camping and one month later by using Over-adaptation scale and Ibasho scale. And a case study was conducted for two participants who have psychological problems. Through the survey, it became evident that the camping showed partially significant effect on over-adaptation, especially on “Self doubt” factor. In addition, result from the case study generated the transformation process model for social adjustment. In the process, adaptive state moved some stages from “non-adaptive self”, “attention to self”, “seeking of self”, “pre-adaptive self” to, “adaptive self”. It can be considered from these results that long-term camping cultivates both individuation and socialization of social adjustment.