The 10th International Adventure Conference of the Adventure Tourism Research Association will be hosted by the University of Applied Management at the Adventure Campus in Treuchtlingen, Germany from the 7th to the 9th of June 2023. The conference invites academics, students and industry practitioners alike. The conference includes keynotes, parallel sessions and outdoor activities. It is a gathering of adventure enthusiasts who want to help shape our adventure tourism future.
Programme and call for abstracts
Being-with and being well in nature: Our tentacular adventures
The idea of adventure is inevitably intensely human, socially construed, and stems from the very emergence of our species as it struggled to survive, to move and to procreate. For early humans, every day had elements of risk, and discovery, connection and understanding with a material and more-than-human world was essential. These simple ideas have informed conference themes emanating from an anthropocentric perspective for most of our past nine events. There have been lots of ideas about the benefits of careful risk-taking, of outdoor exercise, of adventure tourism’s potential in benefitting remote rural, coastal and mountain communities. And, increasingly, the idea of outdoor leisure, adventurous and fast or slow, as a salve for many of the societal ills of our times: obesity, depression, heart disease, screen addiction and so forth. We therefore wish to draw some of these ideas together in this call for contributions to the tenth IAC.
We want to expand the notion of the ‘being’ in well-being, and also to reverse the term – hence, ‘being-well’. However, implicit in being-well is a solid link to Haraway’s (2015) challenges and critique of the Anthropocene and Capitalocene, and her insistence on the acknowledgement of a Chthulucene, which in some ways parallels Bennett’s (2010) work on Vibrant Matters, in which she argues for an acknowledgement and embrace of a wider material world filled with agency – being-with.
Please take a look at the full call for abstracts to further explore the conference theme.
We welcome all forms of representation at the event, from performance (poetry, song, dance or whatever) to more traditional research papers and everything in-between.
Conference Sub-themes
Please think about the following sub-themes when submitting your paper:
- Embodied practices – snow angels to white / wild water swimming
- Materials, plasticities and affects in adventure
- Inclusive practice in adventure – including the more-than-human
- Beyond cognition: being-with via feelings, felt memories, senses and more
- Conjoined materialities – wild foods and food in the wild
- Spiders, spontaneous plants and beings in our worlds of adventure
- Intimate immensities– the smallness of being human-in-the-world
Also consider our regular paper tracks:
- Inclusive and accessible outdoor spaces
- Inspiring outdoor learning
- AI and adventure tourism
- Positive Ageing and outdoor life
- Nature protection and visitor management
- Degrowth and adventure tourism
- Wilderness and adventure therapies
Submission of Abstracts and Posters
Abstracts of 400 to 600 words (excluding references) are invited for peer review. Abstracts should clearly state the presentation objectives and findings, and explicitly identify which of the key themes that the presentation fits. The abstract should include: title, keywords, introduction, method, findings/discussion and conclusion. Inspiring conference posters are also requested from students and other researchers.
Deadline expired. If you want to submit a last minute abstract, please get in touch.
Note: All accepted abstracts will be published in the conference book of abstracts, and will be available on the conference web page. There is also the possibility for some papers to be considered for post-conference publication – special issues of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism and the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning are being explored.
Keynote-Speakers
David A. G. Clarke
Lecturer, University of Edinburgh (UK)
He lectures in Outdoor and Environmental Education at the University of Edinburgh (UK). He is a member of the University’s Centre for Creative-Relational Inquiry (CCRI), and the Sustainability in Education Research Group (SIERG). His academic interests traverse education, creative inquiry, life experience, and ethics in the Anthropocene.
Catherine Kelly
Geographer, University of Brighton (UK)
She is the author of the best-selling book Blue Spaces: How and Why Water Can Make You Feel Better. She is an Irish academic geographer, working at the University of Brighton. In addition, she has further degrees in stress management and is a wellbeing practitioner. She runs Wild Blue School Brighton, a coastal environmental education enterprise, as well as wellbeing programmes for young people. Her research reflects her policy-practice interface interests.
Manuel Steinbauer
Professor, University of Bayreuth (GER)
He is Head of the Sports Ecology Department of the Sport Science Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. His research focuses on biodiversity and the effects of outdoor and adventure activities on flora and fauna. His aim is to find ways of participating in theses activities with minimal impact on nature.
Emily ah Höckert
Researcher, University of Lappland (FIN)
She is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lapland, Finland. Her research examines and cultivates relational ways of being, knowing, storying and acting with in tourism settings. Her work is driven by a curiosity of how outdoor leisure can simultaneously mitigate the ecological crisis and adapt to the unpredictable risks and changes ahead. Emily is a member of the research project “Envisioning proximity tourism with new materialism” and the “Intra-living in the Anthropocene” research network.
After-Dinner-Speaker
Christo Förster
german adventurer, author and speaker
Christo Foerster is an adventurer, bestselling author and expert on change. His motto „raus und machen” („get out and do”) stands for a new, sustainable understanding of motivation. Christo is a passionate ambassador for the opportunities next door. His micro-adventure philosophy inspired thousands to take chances. Christo also studies the manifold effects of nature for personal growth and health – both in theory and practice. He is the father of two and lives in Hamburg, Germany.
RECONNECT – My ego, wild ways and finding the we // During the pandemic I felt the need to set out on a big adventure again. But due to the many travel restrictions my only chance was to create an expedition within the borders of my own country. That’s why I found myself on the summit of the Zugspitze in the Alps one summer morning, carrying over 40 kilos on my back, including a Paddleboard. My goal: to cross Germany and reach the most northern landmark on the island of Sylt in the North Sea unsupported within 7 weeks. When I finally reached my goal after hardship and unforgettable joys I had learned far more than I ever hoped for: I had established an amazingly strong connection to the landscapes of the country I live in, a new connection to the elements, to nature, to something much bigger than me … This talk is about setting out, intense moments in the near outdoors and the connective effects nature reveals when we really allow ourselves to dive in.
Activities
The conference will include activities in the afternoons on the 7th and 8th of June. The activities are included in the conference fee and are a great opportunity to network while out and about! You can sign up for the activities during the registration process soon. The following activities in the area are waiting for you:
- Mountainbiking: Discover our local trails (Heumoedern Trails) and enjoy a guided tour by our partners RideTime. There will be tours for different skill levels.
- Wakeboarding: At the Lake Brombach our partners from Wakepark Brombachsee will give you an unforgattable ride in their cable park. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will have a great time!
- StandUp Paddle polo: Have you played SUP polo before? Pair up with two other players to play a three on three match in the SUP polo court and try to keep your balance and pass the ball at the same time.
- Canoeing tour: The river Altmuehl is famous spot for canoeing trips. Enjoy the beautiful nature while paddling along this soft flowing river in a canoe or kajak.
- Outdoor cooking course: Do you want to learn different ways of cooking over open fire? Come to our outdoor cooking class and get to know about different ways of cooking and preparing a four course menu.
- Nature Hike: Go on a hike in the Altmuehl valley and learn about local fauna and flora. The area is popular for hiking holidays and has lots to offer.
- Forest bathing: Let your soul take a relaxing bath in our surrounding forests. You will learn how to take in the beautiful nature with all your senses and get some immersive time in the woods.
- Bouldering: Our bouldering gym has many different boulders on offer, both for beginners and experts. You can stay at the venue and climb as long as you want. There will be someone to give you tips and help you if necessary.
- Nature Journaling In this facilitated series of activities, participants will learn how to observe and document the natural world around them through a variety of techniques, including drawing, writing, and mindfulness exercises. Please bring your own notebook or sketchbook, and pencil(s).
- High ropes garden and big swing: As a team you will enter the high ropes garden, climb the trees in the forest and master the challenges together. If you are up for some adrenaline try the big swing.
Registration
You can now register for the conference using the booking tool below. The conference fee will include participation, two activities (on Wednesday and Thursday) and all meals. Please book your accommodation separately using the link below (see Accommodation). If you have any question please do get in touch manuel.sand@fham.de.
Venue – Adventure Campus
The conference will take place at the Adventure Campus in Treuchtlingen. The adventure campus is the base camp for the adventure courses of the University of Applied Management and also an outdoor centre and seminar hotel. The campus offers 6 seminar rooms, a cafeteria, a bouldering gym, a bar, a park area and also accommodation. So pretty much everything, apart from some activities, will happen at the adventure campus with lots of opportunities for networking and activities.
Accommodation
The Adventure Campus offers accommodation in single rooms and a few double rooms. Accommodation will include a continental breakfast buffet. You can book your room directly at the conference venue. You do not need any code or anything else.
If you have special requirements, questions or need help with your booking, please do get in touch with the Adventure Campus.
There are also cheaper rooms with shared accommodation available for students. Please do get in touch if that is an option for you info@adventure-campus.com.
Getting there
✈ by plane
You can either fly into Munich or Nuremberg, and then take a train to Treuchtlingen.
🚅 by train
Treuchtlingen can be reached by trains from many destinations within Germany. It is situated on the trainline between Nuremberg and Munich. It is a 15-minute walk from the station to the campus. Please be aware that the last part is uphill.
🚗 by car
The B2 between Nuremberg and Augsburg goes past Treuchtlingen. Do take the exit “Treuchtlingen” and follow the signs for Hochschule Adventure Campus. There is free parking available at the campus.
Follow this link to find more information about getting there. Please be aware that this page is in German and has to be translated by your browser, if necessary.
🚗 by car
🚅 by train
Sponsors
There are a range of interesting sponsoring opportunities available at the conference. If you are interested in supporting the event, then check out our sponsoring portfolio and get in touch with manuel.sand@fham.de.
