GOAL-SETTING AND THE ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE

This research explores goal setting among the various participants of the Leeuwin adventure sail training program. Focus group and individua l interviews conducted at different stages of a voyage with long-term unemployed young people (trainees), and staff from Leeuwin and the Dep artment of Education Employment and Training revealed that most partic ipants set multiple goals, and that, of these, intrapersonal and inter personal goals were most frequently stated. Goals tended to be vague r ather than specific. As the voyage progressed, career-type goals assum ed more importance among trainees. There was commonality in goal setti ng between the participating groups, and trainees rated as most succes sful during the voyage were found to increase the number of goals they set as the voyage progressed. This study demonstrates the power of se tting specific and challenging goals.