299: The Most Controversial Wilderness Program? Part 2: Scouting, Faith, and the Roots of the Field

What do Outward Bound and many wilderness therapy programs have in common? Their shared roots trace back to a movement that believed the outdoors wasn't just a place to learn skills, but a place to shape moral character, spiritual values, and a young person's sense of purpose. In Part 2 of this series, Stories from the Field host Will White continues his historical exploration of the influence of the Boy Scouts of America on the early development of many wilderness therapy programs.

Drawing on research from his doctoral dissertation, his book, and hundreds of podcast interviews, Will traces how Scouting's emphasis on outdoor living, moral formation, spiritual belief, and structured authority shaped the cultural assumptions that later informed outdoor education and wilderness therapy models. The episode also acknowledges the tensions, exclusions, and harms that emerged over time, offering listeners deeper context for where the field came from—and why it has continued to evolve.

This podcast is supported by White Mountain Adventure Institute (wmai.org), offering adventure inspired retreats for men and facilitated by Will White.