Hiking is a very accessible activity due to our country’s rich mountainous regions. Since walking positively affects the human organism and is a very accessible physical activity, people with special needs, who must be guided and accompanied due to their specific needs, can also undertake it. The hike leader must therefore adapt the hiking trip to individual needs of everyone involved, while, at the same time, prepare hikers for the hike and make them aware of the importance of environmental protection and appropriate hiking equipment. Due to the specific needs of people with a mental disability, the hike leader must adapt these theoretical contents and present them in an understandable way.
In this master's thesis, we wanted to determine how a hiking trip is planned and taken in a selected occupational activity centre and with what goals in mind the hike leader plans the hike. We focused on the challenges the hike leader faces when planning and taking a hiking trip. To process the data, a qualitative approach was adopted. The data were acquired using a semi-structured interview. Our sample comprised two hike leaders, working in the selected occupational activity centre as group rehabilitators and enjoy hiking as a hobby.
We determined that the biggest challenges the hike leaders have to face when planning and taking a hiking trip in the selected occupational activity centre are users' low fitness and poor motivation. The hike leaders face other challenges as well, such as the selection of escorts, users' health problems and adaptation to their specific needs. We determined that users, despite their hike leaders' preparation, are not entirely independent, neither during the hike nor during the hike preparation.
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