OUTDOOR SKILLS I

Fall 2006

Rec. 1201 & 1203 (2 Credits)
Tuesday/Thursday 2 - 4:30pm
Sports and Health Center Room 9/Bagley Nature Area

INSTRUCTORS:

Tom Beery Guy Merolle

235 Engineering 203 SpHC

726-7333 726-8677

tbeery@d.umn.edu merol003@d.umn.edu

www.d.umn.edu/~tbeery Office hours:

Office hours:

T: 9-11

W: 1-3

Th: 9-11

TEXTS:
Burns, Bob & Mike, (1991). Wilderness navigation. Seattle: The Mountaineers
Furtman, Michael (1992). Canoe country camping. Duluth: Pfeifer-Hamilton
Meyer, Kathleen (1994). How to shit in the woods. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

OBJECTIVES:

· This course is designed to introduce you to non-competitive skills which will enable you to better understand the outdoor environment.

· You will learn basic skills pertaining to autumn outdoor recreation in addition to becoming acquainted with outdoor recreational facilities in northeastern Minnesota.

· You will be introduced to equipment which will be centered on a canoeing theme. Sound outdoor ethics/etiquette which will benefit the outdoors and those who use it will be discussed and practiced.

· You will have the chance to go on a weekend outing to a nearby outdoor recreation area to practice the skills you will learn.

EXPECTATIONS:

· You are expected to participate fully. This is an active course and requires physical, social and academic participation. There is a special emphasis on physical participation as we will be outside for most class meetings—participation means that you will dress appropriately for outdoor classes as well. Bring water and a snack to class.

· You are expected to complete readings and assignments by the dates noted. Written work should be meet basic college standards in regards to grammar, spelling, organization and neatness. This is a college class and you are expected to treat the content and process with respect.

· Field experiences are an essential component to this course therefore we must acknowledge the inherent risk of field program participation. Leaving campus and use of the Bagley Natural Area presents risk management concerns including transportation and field site based dangers. In order to avoid problems and strengthen our risk management awareness, it is each student’s responsibility to behave in a manner that promotes personal and group safety while in the field. Any questions, concerns, specific medical information, etc. should be directed to the instructor as a part of a shared effort to ensure a safe and optimal learning environment.

Course Schedule

Date:

Topic:

Readings:

September
5/7

Syllabus overview and class

Expectations
Introduction to personal camping equipment

Knot knowledge—figure 8, bow-line

Read in Furtman: Preface XI,
Good Gear = Good Trip,
& Canoe Country Clothing.

12/14

(meet at Bagley Nature Area @ 2:10pm)

Food/Nutrition/Stoves/Fire—the canoe country kitchen

Knot knowledge—taut-line hitch

Read in Furtman: Canoe Country Kitchen
Read in Meyer: Chap. 1, Chap. 5

**Topic due for the paper assignment**

20/22

Canoe skills

(Meet at The UMD Aquatic Center at 2:30; located on Park Point, take MN Ave to 15^th St. turn right off of 15^th and look for the brown building on the water’s edge to your right.)

Read on website: Canoe Navigation

26/28

(meet in SpHC 9)

USFS Leave No Trace Video

Camp Group Meeting—this is an important meeting to ensure proper trip planning. See trip planning worksheet.

Knot knowledge—clove hitch/vis-klamp

Review LNT website

Read in Meyer: Chapters 2, 3 & 6
Read in Furtman: On Wilderness

**Pre-trip planning worksheet due

October

3/5

Canoe trip planning continued: Bears, water purification, tarps, permitting, etc!

Final Team Check-in

Knot knowledge—sheet-bend, double-fisherman’s

Read in Furtman: Packing for the portage, On our Way Finally, & The Movable Home

Read in Furtman: Planning Your Adventure, & Reservations and Regulations

Read on Website: Giardia article

6-8

BWCA Weekend Trip

Departure on Friday at 2 PM, pre-trip organizing at 1 PM.

Return to UMD on Sunday at 1 PM

10/12

(meet at Bagley Nature Area @ 2:10pm)*

Reflection on weekend trip

Introduction to the Superior Hiking Trail

*We will end this class no later than 3:30 pm.

Review SHT website

17/19

(site TBA—Duluth section of the SHT)

Autumn hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail*

Mid-term review provided

*Class time is slightly extended, 2:30-5:00 pm hike, we will meet at 2 pm to carpool and return to campus no later than 5:30 pm

**Turn in 1st Activity Points Form. Points will not be accepted after this date.**

24/26

(meet in the classroom SpHC 9)

Mid-term exam

Read in Burns: Chapters 1, 2 & 3

Oct. 31/Nov.

(meet at Bagley Nature Area @ 2:10pm)

Map & Compass basics

Read in Burns: Chap. 4, 5 & 7

November

7/9

(meet at Hartley Road entrance to Hartley Park @2:10)

Orienteering

14/16

Merolle—Map and Compass #3

Beery—Hunting/Safety

**Turn in final copy of Paper Assignment **

(meet in the classroom SpHC 9)

Merolle—Hunting/Safety

Readings TBA

28/30

(meet in front of SpHC to car-pool to gravel pit)

Trap shooting

December

5/7

Fire skills

Dutch oven baking

Read in Furtmam: 132-136

December
13

Course Review and preparation for the final exam (Wed. Dec. 21, 4-5:55, SpHC 9)

Reading TBA

** Turn in 2nd Activity Points

form **

GRADES:

Possible Points:	The Points Given:	Grading Based on % of:
Paper	30 pts	92% - A
Midterm	50 pts	90% - A-
Final	50 pts	82% - B
Activities	10 pts ea (20 total)	80% - B-
Camp Trip	30 pts	72% - C
Pre-camp planning	10 pts	70% - C-
Class Participation *	75 pts (4 pts x 15 classes)	62% - D
	275 total points

* Attendance is very important. You are responsible for all information given both indoors and outside.

COSTS

These figures are estimates of the extra costs involved:
• Food for the trip - $15.00
• Rental of personal gear from the Kirby Games Room (variable, depending upon need)

ASSIGNMENTS EXPLAINED

BWCAW Canoe trip Weekend: October 6-8 (30 points)
It is very valuable to experience the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness first hand. This trip is designed to introduce you to trip preparation, planning, equipment, and actual participation. These dates are rigid! Please make your plans for the semester accordingly. Note: Use of alcohol or illegal drugs on camp out will result in an immediate failure and expulsion from course.

Pre-trip planning session (10 points)

In order to properly plan the canoe trip, you are required to attend a planning meeting with your camp group. A specific planning worksheet will guide your efforts.

Activity Participation (10 points each = 20 points total)
To expand your exposure to a variety of outdoor activities other than those that are offered through this course, you are required to attend at least 2 different outdoor events from the Outdoor Program Calendar or pre-approved off campus events. Note that there are many free outdoor calendar events (if you sign up early for them!). These must be an activity (not a lecture) that is nature or outdoor education based; climbing on the wall may count as an “outdoor” activity.

Knot Knowledge

You are required to learn the following knots: taut-line hitch, sheet-bend, double fisherman’s, bowline and figure-8. These knots will be introduced throughout the first half of the semester and may be included on the both the mid-term and final exams.

Paper Assignment (30 points)*
Duluth, Northern Minnesota, southwest Ontario, northwest Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, offer a wealth of outdoor recreation possibilities. From paved bike trails, to trails and logging roads for mt. biking, to trails for canoeing, to rock for rock climbing, to vistas for birdwatching...the list goes on and on!

Your assignment is to plan an autumn outdoor excursion! You are required to pick an autumn activity that you would like to participate in and research a location where you can pursue your chosen activity. Possible locations include Nat’l forest service lands, state parks, national parks, provincial parks, county parks, city parks, wilderness areas, etc. It is mandatory that you choose an area within a 1 day drive of campus; Make every attempt to visit the recreation area. Ultimately, each paper should be able to serve as a guide for anyone interested in pursuing the given activity.

The paper should include the following:
1) Recreation area: area and location (include the specific route) described
2) Environment: natural environment described
3) Activity: activity described, routes, maps, permits, equipment required
4) Safety concerns
5) Other interesting or relevant information
6) References (min. 3, these must be complete and professionally based)

Last, you must visit the site and give your impressions of the area. Make final recommendations based on what you have observed first hand.
Papers need to be 4- 6 pages in length, typed double-spaced. Topics are due by 9/12-14. Final copy is due November 14.

*Alternate Options: this is an active course designed to expose you to outdoor recreation opportunities in our region; thus, you may choose to participate in one of the below options in exchange for writing the above detailed paper. If you choose one of the below, you will need to provide a brief oral review of the experience for your classmates.

· Outdoor Program Fall Trips (one of the below)

Ø Climbing: North Shore Climbing on Shovel Point and Climbing Outside at Ely’s Peak, Sunday 9/24 & Saturday 9/30

Ø Backpack the Porcupine Mountains, MI
Friday – Sunday, September 22-24

Ø Sea Kayak the Apostle Islands Overnight

9/16-17

Ø Mt. Biking Overnight, Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Outdoor Program trips require pre-registration and require min. fees to cover expenses. You will need to provide proof of participation along with a 2 two page reflection on the activity.

--OR--

Additional Activity Points—in addition to the required two activity point assignments noted above, you will complete another 3 activities. Four of the five activities must be outdoor and active. Climbing on the wall may count as one of the activities. You will need to submit a 2 page reflection on your participation in these events.