Outdoor activity and adventure is a growing field, but unfortunately, many teachers and recreation leaders and outdoor instructors find themselves without adequate resources to plan and deliver an effective outdoor program. Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education is a flexible, easy-to-use reference that helps physical educators, youth and outdoor recreation leaders, and camp and resort leaders deliver effective outdoor activities. This resource presents the following features:
21 units with 140 sound lesson plans that are field tested and flexible—meaning they can be adapted for any leader’s use
Quick and easy yet thorough and systematic planning and delivery of outdoor topics
CD-ROM with printable lesson plans, worksheets, assessment tools, and more to help leaders deliver a complete, individualized program
Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education is useful for experienced professionals and veteran practitioners. Outdoor leaders will discover an abundance of ideas that can make their jobs easier, enrich their teaching knowledge, and broaden their current programs.
The CD-ROM allows users to search for and print only the lessons they plan to use. The CD-ROM contains all the units featured in the book in addition to 8 units that are not included in the book.
The book provides additional information for teaching in the outdoors, the core skills needed for successful experiences, and 21 activity units composed of 140 lessons. Each chapter presents the purpose of the lessons, the learning outcomes, equipment required, operating principles, skill sets, and risk management. This overview is followed by a series of detailed lesson plans. The resource contains everything needed for delivering each activity.
Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education is a great resource for teachers and outdoor leaders, grounding them in the essentials of outdoor education, streamlining their preparation, and paving the way for a smooth delivery of effective outdoor education.
Unit 1. Core Camping Skills
Rolf Kraiker, Deborah Kraiker, and Andrew Foran
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Campsite Selection
Lesson 2. Knots and Ropes
Lesson 3. Tents, Shelters, and Sleeping Bags and Pads
Lesson 4. Backpacks
Lesson 5. Stoves
Lesson 6. Fires
Lesson 7. Food Preparation and Menu Planning
Lesson 8. Knives, Saws, and Hatchets
Lesson 9. Checklists and Specialized Kits
References and Resources
Unit 2. Navigation
Sean Dwyer
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Compass Parts and Use
Lesson 2. Components of a Topographic Map
Lesson 3. Using Map and Compass Together
Lesson 4. GPS (Part 1)
Lesson 5. GPS (Part 2)
Lesson 6. Using GPS and Map Together
Lesson 7. Route Planning
Lesson 8. Route Selection and Finding
Lesson 9. Geocaching
References and Resources
Unit 3. Environmental Ethics: Caring for Resources
Andrew Foran
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Connecting to the Natural World
Lesson 2. Trail Impact
Lesson 3. Campsite Selection
Lesson 4. Human Waste Management
Lesson 5. Cleaning Dishes in the Backcountry
Lesson 6. Campfires
Lesson 7. Environmental In-Camp Practices
References and Resources
Unit 4. Hiking and Backpacking
Sean Dwyer
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Hiking and Backpacking Equipment
Lesson 2. Ethical Practices in the Wilderness
Lesson 3. Day Hike
Lesson 4. Fire-Building and Lighting Techniques
Lesson 5. Footwear and Foot Care
Lesson 6. Backpacks
Lesson 7. Maintaining Comfort and Safety in Camp and on the Trail
Lesson 8. Backpacking Expedition
References and Resources
Unit 5. Rock Climbing
Darlene Thomasina Pidgeon
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Introduction and Preparation
Lesson 2. Top Rope and Belaying
Lesson 3. Belaying Review and Climbing Technique
Lesson 4. Bouldering and Games
References and Resources
Unit 6. Mountain Biking
Amanda Stanec
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Bike Safety and Sizing Your Bike
Lesson 2. Identifying Bike Parts and Bike Maintenance
Lesson 3. ABC Check, Gear Changing, and Pedaling Technique
Lesson 4. Ascending and Descending Hills Without Obstacles
Lesson 5. Environmental Awareness and Maneuvering Around Obstacles
Lesson 6. Ascending and Descending Hills With Obstacles
Lesson 7. Hopping Logs and Other Obstacles
Lesson 8. Small-Group Ride and Etiquette
References and Resources
Unit 7. Flatwater Canoeing
Kevin Redmond
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Equipment Fitting, Entries, and Exits
Lesson 2. Getting Wet to Get Comfortable
Lesson 3. Balancing, Jumping Out, and Climbing In
Lesson 4. Rescues
Lesson 5. Introductory Turns, Pivots Spins, and Sideways Displacement
Lesson 6. Paddling Circles and Straight Lines
References and Resources
Unit 8. Whitewater Canoeing
Kevin Redmond
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Gearing Up and Rescues
Lesson 2. Basic Whitewater Strokes and Maneuvers
Lesson 3. Intermediate Whitewater Strokes and Maneuvers
Lesson 4. Introduction to the River
Lesson 5. River Running
References and ResourcesUnit 9. Sea Kayaking
Mark Dykeman and Kevin Redmond
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Getting Started
Lesson 2. Kayak Feel, Tilt, and Strokes
Lesson 3. Kayak Rolling
Lesson 4. Paddle Strokes
Lesson 5. Sea Kayak Tour
References and Resources
Unit 10. Nordic Skiing
Sean Dwyer
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Fitting Participants for Nordic Ski Gear
Lesson 2. Introductory Skills and Classic Ski Technique (Diagonal Stride)
Lesson 3. Classic Ski Technique (Diagonal Stride)
Lesson 4. Double Pole and Kick Double Pole
Lesson 5. Putting It All Together
Lesson 6. Endurance Ski Using Classic Ski Technique
Lesson 7. Ascending and Descending Hills
Lesson 8. Skate Skiing—Two-Skate Technique
Lesson 9. Skate Skiing—One-Skate Technique and Skate Turning
Lesson 10. Relay Race, Obstacle Course, or Ski Tour
References and Resources
Unit 11. Snowshoeing
Sean Dwyer
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Equipment Selection and Walking Technique
Lesson 2. Recognizing Hazards, Managing Hazards, and Finding Routes
Lesson 3. Hill Ascending and Descending Techniques
Lesson 4. Running in Snowshoes
Lesson 5. Snowshoe Walk Through Nature Area
References and Resources
Unit 12. Archery
Sean Dwyer
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Getting Ready
Lesson 2. Shooting Technique
Lesson 3. Aiming
Lesson 4. Shooting Technique—Feedback and Self-Correction
Lesson 5. Tournament Target Shooting
Lesson 6. Archery Games
References and Resources
Unit 13. Fly Casting and Fly Fishing
Len Rich and Kevin Redmond
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1. Yarn Casting Progressions
Lesson 2. Fly-Fishing Equipment and Assembly
Lesson 3. Attaching the Leader
Lesson 4. Attaching the Tippet and Fly
Lesson 5. Casting the Fly Rod
Lesson 6. Applying Fly-Fishing Principles
Lesson 7. Live-Release Fishing
References and Resources
About the Editors
About the Contributors
How to Use the CD-ROM
CD-ROM Contents
Unit 14. Whitewater Kayaking
Mark Dykeman and Kevin Redmond
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Getting Started
Lesson 2 Kayak Feel, Tilt, and Strokes
Lesson 3 Kayak Rolling
Lesson 4 Paddle Strokes
Lesson 5 Introduction to Moving Water
Lesson 6 River Features and Surfing
References and Resources
Unit 15. Alpine Skiing
David Chorney
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Getting Started
Lesson 2 Flat-Surface Skiing
Lesson 3 Working on the Bunny Hill
Lesson 4 Moving Down the Bunny Hill
Lesson 5 Introduction to Parallel Skiing and Stopping
Lesson 6 Navigating Slopes
References and ResourcesUnit 16. Telemark Skiing
David Chorney
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Telemark Skills—Getting Started
Lesson 2 Telemark Turning
Lesson 3 The Backcountry—Avalanche Awareness
Lesson 4 Setting Out for Backcountry Adventure
Lesson 5 Backcountry Day Tour
References and Resources
Unit 17. Spin-Cast Fishing
Tara Marshall
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Assembling the Rod
Lesson 2 Attaching the Terminal Tackle
Lesson 3 Casting
Lesson 4 Catch-and-Keep Versus Catch-and-Release
References and Resources
Unit 18. Weather
Justin Barlow, Kathlyn Harpman, and Matthew Ngo
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Determining Barometric Pressure
Lesson 2 Determining Wind Direction
Lesson 3 Determining Wind Speed
Lesson 4 Constructing a Thermometer
Lesson 5 Determining Evaporation Rate
Lesson 6 Observing and Recording Cloud Types
Lesson 7 Putting It All Together—Predicting the Weather
Lesson 8 Other Methods of Weather Prediction
References and Resources
Unit 19. Staying Safe and Comfortable in the Outdoors
Andrew Foran and Janel Swain
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Thermoregulation—Heat Loss
Lesson 2 Thermoregulation—Heat Production
Lesson 3 Consequences of Poor Thermoregulation
Lesson 4 Controlling Thermoregulation
Lesson 5 Alternative Strategies for Thermoregulation
Lesson 6 Hydration
Lesson 7 Water Purification
Lesson 8 Energy Management—Caloric Intake
Lesson 9 Foot, Skin, and Eye Care
References and Resources
Unit 20. Risk Management
Blair Doyle
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Land Hazards
Lesson 2 Moving-Water Hazards
Lesson 3 Lake and Ocean Hazards
Lesson 4 Rescues and Hypothermia
Lesson 5 Weather Hazards
Lesson 6 Applying Risk Models
Lesson 7 Establishing a Risk Management Plan
Lesson 8 Establishing Emergency Procedures
Lesson 9 Case Comparison
Lesson 10 Wilderness First Aid
References and Resources
Unit 21. Leadership and Group Development
Zacchari Crouse
Equipment
Site Selection
Social Skills and Etiquette
Risk Management
Unit Organization
Lesson 1 Human Needs in the Outdoors
Lesson 2 Icebreakers
Lesson 3 Trust Activities
Lesson 4 Situational Leadership
Lesson 5 Group Development
References and Resources
Kevin Redmond, MPE, is a physical education teacher at Gonzaga High School in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He served as national chairperson for Paddle Canada’s Technical and Program Development committees and was the second person in Canada to be awarded Master Canoe Instructor as advanced instructor trainer in the disciplines of lakewater canoeing, moving-water canoeing, and canoe tripping.
Andrew Foran, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the teacher education program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Dr. Foran is a wilderness and remote first aid instructor trainer for the Canadian Red Cross and is certified as a canoe tripping instructor and canoe flatwater instructor by the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association. He has taught outdoor education leadership modules for Nova Scotia Outdoor Leadership Development and has received numerous grants to develop curriculum related to outdoor pursuits and leadership.
Dr. Foran is a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter, having presented on a variety of outdoor and wilderness topics. He has developed curriculum for outdoor pursuits, leadership, and wilderness and remote first aid and has numerous publications to his credit. In his leisure time, he enjoys canoe tripping, geocaching, and leading backpacking expeditions.
Sean Dwyer is a physical education teacher with Western School District in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He completed a physical education degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland and completed a master’s degree at the University of Alberta. He is a member of the Provincial Curriculum Committee for Physical Education. Sean worked closely with Kevin Redmond, among others, to introduce mandatory outdoor adventure components to the provincial curriculum.