REASONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR RECREATION

Outdoor recreation can be described as an educational or recreational activity occurring in an outdoor setting which is physically demanding. One of the main aims of outdoor recreation is personal development. Participating in outdoor recreation can help you to develop through responsible interaction with others and responsible use of the natural environment. Experience in outdoor recreation has the potential to develop: - self awareness and responsibility - an ability to value and work with others - environmental appreciation - a capacity to accept and tackle challenges - a strong spirit - the management of personal stress - physical fitness

Benefits of outdoor recreation worksheet

There are a range of skills needed for successful outdoor education experiences. These include administrative planning and management skills, leadership and communication skills, conservation skills, navigational skills and survival skills.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

Planning Skills

Planning for environmental hazards will depend on the activity being undertaken and the venue chosen. Local knowledge of weather conditions in the area to be visited is essential. Leaders must consider the hazards of the chosen venue. It is important that the venue is suitable for the ability level of the participants; therefore leaders must have prior knowledge and experience in the area and research it thoroughly before taking a group of less experienced participants, at least one member of the party is qualified in First Aid

SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT

There are important safety risk management and organizational factors which must be addressed before and during a trip in order to manage the group safety. Thorough research, planning, clear thinking and experience can enable a group to survive the toughest conditions. Panic can cause people to make mistakes. The level of danger involved in a recreational activity can be reduced if you ensure that: -equipment is regularly checked and suitable to the conditions - routes are carefully planned - participants are skilled in navigation and have options for exit - at least one member of the party is qualified in First Aid A group may need to use an escape route if: - The weather changes - Participants are not coping with the terrain - An injury is suffered

FOOD AND WATER CONSIDERATIONS

The length and type of the expedition, possible weather conditions, and the season will determine the amount of food and water needed. Humans can live for up to 3 weeks without food but can only survive for approximately 1-3 days without water depending on the temperatures. Route planning should include reliable water sources so that 1.5 – 2 litres of water doesn’t have to be carried.

It is essential that participants prepare a balanced intake of food. Kilojoule intake needs to be high in physically demanding activities to provide energy.

Carbohydrates should be the dominant food consumed, followed by protein and fats. Menus should include meals which are nutritious, light to carry and quick to prepare. Food should be grouped into meals of equal weight and distributed evenly among the group to carry.

When selecting food and planning menus for the outdoors, it is necessary to consider the following questions: Is the food nutritious?

Is the food Light weight?

Is it easy to prepare?

Will you enjoy the food? (Does it taste good?) Is packaging kept to a minimum?

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

Expeditions may involve travel on private land or in national parks. If this is the case, participants need to consider the following: - Bookings for campsites - Permission from land owners to drive, camp, ski, or walk on their land - Entry permits Attention to detail, for example, leaving camp sites clean, leaving gates as you find them, respecting privacy and avoiding disturbing domestic plants and animals If a leader is acting in an official capacity (e.g., being paid) or has a duty of care over the group, such as a teacher and their students, they are accountable for their planning and management of the trip. In this situation, the leader could also be held legally responsible if something went wrong on the expedition and they were found to be negligent.

Planning is the most important part of any trip. A thorough and detailed route plan is essential for a successful adventure. There are many factors that you need to consider before you start your journey. These are: Ability of the group Time of year Weather Accuracy of maps Terrain Water supplies Campsites Escape routes in case of bad weather Fire danger Clothing and equipment Safety

HOW DO WE PLAN A ROUTE?

After taking into consideration the above list, you can now decide on a suitable route to take. Remember that your route must be one that you have the ability to follow.

A route plan has a number of components. It should have bearings, the leg distance, and walking times. You will be constantly changing direction so you will always have to write down the bearings between each leg. By looking at the contour lines on the map, you will be able to see whether the terrain is increasing or getting steeper, or decreasing.

Grid Reference:

the point on the map where the first leg is.

Bearing:

The magnetic compass bearing of the leg on the map. Remember when converting a grid bearing to a magnetic bearing you have to subtract 11 degrees.

Distance:

Distance travelled to each bearing. Measured in metres and calculated on the map.

Estimated Time:

Time to walk each leg and takes into consideration the above route planning factors.

Comments:

information regarding the type of terrain, points of interest, possible landmarks, etc.

MAP: Windy Gully DATE: SCALE: 1 : 50 000 LEG GRID REF.

BEARING DISTANCE (M) COMMENTS 1 2 3 098786 096755 132 deg 130deg 600 450 ESTIMATED TIME 13 mins 8 mins Follow track Follow spur

The choices made about the clothing and equipment taken on an expedition can save lives. Equipment needs will vary depending on the expedition undertaken.

In general, outdoor recreational activities demand lightweight, durable equipment and clothing that will protect you from environmental conditions.

It is important that the loads carried are manageable, therefore all equipment needs to be carefully chosen.

It is vitally important to minimise weight and it is worth remembering that you can still enjoy yourself and meet the goals of the expedition, without a lot of unnecessary gear.

Always choose your campsite before dark, as this will allow you to make an informed decision on the best site. The time of year will affect your choice. The coolest air is generally found in hollows, on the valley floor, or by the water. The warmest air is just above the crest of a ridge or hillside. There are 5 important things to look for when selecting a campsite.

Wood

Your campsite should have an adequate supply of wood, so it is important to look for somewhere that can provide the fuel for your campfire.

Water

Unless you have carried large amounts of water into the campsite, you will generally need water wherever you camp. Do not camp near a running stream as heavy overnight rain could make things very wet for you. Always check that the campsite if above the top level of the riverbank. If camping next to a lake, place the tent 5-6 metres back from the lakes edge.

Drainage

The spot for your tent should be flat and as dry as possible. Grassed areas are better than soil or clay as these become very soggy in heavy rain.

Safe Surroundings

Trees can drop large branches so do not camp underneath them.

Tall grass and swamps are the home of many mosquitoes and, at times, even leeches or ticks. Falling rocks from cliffs or steeply sloping ground are inevitable so do not pitch your tent at the base of these.

Exposure

Early morning sun is a necessity while camping so chose a site that will provide this. It is also important to have protection from winds so take this into account. Generally, the more open the site, the greater chance of you being exposed to storms and strong winds.

SETTING UP THE CAMPSITE

After selecting the campsite, the next step is to plan it’s layout. There are several questions that need to be addressed when setting up the campsite. These are:

Where will we pitch the tent?

The back wall of the tent should be facing the direction of the wind. The tent can face the campfire, only when you are camped in a suitably sheltered site. Tents should be roughly 10 metres from the fire, which is far enough away from flying ashes or hot cinders.

Where will we put the fire?

You should always have a 3-metre clearance of all vegetation from the fire and NEVER leave it unattended. You should dig a hole ½ a metre deep, ½ a metre long, and ½ a metre wide. Keep the dirt and make a border around the hole.

How will we dispose of rubbish and waste?

Always carry out what you bring into the bush. Do not bury rubbish or burn it. Toilets should be dug 50-100 metres away from the campsite and should be no less than 20cm deep. Always wash hands down the stream away from the campsite or track.

How will we dispose of rubbish and waste?

Always carry out what you bring into the bush. Do not bury rubbish or burn it. Toilets should be dug 50-100 metres away from the campsite and should be no less than 20cm deep. Always wash hands down the stream away from the campsite or track.

Where will we get the water supply?

Water is absolutely essential, especially in hot weather. You should decide in your planning whether your campsite will be “dry” (you bring the water into the site) or whether there will be an adequate water supply. You should always collect water upstream from the campsite.

Finally you must always report to someone when you leave the campsite and when you return. Every person should be accounted for.

People involved in outdoor adventure are major users of wilderness and general bushland areas and they should have an interest in the conservation or protection of these areas. There are six basic LEAVE NO TRACE principles that you should keep in mind wherever you travel. They will help you protect the land and enjoy your surroundings, whether you are visiting a small picnic area, or a vast wilderness. They are:

PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE

Planning ahead will help make your outing safer and more fun. You should consider the size of your group, type of place you want to go, and your equipment and food needs. Some areas are restricted or even closed to the public and vehicles. You can contact a land management office to provide you with details of what areas are open and they can even provide you with current maps, information on trails, water levels, camping and weather conditions, regulations, and other helpful information.

CAMP AND TRAVEL ON DURABLE SURFACES

Traffic damage is the major form of damage to the environment. Tracks quickly become erosion trenches, and new tracks develop to avoid the problem, and the cycle continues. Popular campsites become bare ground. Wherever possible, people should utilize walking tracks available. If the track is wet and muddy, walking around this will only create more tracks.

You should: - walk on durable surfaces such as trails, rocks, sand, forest litter, or dry grass - do not cut corners when walking on tracks - try to avoid fragile areas such as marshy ground or unstable dunes - do not smoke - do not leave litter - do not disturb wildlife or collect samples

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT

If you plan your trip carefully, you will create very little trash. Never bury trash because animals often dig it up. Always collect your trash in a bag and take it out of the area with you. Orange peels and other foods that decompose take a long time to break down and can attract ants to the area, which can be a hazard, and nuisance to others. Leave no trace of your existence.

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF WHAT YOU CAN’T PACK OUT

If a toilet is available, use it. If not, urinate away from trails, campsites and where people gather.

Toilets: - Preferably dig a hole – at least 70 metres from camps, trails, water, and dry gullies.

- Always bury solids and paper. (at least 20cm deep) - Keep well away from water supplies - Wash your hands away from the stream

LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND

Remnants of the past can be found on national, state and private land. Enjoy and learn from these sites, but remember that some of these are sacred to native Aboriginals, or are important cultural remainders of our heritage.

- Do not take souvenirs of flora or fauna- leave everything as you found it - Be considerate of other groups- especially with noise - Leave the bush cleaner than you found it - Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints

MINIMISE USE AND IMPACT OF FIRES

Campfires: - use a stove if possible - use only dead wood and small sticks from the ground, not huge logs - use established fire sites if available - avoid tree roots, stumps and overhanging trees - if there is no established fireplace, dig a pit and save the soil - keep the fire small - extinguish thoroughly, then replace the soil and restore the area - try to leave the campsite as if no-one had ever been there.

Legend:-

This is an index of all the features found on the map. This includes buildings, roads, playing fields, hospitals, etc.

Scale:-

This gives the area covered by a map. It is represented in a ratio for example, 1: 1000. This means that one unit on the map represents 1000 units on the ground. So 1cm on the map equals 1000cm or 100metres on the ground.

Grid Reference:-

These are used to give accurate locations of features on the map.

Vertical lines or numbers across the top or bottom of the page are given first, followed by horizontal lines or numbers down the side.

Contour Lines

Contour lines are imaginary lines drawn on a map, joining all points of equal height above sea level.

The “

Contour Interval

” is the height in metres between each line.

Contour lines close together indicate

Steep

slopes Contour lines far apart indicate

Gentle

slopes Evenly spaced contour lines indicate

Uniform

slopes Each topographical feature e.g.

Knoll, Spur, Gully, and Saddle

,

has it’s own distinct contour pattern.

A

saddle

is the lowest point between two knolls A

Spur

is the slope away from the knoll A

knoll

is the highest point of the land A

Gully

is the slope away from the spur. This usually leads to a river. If the ground rises on both sides of you, you are in a gully,

Contour Line Activity

Grid Bearing

;

is the direction from one point

on the map

to another.

Place the compass on the map so the long edge of the compass touches the beginning and end destinations.

Turn the dial so that the

Orienting Lines

are parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map.

North

should be at the top of the page. (Not the compass) Take the compass off and read the bearing over the

Index Line.

This is the

Grid Bearing.

You need to convert this grid bearing into a magnetic bearing because of the differences between true and magnetic north.

MAP TO LAND CONVERSION

Find the required grid bearing Take 11 degrees

OFF

the grid bearing. I.e. 61 now becomes 50 (so turn the dial to take off the 11 degrees) Take the compass off the map and hold the compass correctly. (Direction arrow facing forwards) Turn your body until the needles on the compass line up You are now facing the destination or feature on which you took your grid bearing.

LAND TO MAP CONVERSION

Take a magnetic bearing (normal bearing)

ADD

11 degrees to the magnetic bearing. So 61 now becomes 72 Place the bottom left corner of the compass on the point of the map where you are.

Keeping the corner on that point, rotate the whole compass (not the dial) until the

Orienting Lines

are parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map. So

North

points to the top of the map The long edge of the compass will pass through the feature from which the initial magnetic bearing was taken.

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Magnetic north

is in the direction of the North Pole and changes slightly every year. A compass needle will point towards magnetic north.

True north

is the direction of the North Pole.

Grid north

is the top of the map. It is usually the same as true north.

Natural navigation

In addition to the map and compass, it is possible to navigate by using the sun, moon and stars to assess location and direction.

Navigation by the sun In the southern hemisphere the sun will always appear in the northern sky. In summer the position of the sun at midday will be much higher in the sky than in winter; however, it will still appear in a northerly direction. Appreciating this, plus the fact that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the western sky, can give broad direction. The sun can also be used to determine direction if a shadow stick is used to map the movement during the day.

Navigation by the stars The most useful stars for direction in the southern hemisphere are the Southern Cross and the Pointers To find south: • draw a line between the long axis of the Southern Cross • imagine a vertical line between the Pointers. Bisect the line and continue untilthe line meets an imaginary extension from the Pointers.

• at the point at which they meet, drop an imaginary line to the horizon, which willindicate south.

Orienteering is a modern day sport that was developed in Scandinavia in the early 1900s. It became established in Australia in 1969. The name “orienteering” is derived from the Swedish term Orienteering’s, which means Navigation Running. The sport may be defined as an activity in which the participant, on foot, locates a series of control points using a specially prepared map.

What You Need For Orienteering.

Map:

this must show details such as roads, tracks, buildings, and other essential features. Most maps are coloured with accurate contour detail.

Control Equipment:

Courses are usually marked with orange/red and white cloth markers with a special punch attached. The punch produces a different pattern of holes for each control.

Compass:

the map.

Used to find your way to the next control and helps you to orient

Shoes and Clothing:

weight clothing.

Each participant will need comfortable shoes and light

TERMINOLOGY Control:

A place which must be visited during the event with a special marker to identify its location. There are usually 12 control points in a course and are located on objects such as trees, fences, buildings etc.

Control Description List:

A list describing the features where each control is located (sometimes called a “clue- sheet”).

Contour Lines:

Lines on the map showing places of equal height. The closer the lines, the steeper the slope.

The Leg:

The route between control points

Pace Counting:

Judging the distance by the number of paces.

Orientating the Map:

Lining up the map so that the features on the map match their location in the terrain. Locating obvious terrain features on the map, using a compass or the sun can do this.

Refer to Handout

LEADERSHIP STYLES

Leaders are required to perform many roles in the outdoor recreation setting, including counselor, authority figure, friend, mediator, and motivator. Leaders should adopt various leadership styles to adjust to the needs of different groups. Examples of different leadership styles are shown below.

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UNDERSTANDING GROUP DYNAMICS

It is important for leaders of outdoor recreation activities to monitor the group dynamics carefully so that all members work together towards a common goal. An understanding of group dynamics is essential. During an activity a group usually goes through a cycle which is characterized by the five distinct behaviour patterns: Text Page 452/453 Forming Storming Norming Transforming

Conflict Resolution

Effective communication skills are needed to resolve conflict situations which occur because of misunderstandings between individuals within the group. Outdoor recreation offers opportunities to develop conflict resolution skills because teamwork and cooperation are essential if the group are to be successful in achieving their goals.

Facilitation Skills

Communication skills Effective communication can be the difference between a safe and enjoyable experience and an unhappy and dangerous expedition. Communication must involve everyone in the group, the relevant authorities and the families who stay behind. All group members must be aware of routes, camp sites and possible hazards. Open communication is best.

Decision making Groups will have to solve problems, make important decisions and judge situations to continue their progress and ensure the safety of the group.

Flexibility Weather conditions, ability levels of participants and injury are just some of the variables which could make a change in plans necessary.

Making judgements Having the knowledge of matters such as conditions, equipment, navigation and first aid are essential in making confident judgements and decisions

Understanding strengths and weaknesses

Participant readiness Participants must understand the strength and weaknesses of themselves and others in the group. People have different boundaries to comfort and respond differently to situations. Leaders need to be aware of this and adjust.

Individuals need to be given information to form choices surrounding their participation i.e the risks and challenges need to be within their boundaries.

Leaders need to have a knowledge of the personal fitness levels of individuals in the group.

Self-efficacy Outdoor recreation offers many opportunities to develop self confidence. Facing fears and challenges takes a certain amount of courage and self-efficacy - confidence in completing the task.

Balancing challenge and safety Safety considerations are very important in outdoor recreation activities, especially in remote locations. The level of risk involved in an activity depends on many factors including : * prior experience and fitness of the party * equipment * weather conditions * knowledge and skills within the group and group leaders * choice of activity We can minimise the risk by using state of the art equipment, but it is not desirable to remove all risk. Pushing comfort zones can be rewarding and lead to personal growth.

The benefits of teamwork and personal growth in outdoor adventure activities have been recognised by many employers, who are increasingly choosing to use these outdoor activities for staff development also.

The role of the leader is always to protect the group and sometimes this means cancelling expeditions.

Pushing the comfort zone What may be risky for one person may seem perfectly safe to another, depending on prior experience and ability.

Leaders can introduce controlled risks or perceived risks. This means that participants may still feel challenged and even scared, but the risk of injury is minimised.