Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education

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. Redmond, who has taught physical education and outdoor activities for 30 years at the community, K-12, and university levels, was awarded the National Award of Merit for his contribution to canoeing in Canada. He has worked in the camp system as a counselor, aquatics director, program director, and camp director. He also was a lead contributor in physical education curriculum development that introduced mandatory outdoor curriculum components in Newfoundland and Labrador. Redmond is an award-winning photographer and has completed work for various tourism agencies, such as Parks Canada, and adventure gear manufacturers throughout North America. In his spare time, Redmond enjoys photography, skiing, and salmon fishing. 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. He currently runs a successful Outdoor Pursuits Club at his school, where students are involved in caving, hiking, night hiking, orienteering, winter camping, snowshoeing, geocaching, and camping. In 2005, he won the Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award for the Western School District. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, backpacking, and woodworking.

• Unit 1. Core Camping SkillsRolf 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. NavigationSean 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 ResourcesAndrew 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 BackpackingSean 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 ClimbingDarlene 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 BikingAmanda 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 CanoeingKevin 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 CanoeingKevin 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 Resources Unit 9. Sea KayakingMark 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 SkiingSean 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. SnowshoeingSean 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. ArcherySean 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 FishingLen 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 Unit 14. Whitewater KayakingMark 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 SkiingDavid 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 Resources Unit 16. Telemark SkiingDavid 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 FishingTara 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. WeatherJustin 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 OutdoorsAndrew 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 ManagementBlair 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 DevelopmentZacchari 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