Option 4: Outdoor Recreation

1. Option 4: Outdoor Recreation - What is the Value of outdoor recreation?- What are the technical skills and understanding needed for safe participation in outdoor recreation? - what impact does group dynamics have on the outdoor experience?

2. What is the Value of outdoor recreation? Summary of Content: • Reasons for participation in outdoor recreation: - stress management/relaxation - enjoyment, challenge and excitement - social interaction - appreciation on the environment - health and fitness

3. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Complete the activity on page 96-97 of your exercise booklets.

4. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Stress Management and Relaxation Feelings of anxiety and stress are increasingly common in society today. Some of the reasons for these feelings include: • Urbanisation: communities being over-crowded and polluted e.g. Large cities. • Unemployment: resulting in poverty and family pressures to survive contributing to higher stress levels. • Increased Responsibility: longer hours at work, people commuting greater distances to work lead to less time at home with the family. • Social Changes: the change in traditional family roles, family breakdown increase stress levels. • Disadvantaged Groups: experience discrimination, harassment, drug abuse, poverty and unemployment. Outdoor recreation can be an avenue to alleviate stress and anxiety caused by everyday life. It is seen as an escape from a regular routine and gives a person the opportunity to ‘re-create’ themselves. Outdoor recreation can promote feelings of relaxation or excitement that distracts people from the stress in their lives.

5. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Enjoyment, challenge and excitement Activity (complete in your book) • Reflect on any experiences you may have had in outdoor recreation that filled you with a sense of excitement and challenge. Why did it make you feel this way? • In groups, research and note the feats of one or more of the following outdoor adventurers. Consider the role of challenge and excitement in their motivation to complete their expeditions. • Paul Caffyn – kayaked around the coast of Australia, mainly solo. • Kay Cottee – first woman to sail solo around the globe. • Sir Edmund Hillary – first successful mountaineering expedition to climb Mt Everest. • Brigitte Muir – first Australian woman to climb Mt Everest • Gerrard Gosens – blind adventurer and paralympian, climb Mt Everest and many other feats.

6. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Social Interaction Individuals choose activities according to their needs, personality and lifestyle. Some people enjoy the opportunities for social interaction that outdoor recreation can bring. It can join friends with similar interest together and allow people to make new friends in the process of participating. In contrast, other people prefer to escape crowds and seek out isolated wilderness areas. For these people, solace and isolation can be a valuable spiritual experience.

7. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Appreciation of the Environment The Australian environment offers some of the world’s most spectacular and varied scenery, including alpine, tropical, desert and coastal landscapes. Individuals and communities do not have to venture far from home to enjoy and appreciate some magnificent natural environmental settings. Participation in outdoor recreation can be an avenue that allows individuals to immerse themselves in the natural world.

9. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activity: Complete in your exercise book • List recreational activities that can be enjoyed in your local region. • Which activities appeal to you? Why? • What outcomes could result from participation in these activities? E.g. An increased respect for rainforests..... • In which activities could a person in a wheelchair or an elderly person participate?

10. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Health and Fitness Many outdoor recreation pursuits involve physical activity and can contribute to the development and maintenance of fitness. The components of fitness developed vary depending on the activity chosen. E.g. Cross country skiing is an excellent aerobic activity. In contrast rock climbing and canoeing develop muscular endurance. Fitness requirements for many outdoor recreational activities are quiet specific. Whilst regular involvement in sport and fitness activities is beneficial for general conditioning, it may not be adequate to prepare for specialised activities such as a hard bushwalk carrying a heavy backpack over several days.

11. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activity: Draw the table below in your exercise books, discuss and fill in the relevant information.

12. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activity: Page 100 of your Work Booklets Research the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program. Complete the table that outlines the requirements of each award and answer the questions that follow. http://www.dukeofed.com.au/

13. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Questions: • What is the aim of the program? • Identify some of the unique aspects of the award. • What is the criterion for gaining an award? • Outline what the award requires students to do. • What are the requirements for entry into the program? • List reasons why students may be interested in participating. • What costs are involved? • How long to awards take to complete?

14. Reasons for Participation in Outdoor Recreation Research three types of outdoor recreational activities. Complete the table on page 102 of your Work Booklet using information from your research:

15. What are the technical skills and understanding needed for safe participation in outdoor recreation? Summary of Content • Planning Skills - environment planning - emergency management planning - food and water considerations - resources for safe participation - legal and administrative requirements • Campsite Selection - geographic, environment & climatic considerations - establishing the campsite - tree fall evacuation • Conservation Skills - ‘leave no trace’ camping - minimal impact practices - ethical issues

16. What are the technical skills and understanding needed for safe participation in outdoor recreation? • Navigational Skills - map reading - grid bearing - magnetic bearing - true north - measuring distance - natural navigation • Emergency Management Skills - wilderness first aid - what to do when you are lost - bushfire procedures, lightning, flooded rivers • Skills needed for outdoor activities - canoeing/kayaking skills - abseiling skills

17. Planning Skills Environmental Planning Planning for environmental hazards depends on the activity being undertaken and the venue chosen. It is important that the venue is suitable for the ability level of the participants and that some members of the group have prior experience in the area.

18. Planning Skills Case Study: Caving Tragedy Expeditions in the outdoors are often delayed by poor weather. In some situations, groups are advised to stay where they are, rather than attempted to keep going in very poor conditions. Of course, it is important to be dry, have shelter and sufficient provisions. The following tragic story illustrates how poor weather conditions, combined with poor decision making can be fatal. A party of students and teachers became stranded in a cave after heavy rain raised water levels in the cave. The group was delayed and began to worry about their families and the authorities, who would be anxious and waiting for their arrival. Two people decided to get out of the cave to communicate the situation while the others remained in the high part of the cave. Tragically, the two who left the main party drowned as they tried to get out. The rest of the party survived and were rescued. COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE

19. Planning Skills Questions: • What are the risks associated with caving described in this case study? • What information could have been left with family and authorities before the group set out? • How could the tragedy have been prevented?

20. Planning Skills Emergency Management Planning Many outdoor recreational activities involve elements of risk. While the risks involved often make the activity more appealing and challenging, it is important that participants ensure that risks taken are controlled or calculated and individual needs and abilities within the group are considered. With this in mind, the level of danger associated with an activity can be significantly minimised through effective emergency management planning. This can take many forms and may include such things as: - departure and return times - suitability of the activity for the skill level of participants - route to be taken and escape routes - legal consent forms - first aid considerations - procedures for emergency situations

21. Planning Skills Food and Water Considerations The length and type of the expedition, possible weather conditions and the season will determine the consideration given to food and water. Most humans can live for up to three weeks without food, but will survive only 1-3 days without water. E.g. If the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, a person would need 1.2L of water if resting in the shade, whereas if the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius the need for water increases to 2.5L. At least one day’s supply of emergency food should be carried for most expeditions, more should be taken for extended trips.

22. Planning Skills Legal and Administrative Requirements Expeditions may involve travel on private land or in national parks. Participants need to consider the following: • Booking of camp sites • Permission for access to private land • Entry permits to national parks • Attention to detail; leaving camp sites clean, leaving gates as you find them, respecting privacy and avoiding disturbing domestic plants and animals

23. Planning Skills Resources for Safe Participation The choices made about the clothing and equipment taken on an expedition can save lives. Equipment needs vary depending on the expedition undertaken. In general, outdoor recreational activities demand lightweight, durable equipment and clothing that can protect you from environmental conditions. Complete the activities on pages 105-109 of your work booklet.

24. Camp Site Selection Geographical, Environmental & Climatic Considerations The following should be considered : • Water - is the adequate water nearby? - is the site at least four metres above the river bank in case of heavy rain? • Site - ensure the ground is flat and free from sticks, stones, animal nests and burrows and is not in a drainage area. - what is the surface of the ground? Grass, sand, clay? • Fires - are there fire bans in operation? If not, is there wood? Is an existing fire place available? - fires are not permitted in many areas that are sensitive; e.g. Alpine regions or in heavily used areas.

25. Camp Site Selection • Toilet Facilities - are there toilet facilities? If not are there suitable private places for people to use? - can you successfully set up a latrine? - position the toilet area well away from the water supply and down wind to prevent contamination and unpleasant odours. • Camp Site Waste Disposal - Carry out everything that is carried in. This includes food scraps. • Privacy and Shelter - Does the site provide shelter from the prevailing winds? Do you get sun or shade, sun should be aimed for in the morning to get the group up and going whilst shade is more ideal in the afternoon to provide some relief from the heat of the day. • Hazards - Swampy areas that attract mosquitoes, cliffs, dead trees, falling rocks and mine shafts. Complete the activity on page 110 of your Work Booklet.

26. Camp Site Selection Establishing the Campsite How to put up a tent: Clearing the site Laying a tarp Laying the tent Support poles for the tent Threading the support poles Raising the tent Pegging the tent down Putting the waterproof fly on your tent How not to put up a tent: Poor Tent Attempt