Class,

 

FYI: A Rocha is on  tomorrow. That means bring your bag lunch and outdoor appropriate clothing and meet in the parking lot at lunch! This is our last work day at A Rocha - the next time we go (mid June) will be a wrap-up session.

 

 

Here is the info for our Squamish daytrip this Saturday:

May 26, 2014

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As a member of Outdoor Education class, your son/daughter will be participating in a day trip to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park (Squamish, BC) on Saturday, May 31^st.  The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the details of this event and to obtain your consent for your son/daughter’s participation.  Please read through the details and have your son/daughter return the signed consent form by Friday, May 30th.

8:00 AM          Depart WRCA

9:30 AM          Arrive at Stawamus Chief Parking Lot

1:00 PM          Return to Trail Head

1:30 PM          Sea2Sky Gondola Ride

3:00 PM          Depart Squamish

4:30 PM          Arrive WRCA

Our day will begin with a hike up to the first peak of the Chief. Some significant/famous rock climbing routes and history of the area will be related on the ascent journey. Students will then have a lunch break on the summit area overlooking Squamish and the northern reaches of Howe Sound. After that, we will descend and make the short walk over to the brand new Sea 2 Sky Gondola (opening day was May 16^th). The Sky Gondola will take us up to a summit area with even grander panoramic views, as well as the 100m long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge.

Students are expected to bring a bag lunch with them and a water bottle (minimum 1 litre, but 2 litres preferred).  Lunch should contain some snacks that can be eaten on trail (energy bars, crackers, trail mix). At the top of the Sea2Sky Gondola is the Summit Tea House, where students can purchase beverages and snacks if they so choose (own cost). There is also a small café at the beginning of the gondola ride (Basecamp café).

In addition, students need to dress appropriately for this activity.  In the mountains, the weather can change quickly. Therefore, students need to bring insulating layers (fleece is best) and rain gear regardless of the forecast.  Students should bring a daypack to carry their food and extra clothes.  Students are required to have activity-appropriate footwear – they do not need to bring their full hiking boots with them, as hiking shoes, runners, trail runners, should suffice. If students are unsure about footwear, they should bring what they have in to class to check with me. And don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.  We look forward to an exciting day of fellowship, physical activity, and vistas of our created world.

Sincerely,

Jeff Weichel               

Outdoor Education 

               

Here is the link for the S2S Gondola website:

http://www.seatoskygondola.com/

As promised, here are some mission statements that previous students came up with:

1) Through the stillness I wish to clear my cluttered mind and focus on all I've been blessed with.

- I will take note three times a day of prayers I have. Prayers for help, prayers of thanks, and prayers of wow.
- Journal for at least 15 minutes a day/night focusing on His creation.
- Find several times throughout the day up to ten minutes each to take time away from the group and be alone and soak up all the wonders that God has created.

2) I desire to be known by my love, selflessly putting others before myself, to be known by my warm, loving, genuine spirit in the goal that others can see God through me.

- Making sure I take time out of the day to genuinely ask people how they are doing and if there is anything I can help with. I will have good conversations with at least 3 people per day.
- If anything needs to be done during the day that isn't usually my responsibility, be the first to volunteer and help.
- Not dwelling on negatives or hard times but trying to bring a positive light to every situation. Ask God to help me recognize and appreciate the small things, and make sure to journal about them.

3) To create a positive energy for the group and myself on and off the water in any situation, not being the one to create doubt for others but have an attitude that motivates and excites others to reach our team/individual goals.

- Each time I am caught complaining, $0.25 will go into my "complaining jar" that can be spent by the group.
- Talk about turning negatives into positives - every strength has a shadow but every weakness has a shield.
- Work hard for the group and lead by example.
- Push others to work their hardest and hold them accountable. If someone is struggling in the back I will stay back with them so that they are not alone.
__________________________________________________

I hope these mission statements inspire you and guide you. Remember, it's your journey, your learning opportunity, your experience, but you are also part of a group, a team. Let's "go out" with purpose, integrity, and personal accountability. Let us seek out the Lord, enjoy His creation, and discover ourselves in the process.

And most importantly, let's get ready to have fun :)

/JW

Desolation Sound Menu of Incredible Taste:

Group A: Alex, Scott, Zale
Group B: Kalym & Daniel
Group C: Linda & Austin

Activity	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Ferry Breakfast	Group B Oatmeal	Group C Bokomo Instant Oats, Coffee/Tea	Group A Bagels with PB&J, possibly cream cheese	Group B Oatmeal
Lunch	Group A Sandwiches w/ deli meat	Group C Pita Bread w/ peanut butter & jam	Group A	Group B Sandwiches	Snack Group, Ferry & Leftovers
Dinner	Group C Campfire hotdogs, marshmellows!	Group A Noodles and Dumplings!	Group B Spaghetti night!	No Dinner:  Restaurant!	Ferry Dinner
Snacks	Bring Own	Group B Trailmix and dried mango	Group C Peanut butter Cliff Bars	Group C Animal crackers and dried fruit	Group A Beef Jerky, Salmon Fillet, dried mango, candy

Estudiantes,

Here are some resources for your Kindergarten Earth Day lesson assignment!

- Project Wild
- Project Wet
- Eco Kids Network
      - Logon with my email, weichelj@wrca.bc.ca
- Earth Day Education
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency USA)


Don't feel limited to these resources!

/JW

Thanks to Linda for crafting an Outdoor Ed logo:

You rock!

/JW

For Monday, make sure you memorize:
- 5 W's of Site selection
- Shelter Types
- Construction materials (and bedmaking)

 Hasta luego!

/JW

Team,

Some online resources for your Trip planning project!


http://www.clubtread.com/

http://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=def

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/index.htm

/JW

Class,

Here is a website that will help you with two of the knots we are looking at: the Bowline and the Trucker Hitch.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/learn-these-three-knots-for-emergency-tarp-shelter-buildingfeed/

This is the accompanying Youtube video for the aforementioned website:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3dqLD_RR6M

And here is Animatedknots.com, an exhaustive resource on everything knots. They have great step by step visuals. This particular link will lead you to the Bowline knot. Ignore their version of the trucker hitch as it is much more complicated than what we need to learn.

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexscouting.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Practice, practice, practice!

Refer to your Skills tracker. Friday and Monday will be checking off days for stoves, tents, tarps, and anything else you haven't done yet. We will discuss how to sign these things off tomorrow.

Remember:

- Quiz on Friday (Clothing layers, rule of 3's, water treatment)
- Journal "elaborations" for tomorrow

Hasta luego,

/JW

Some pics from today's tent setup session:

 

And remember to bring your boots and waterproof gear this week, or you might end up looking like this crazy woman:

 



Awesome day today! We hauled it up Hollyburn Mountain and butt-slid down in style! Oh, and there was some fluffy stuff too. It was a successful and fun day!

Journal Topics

1) What do you think God intended for us out in creation today? What was your personal experience being out on the mountain today in the snow and the cold? Was it what you expected?

2) Did you learn anything today (about yourself, the group, a peer, your teacher, creation, being active etc.)?

3) Which piece of gear were you most pleased with (socks, jacket, snowshoes, packs, poles, etc. any gear we used today)? Which piece of gear were you least impressed with?

Please answer all 3 questions in your journal for Monday's class. Focus particularly on #1 and #2. Question #3 can be a simple 1 or 2 sentence answer as we'll talk about this in class!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and rest up!

Remember: If you are able to put any photos/videos that you took on a flash drive for Monday that would be amazing!

/JW

Journal topics from today:

1) What place/purpose can A Rocha serve in Outdoor Education 12? How can the group benefit from the A Rocha experiences?

2) What is my personal goal for A Rocha?

/JW

Class, good news! You are allowed to come to school tomorrow in your grubbies (outside wear) for A Rocha. No need to wear your uniform and then change at lunch. Mr. Hardy has our deep thanks for this.

Remember, meet at my portable at 11:30 (lunch time) so we can organize our convoy. I'll hand out maps, but we shouldn't need them as we'll all drive together.

Bring your lunch-to-go. Sandwiches, snacks... things you can eat while driving or in some spare minutes we might have.

Wear appropriate gear! There is a break in the weather but always plan for the worst. You should have a waterproof jacket/pants combo and waterproof boots. This cannot be stated enough! Waterproof boots! You will be working in a muddy environment! This is a great opportunity to see how your gear will perform for the Juan de Fuca.

A Rocha can provide work gloves for us but you may bring your own if you prefer.

See you all tomorrow,

/JW

Outdoor Ed Mentionable Quote:

"My hands smell like a combination of fuel and instant food."
    - Daniel Erkau

Class, some reminders to help you focus on some stuff you should be doing over the weekend:

- Return your Hollyburn Consent Forms and Medical Forms to me ASAP. Deadline for these is Thursday.

- Make sure to get out shopping / borrowing this weekend for gear. You will need to bring the following to class on Thursday, Feb 20th: boots, waterproof rain jacket and rain pants, baselayer top & bottom, hiking pants, insulating layer(s), hiking socks. You will need this stuff for the snowshoeing trip so it's important that I can check it out beforehand.

- Complete your meal plans with your partner; we will be reviewing them Monday.

- Keep your journal entries up to date. Today's journal entry was: "What are your personal environmental ethics? What rules do you think are important? What do you do (or avoid doing) when you are in the wilderness?"

- Respond to "About Me" blog entry from a couple days ago.

Ok everybody! We are going to work together, adventure together, learn together... so let's get to know each other just a little bit more!

You must tell everyone in our class something about yourself that will help us understand you as we continue on our journey together.

Respond to this post as a comment!

/JW

Class,
 
Here are the two e-resources we used today for our meal planning lesson, just in case you forgot to jot down the links. These are by no means the only places to get information (or food)...
 
www.trailcooking.com

www.walmart.ca/en/grocery/N-117

 
“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”   - Orson Wells

Hi all,

We have begun to discuss the gear needed for this course. Mountain Equipment Co has a great Gear Swap resource. This could be a potential place to get gear for cheaper than the average price tag. Some of the gear might be used, so use your best judgement as to what your personal limits with used clothing / sleeping bags are. However, you'll find that many of the items on the Swap were purchased at the wrong size or have never really been worn at all. In any case, it's worth checking out!

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary/Community/GearSwap.jsp

Juan de Fuca Trail Map

http://www.surfingvancouverisland.com/hike/photos2009/90527barr18.jpg

Here is a basic list of gear you will need for the course. You may have some of these things already. I will be contacting local retailers about discounts for our group.

WRCA already has: Tents, Tarps, Sleeping pads, Stoves, Water Filters, Headlamps, Hiking Poles, Gaiters

 

Sleeping:

1.       Sleeping Bag: Synthetic insulation (not goose down), Mummy shaped and around -7 to -9 C temperature rating. The reason I am excluding down is because if it gets wet it won't retain heat and will be a pain to dry out - and the Juan de Fuca trip has the potential for being a little wet. Synthetics are less expensive as well!

Footwear:

2.       Hiking Boots: Must be waterproof and at least a mid-cut (not a low-cut style shoe). You will need the ankle support. We have a class set of gaiters (waterproof covers that attach to the middle of your boot and go up your shin). Try to avoid boots that are mostly mesh.

3.       Hiking Socks: 3-4 pair. Non-Cotton (Wool is best). Cotton soaks up moisture and doesn't dry out so avoid anything with cotton. I would recommend a pair of socks per day (4).

Optional: a pair or two of liner socks. These help wick moisture away from the foot as well as provide a little more cushion.

 

Clothing:

4.       Base Layers: Minimum 2 tops, 1 bottom. Non-Cotton. You will be hiking in the base layer tops. Many of you might have polyester or nylon tops already - you can bring these but I would prefer if you had at least 1 full-sleeved base layer.

5.       Middle Insulating Layers: Fleece & Polyester types. 1-2 tops. Non Cotton.

6.       Sleeping clothes (cotton OK)

7.       Rain Jacket and Pants: Should be shells capable of layering with your other clothes. Must be Waterproof (not resistant).

8.       Toque + Gloves. Gloves can be liner-style gloves, they are just something to put your hands in at night.

       9.   Undergarments (personal preference for amount)

      10. Sunglasses

Miscellaneous:

11.   Bowl, mug, utensils: (bowls can hold soups and meals and your food won’t cool down as quick as if it were on a plate. Your choice whether you want to bring a Thermos for hot drinks or just a cup (I’d recommend the Thermos!)

12.   Water Bottle or Camelback water bladder: Need to be able to carry 2L of water – whether that is two 1L Bottles or one 2L bladder.

13.   Toiletries: Toothbrush, Deodorant, Toilet Paper, Chap Stick

14.   Camera (highly recommended)

15.   Journal

16.   Stuff Sacks for clothes, gear (optional, but it's nice to have things like a waterproof sack for sleeping bag)

17.   Zip lock bags and garbage bags for waterproofing gear

18. Fox 40 Whistle

19. Small pack towel (for drying hair, tent)

 

“I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes.”
―     Henry David Thoreau, Walden   

Greetings Outdoor Education 2014 students!

I hope you have all had a restful Christmas season. We are at the one month countdown to the beginning of our second semester and that means Outdoor Ed is nearly upon us! I have created this blog to serve as our primary means of communication for the course. It will have trip details, day-to-day stuff for class and other relevant information to do with our experiences and class discussions.

The Outdoor Education Program at WRCA has a young but impactful history. No doubt students of all grades have heard stories about class trips and experiences. Trust me, as someone who has been involved in this program for the past five years, words cannot express some of these experiences. And they shouldn't - Outdoor Education is about a personal journey that is at its best when it's being lived.  I am excited for the opportunities that await us as a class and as individuals.

Speaking of experiences, there will be two major trips during this course as well as a few day experiences.

After some deliberation, I've decided that our first trip will be a backpacking trip to the Juan de Fuca Trail on the south coast of Vancouver Island. It will occur in mid-March, before Spring Break. The dates are tentative (not set in stone) for March 6-9, with a possible 5th day (could be 6th or 11th). This all depends on how much time we can be away from school.

Our second major trip will be kayaking in Desolation Sound. The trip has already been booked with our guiding company and so the dates are firm at May 19-23.

The Juan de Fuca trail is a 47km coastal trail just south of the world famous West Coast Trail. It will feature the same type of terrain and incredible views (and beach camping sites!). Here are a few teaser pictures of the Juan de Fuca:

 



The JDF is a beautiful trail but expect it to be wet!

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God."

George Washington Carver