If you’re looking for a book that will improve your knowledge and technical instruction skills in land, water, and snow and ice sports and activities, this is it! Technical Skills for Adventure Programming: A Curriculum Guide is an all-in-one resource, based on current methods, that will guide you in becoming a skilled adventure instructor in the classroom and in the field.
This book includes
comprehensive units with lesson plans for 12 popular outdoor adventure activities;
7 to 15 progressive, pedagogically sound lesson plans for each unit, featuring foundational teaching methods, experiential learning activities, and assessment strategies for adventure technical skills;
a CD-ROM with printable lesson plans and supporting materials for each unit that make it easy to print only what you will need in the field; and
an overview of the teaching process as it relates to adventure-based activities, including discussions of adventure education theory, learning styles, experiential learning and teaching, and outdoor teaching tips and considerations.
Edited by nationally known outdoor adventure educators, this book allows you to tap into the knowledge and expertise of skilled instructors who present progressive technical skills for these activities:
Backpacking
Canoeing
Caving
Ice climbing
Mountain biking
Mountaineering
Nordic skiing
Rafting
Rock climbing
Sea kayaking
Snowshoeing
Whitewater kayaking
Throughout the guide, the expert instructors share insights, best practices, and field-tested lesson plans that help you teach essential skills to new outdoor and adventure enthusiasts. Lesson plans include a topic overview, equipment information, basic skill instruction, Leave No Trace practices, and safety considerations. You’ll also find outcomes and assessment protocols for each lesson as well as information on modifying some of the activities to include people with disabilities. The format of the lessons provides you with the flexibility to select and use the plans and assessment strategies appropriate for your group’s ages, ability levels, time constraints, and settings.
Both a classroom and field-friendly guide, Technical Skills for Adventure Programming: A Curriculum Guide supports common practices and standards of the Wilderness Education Association, Outward Bound, Leave No Trace, the American Mountain Guide Association, the American Canoe Association, and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. And it will prepare those with experience to confidently teach a dozen popular land-based, water-based, and winter activities.
Chapter 1: How to Use This Book
Purpose and Intended Audience
Design
Conclusion
References
Chapter 2: Teaching Adventure-Based Activities
Three Global Goals
Theory and Practice of Adventure-Based Education
Experiential Learning
Learning Styles
Kolb’s Four Styles
Experiential Teaching
Outdoor Teaching Tips
Additional Teaching Considerations
Conclusion
References
Part I Land-Based Units
Unit 1 Backpacking
Mick Daniel and Tammie L. Stenger-Ramsey
Lesson 1: Introduction to Backpacking
Lesson 2: Trip Planning
Lesson 3: Food and Nutrition
Lesson 4: Food Preparation and Cooking
Lesson 5: Equipment Selection
Lesson 6: Clothing Systems
Lesson 7: Pack Packing
Lesson 8: Health and Sanitation
Lesson 9: Basic Camping Skills
Lesson 10: Travel Techniques
Lesson 11: Route Finding
Lesson 12: Route Finding With a Map and Compass
Lesson 13: Risk Management Plan
Lesson 14: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 15: Inclusion and Accessibility
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 2 Rock Climbing
Shayne Galloway and Aram Attarian
Lesson 1: Introduction to Rock Climbing
Lesson 2: Introduction to Climbing Equipment
Lesson 3: Basic Climbing Knots
Lesson 4: Belaying
Lesson 5: Basic Movement Over Rock
Lesson 6: Top-Rope Anchors I (Natural Anchors)
Lesson 7: Top-Rope Anchors II (Artificial Anchors)
Lesson 8: Top-Rope Anchors III (Fixed or Permanent Anchors)
Lesson 9: Rappelling
Lesson 10: Rappel Rescue
Lesson 11: Top-Rope Site Management
Lesson 12: Belay Escape
Lesson 13: Hauling and Lowering Systems
Lesson 14: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 15: Inclusion and Accessibility
Glossary
References and ResourcesUnit 3 Caving
David Goodman
Lesson 1: Introduction to Caving
Lesson 2: Cave Life and Cave Geology
Lesson 3: Caving Equipment
Lesson 4: Movement Through Caves
Lesson 5: Anchor Systems and Equipment
Lesson 6: Rappelling
Lesson 7: Ascending
Lesson 8: Caving Safety
Lesson 9: Caving Ethics
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 4 Mountain Biking
Josh Whitmore
Lesson 1: Introduction to Mountain Biking
Lesson 2: Bicycle Sizing and Basic Operation
Lesson 3: Group Games
Lesson 4: Basic Safety Tips
Lesson 5: Riding Techniques
Lesson 6: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 7: Maintenance and Repair
Glossary
References and Resources
Part II Water-Based Units
Unit 5 Sea Kayaking
Tommy Holden
Lesson 1: Introduction to Sea Kayaking
Lesson 2: Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Transporting and Carries
Lesson 4: Getting Comfortable With the Sea Kayak
Lesson 5: Rescues
Lesson 6: The Sea Kayak Roll
Lesson 7: Basic Strokes
Lesson 8: Navigation
Lesson 9: Preparing to Paddle
Lesson 10: Tides and Crossings
Lesson 11: Safety Equipment
Lesson 12: Safety Considerations
Lesson 13: Leave No Trace Considerations
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 6 Whitewater Kayaking
Bruce Martin
Lesson 1: Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking
Lesson 2: Introduction to Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Stretching
Lesson 4: Strokes
Lesson 5: River Reading
Lesson 6: Basic River Maneuvers
Lesson 7: The Kayak Roll
Lesson 8: Play Boating
Lesson 9: Kayak Safety Considerations
Lesson 10: Rescues
Lesson 11: Leave No Trace Considerations
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 7 Canoeing
Laurie Gullion
Lesson 1: Introduction to Flatwater and Whitewater Canoeing
Lesson 2: Canoeing Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Transport, Carries, and Launches
Lesson 4: Preparing to Paddle
Lesson 5: Basic Tandem Strokes
Lesson 6: Basic Solo Strokes
Lesson 7: Rescues
Lesson 8: Mechanical Rescues
Lesson 9: Safety Considerations
Lesson 10: Inclusion and Accessibility
Lesson 11: Leave No Trace Considerations
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 8 Rafting
Christopher R. Pelchat and Michael L. Kinziger
Lesson 1: Introduction to Rafting
Lesson 2: Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Rafting Safety Considerations
Lesson 4: Transporting a Raft
Lesson 5: Preparing to Paddle
Lesson 6: Maneuvering an Oar Rig
Lesson 7: Maneuvering a Paddle Raft
Lesson 8: Basic Rescue
Lesson 9: Advanced Rescue
Lesson 10: Leave No Trace Considerations
Glossary
Resources
Part III Snow- and Ice-Based Units
Unit 9 Snowshoeing
Briget Tyson Eastep
Lesson 1: Introduction to Snowshoeing
Lesson 2: Snowshoeing Basics
Lesson 3: Equipment for Recreational Snowshoeing
Lesson 4: Basic Techniques
Lesson 5: Cold-Weather Safety
Lesson 6: Emergency Survival Techniques and Prevention Steps
Lesson 7: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 8: Inclusion and Accessibility
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 10 Mountaineering
Mat Erpelding and Scott Schumann
Lesson 1: Introduction to Mountaineering
Lesson 2: Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Preparing to Climb
Lesson 4: Traveling on Snow
Lesson 5: Self-Arrest Techniques
Lesson 6: Snow Protection and Anchor Building
Lesson 7: Rope Travel and Belaying
Lesson 8: Descending
Lesson 9: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 10: Avalanche Awareness and Safety
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 11 Nordic Skiing
Reid Cross
Lesson 1: Introduction to Nordic Skiing
Lesson 2: Backcountry Ski Equipment
Lesson 3: Preparing to Teach Backcountry Skiing
Lesson 4: Applying the Base Wax
Lesson 5: Applying the Kick Wax
Lesson 6: Beginning Skiing Techniques
Lesson 7: The Diagonal Stride
Lesson 8: Uphill Ski Techniques
Lesson 9: Beginning Downhill Techniques
Lesson 10: Beginning Telemark Turns
Lesson 11: Leave No Trace Considerations
Lesson 12 Inclusion and Accessibility
Glossary
References and Resources
Unit 12 Ice Climbing
Tom Stuessy and John R. Kascenska
Lesson 1: Introduction to Ice Climbing
Lesson 2: Equipment and Use
Lesson 3: Preparing to Climb
Lesson 4: The Anatomy of Ice
Lesson 5: Low-Angled and Vertical Ice-Climbing Techniques
Lesson 6: Anchors for Ice Climbing
Lesson 7: Safety Considerations
Lesson 8: Leave No Trace Considerations
Glossary
References and Resources
Mark Wagstaff, EdD, is an associate professor at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Dr. Wagstaff has taught outdoor leadership and adventure education courses in the college setting since 1995 and has been a professional river guide since 1981. In addition to being an Outward Bound instructor, he has been a Wilderness Education Association (WEA) instructor since 1990 and has led outdoor adventures in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nepal.
Dr. Wagstaff is a master instructor trainer for Leave No Trace and is an instructor and member of the WEA, the American Canoeing Association, and the Association for Experiential Education. He has coauthored two other titles in the field of outdoor leadership. When he's not instructing or writing about outdoor adventures, he's taking part in them: He enjoys whitewater canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, and traveling abroad in his leisure time.
Aram Attarian, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of parks, recreation, and tourism management at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. His teaching focuses on adventure recreation, outdoor leadership, and park and recreation facility and site management. His enthusiasm for teaching has earned him five teaching awards. Dr. Attarian's research interests center on outdoor leadership, adventure programming, and the impact of rock climbing on the environment. Recently he was named director of the State Park Leadership School, which emphasizes the training and development of future state park managers.
Dr. Attarian has spent over 30 years in the field of adventure education and outdoor leadership, where he has worked with a variety of populations and settings, including adjudicated youth, college and university programs, businesses, and camps. His most significant contributions have been with the North Carolina Outward Bound School, where he worked as an instructor, climber, and course director since 1978. He currently serves on the school's board of directors where he chairs the safety committee.