Hiking will introduce students to the basics of wilderness foot-travel. Students will attend a one-hour classroom session (or online equivalent) each week which will introduce basic concepts such as navigation, route-planning, first-aid, packing, and emergency preparedness. Once per week student will attend a mandatory group hike to apply the classroom skills. Hikes will range in difficulty and be appropriate for beginner to intermediate hikers. No previous outdoor experience is needed. No specialty equipment will be needed; students should provide athletic shoes, a water bottle, and a small backpack (suitable for carrying personal items) for themselves.
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Create a Plan for and execute a day-hike on a trail, addressing:
- Route Choice
- Food and water needs
- Clothing needs
- An Itinerary and Emergency Plan
- Use a map and compass to navigate
- Calculate an appropriate pack weight and pack personal gear for a day-hike
- Assess and evaluate outdoor risks and create an emergency preparedness plan
- Explain leave no trace ethics
- Explain how to appropriately dispose of human waste and trash in the outdoors
- Explain layering concepts for clothing, and how to choose appropriate clothing and footwear
- Explain hydration and nutrition as it applies to hiking
- Demonstrate basic first-aid for common hiking injuries
- Explain what a personal first-aid kit should contain
Institutional Outcomes
IO3 Human Relations/Workplace Skills: Students will be able to demonstrate teamwork, ethics, appropriate safety awareness and/or workplace specific skills.
Course Content Outline
- Risk assessment and safety
- Dressing for the outdoors
- Choosing a route and navigating it
- Leave-no-trace ethics and practices
- Packing
- Planning a hiking itinerary
- Emergency preparedness
- Basic first aid