Post Backpacking Expedition Blog

I hope you are all recovering from your experience backpacking on the AT. I also hope that you have had some time to think about your experience and share it with someone else, as this sometimes helps to process.

For this blog entry, please simply write about your experience on the AT. Although I have a few various thoughts and questions that I would like you to consider and write about, please try to write your responses in a narrative format rather than using numbered and fragmented partial sentences. As you write, consider the following:

• Reread your expectations that you posted on the blog entry before the trip.
• How did your actual experience compare to your expectations?
• What can you learn from this difference or similarity between expectation and experience?
• Re-visit the following web site and read how John Gookin defines EB:
  http://www.nols.edu/alumni/leader/06summer/expedition_behavior.shtml
• What are the actions you took to model good EB? What did you do that did not contribute to good EB? Comment on how incorporating these behaviors into your every-day routine could impact your life.
• How do you feel you performed physically?
• What factors contributed to your performance?
• What could you do to allow you to perform better next time?
• Describe how well you thought did with food planning. What were challenges you faced? Did you bring enough food? Too much food? The right kinds of food? What would you do different next time? What did you learn?
• Comment on how you thought you did with packing and loading your packs. Did you discover an efficient system? Did your packing become more efficient each time you packed? What did you learn?
• Comment on how comfortable you were during this experience. What were some strategies you learned and used to keep warm - both during the day and at night?
• Was there a moment (or moments) when you felt like you weren't having "fun"? Describe them and how you got through them.
• What things will you do differently when you prepare for and participate in the winter expedition on Katahdin?  What will you do the same?
• Finally, comment on how incorporating what you learned from this experience into your every-day routine could impact your life - both professionally and personally.

Please post your entry by 9:00 am on Friday, November 18.  As always, I look forward to your posts.

Pre-Backpacking Trip Blog Post

As we prepare for our AT backpacking trip, keep yourself updated on the weather forecast for Millinocket at the NOAA website. Also reference the equipment checklist you have received for the backpacking trip.

After viewing these two pieces of information, address the following items in your blog:

1. Comment on the weather forecast for this weekend.
2. I would like to you to look specifically at the clothing requirements of the Personal Gear List section and list out the pieces of clothing that you are bringing with you, and identify which pieces of clothing
   
   you are bringing.
3. Consider the term "expedition behavior" or "EB" for short. Visit the following web site and read how John Gookin defines EB:
   http://www.nols.edu/alumni/leader/06summer/expedition_behavior.shtml . What are the actions you are going to take to model good EB?

    4. Share your expectations for this trip. Comment on the following:

• What are your personal goals for the trip?

• How do you think you will perform?
   
• Is there anything you are anxious or nervous about?
   
• Identify some strategies you will use to stay warm and dry
   
• Do you feel "prepared"?

 As always, I look forward to reading your posts.  This post is due by 6:00 am on Friday morning.

No Sailing Monday

We will plan on having our last sailing class this Wednesday, November 2 instead of on Monday.  Use your time Monday to complete assignments and study for the Nautical Navigation final exam on Tuesday evening.

See you then.

Sailing Expedition Reflection

I hope you enjoyed your sailing experience as much as I did, and that your experience aboard has provided you with some insight into what the windjammer industry is like in Maine. For this expedition, one of your formal learning objectives for ADV111 was your menu and food preparation for a group. This was one of three group cooking experiences you will have this year. For this blog, please review the goals we listed (see below) and spend some time thinking about the following questions before writing. As I mentioned to you earlier, I am expecting to see evidence of quality time reflecting and writing about your experience.

Among your menu planning goals:

• sufficient quantity/calories
• nutritious  
• withstand limited refrigeration
• tastes good
• easy to prepare
• offers variety
• presentation

 In this blog, please address the following questions:

 Planning

• How well did your recipes address your goals? Identify those goals accomplished, and those that could be better addressed next time.  
• How well did your shopping list reflect what you actually purchased?

Preparation

• Comment on the quality of your meals.  
• How could you prepare the meals differently in the future that might better achieve your goals? Consider everything from purchasing ingredients and repackaging to packing and cooking.
• Did all members of your group have equal responsibility in the preparation? Why or why not?

Presentation  

• Were your meals well presented? 
• What extra steps did you take to provide an appealing presentation?
• How did you incorporate your theme into your presentation?

And finally, reflect upon your sailing experience on the Pedagogy. Address the following:

• How did this experience live up to your expectations?  
• What were the high points of the trip? What were the low points?
• How do you feel about your nautical navigation skills as a result of this experience?
• Compare sailing the Pedagogy to sailing the Flying Junior dinghies.
• What is your impression of the windjammer tourism industry here in Maine?
• How do you think you performed individually on the expedition? How do you think you performed as a group?

We will discuss some of these in class on Friday.

Sailing Update

Hi All,

I was able to confirm with the lighthouse keeper for tomorrow's plan.  We will meet in front of the main entrance at 9:00 tomorrow morning and pick up Damon at the Farmer's Union at 9:15 and Lisa at Brown's corner in Dennysville at 9:30.  Remember to bring your pfd.

See you in the morning,
Scott

Backcountry Disease Closure / Sailing Expedition Check-in

As you have learned of various potential health hazards related to food preparation in the backcountry, hopefully you have become aware of the importance of hygene while working and preparing food in the field. As we begin focusing on food preparation, I would like you to comment on the following:

1. Identify three strategies you will include in your planning for our sailing expedition to reduce the potential for transferrence of disease while on our trip.

2. What was the most difficult part of presenting your lesson? How will you overcome this challenge the next time you present? (Oooh, yes, that's right - there will be a next time!)

3. As we begin preparing for our sailing expedition, think about a meal you have enjoyed in the past that you would describe as an excellent experience.

     a. Describe this meal.

     b. Identify what made this meal exceptional (i.e. the atmosphere, the company, the food, the presentation, the situation, etc.)

     c. Explain how you could incorporate aspects of your exceptional dining experience into your meal preparation while on our sailing expedition.


4. What expectations do you have of this sailing expedition? Describe what you think it will be like during a typical day on board, and identify what aspects of the experience you are looking foward to, and what aspects you are concerned about.



Your blog entry is due by class Friday, Oct. 21. As always, be sure to use spell and grammar check, and use complete sentences and paragraph structure.

No Blog This Week

No Blog This Week.

Post Sea Kayaking Expedition Reflection

Hello Gang,

I very much enjoyed working with you all last weekend on our first expedition. Judging from your comments and reactions, It appeared as you all enjoyed it as well. As I mentioned at the end of the experience, I am pleased with how you are all progressing individually as well as a group.

Part I:

I would like you to reflect upon your expedition last weekend and write a blog entry that summarizes your experiences. As you reflect, comment on specifics such as:

• food
• teamwork/comradery
• LNT
• paddling skill development
• student leadership
• safety
• Reversing Falls
• planned activities/initiatives
• your own goals
• your favorite and least favorite parts of the expedition
• things you would like to have been done differently

 Part II:

In his book "Outdoor Leadership," John Graham writes:

“Leadership is not a science to be picked up in one book or course, but an art to be learned over time.”

Consider and answer the following questions:

1. What do you think John Graham means by this quote, and
2. How do you think this applies to your experiences of last weekend?

Please remember that your blog entries should be of considerable length and depth. It is highly recommended that you type your responses in a word processor, use spell check, and then copy and paste into this blog. You may find that you need to make more than one entry to fit your entire response into the text box. Refer to the blog evaluation rubric for further information on how you will be evaluated. Your responses are due to be posted by the beginning of class on Friday, October 7, 2011.

Wilderness Reflection

Next week we will be departing on our first expedition: a four-day sea kayak trip. As we prepare for this experience, I would like you to continue thinking about "wilderness". For this blog, I would like you to:


1. Visit and read about wilderness at wilderness.net

2. Post a blog entry that includes your summary definition of wilderness (do not copy & paste!).

3. Post a one-paragraph statement with your reaction to the following quote about wilderness. Include if you agree or disagree with this point of view and why.


We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth, as “wild.” Only to the white man was nature a “wilderness” and only to him was the land “infested” with “wild animals” and “savage” people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery. —Chief Luther Standing Bear, of the Oglala band of Sioux.


Again, be sure to use a word processor to spell and grammar check before posting and to post using your first name. This post is due before class on Friday morning, September 23.

Equipment List

Hi All,

This past week, you have been given an equipment list identifying several pieces of clothing and equipment you will need for your coursework. Using this equipment list, your book, and the discussions we have had in class, please respond to this post (by clicking on the "comments" link below) and

1. List out the pieces of clothing and gear you already own, and then
2. Identify each piece you still need to acquire in the next few weeks as we prepare for your expeditions
3. Finally, identify where you will research and look for each piece of gear you need and when you expect to have it by.

This is due before class on Friday, September 16.