G&R 2034 Water Expedition:
This is a small group travel-based course, emphasizing leadership and teamwork. Various offerings of this course include water sections emphasizing different skills, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing or rafting. While this course will focus on outdoor skills, expedition behavior will be part of the course curriculum. Students will learn to live and work closely with their classmates. Tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, respect for others and the environment, and a willingness to work hard will be critical to success. Students should expect ongoing verbal coaching and feedback throughout the course, as well as verbal performance summaries at the end of each section. There will also be opportunities for interpreting and understanding the natural environment. This is a demanding and fast-paced course. This course may be repeated once with a different skill set or in a different location. (1-5 lect.) (Max 6-10)
Major Topics
This course covers topics necessary for leading groups in non-motorized boats through wilderness areas. It covers camp and travel techniques appropriate to the water-based setting, river, lake, or ocean, including leadership techniques, risk management, selecting and maintaining proper equipment, and natural history of the local area.
Outcomes
In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:
1. Paddling or sailing techniques
2. Water-based Navigation
3. Risk management procedures related to river or sea travel
4. Planning and loading boats for a river or sea expedition
5. Leave-no-trace techniques for water travel
6. Rescue techniques for swift water or open water situations
7. Explaining the natural history of the local environment and threats to ecosystem
8. Camping in maritime environments or river corridors
9. River hydrology or wind and tide patterns
10. Leadership and expedition behavior