Friday, December 17, 2010

Hillcrest High School 4-H

The UA Outdoor Recreation program had the honor of teaching some Hillcrest High School students how to properly set up a tent as well as other skills needed for recreating outdoors. The special needs students had a blast with the Program Coordinator - Lance Haynie




Monday, December 13, 2010

NEW class comes to an end

We have just concluded our first semester of NEW 490-007: Outdoor Leadership, and let me say how pleased I am with the outcomes. The semester was filled with new learning experiences, refinement of skills and building of relationships.

Group initiative and team building



A common myth with outdoor classes is that they are easy A's. Our class requires just as much work and effort as any other academic offering - it is actually given a 4 hour writing credit value. We require 2 presentations, 2 case studies, 1 mid-semester test, a trip plan, and a final exam from each student.



Learning about participant evacuation




Our students take an active role in the class by teaching about different kinds of shelters



The final exam for our class is a 3-day field-based experience where instructor led scenarios allow each students the opportunity to put their class-room learning "to the test". This past semester's class went to the Cheaha Wilderness area in eastern Alabama. We traveled along the Pinhoti Trail for approximately 12 miles from Adam's Gap to the Cheaha Trailhead. Along the way, we simulated participant care issues, lost participant cases, first-aid related emergencies, lightning protocols, participant conflict situations, and off-trail land navigation.



The Pinhoti Trail: an official extension of the Appalachian Trail




Group cooking at CAMP 1





Taking a break at the top of Stairway to Heaven: elev. 2,135'




First-aid related emergency scenario




Leaving CAMP 2


This class specializes in an experiential education approach to teaching leadership in an outdoor setting. One does not need to be well-versed in outdoor skills to participate. I hope that this continues to be of value to the University of Alabama as students pursue careers in the outdoors. If you would like to learn more about this class, please contact Lance Haynie (lhaynie@sa.ua.edu), Program Coordinator for Outdoor Recreation at the University of Alabama