The Colorado Wilderness Kids Group

Outdoor Education/Adventure Standards

 

Standard 1: Skill Development

                        Rationale:

Discover and develop diverse & specialized outdoor skills to facilitate competency of self-confidence in challenging and adventurous sports, recreation and leisure activities.

The objective of this standard is to learn, understand and perform a broad range of technical and specialized skills that are relevant to the participants’ interest in a variety of outdoor sports, recreation and leisure activities. Acquisition of these skills must be achieved by learning the basic fundamental (foundation) skills as a novice and progress through to the levels experience to the point of expert.  The aim the participants experience level is to master each level (i.e., novice, amateur, expert, extreme) proficiently before advancing beyond ones ability level.  Once each level has been accomplishes and can be performed competently (physically), then the outdoor enthusiast may facilitate safely to the next level.  The more diverse and specialized skills obtained by the outdoor participant, the more likelihood for the individual to be versatile to adopt to outdoor emergencies or unpredictable situations.           

Benchmark:

The following points are to be encompassed by training sessions, seminars, and practicing & experiencing of skills:

Ø                  Instruct (technical) specialized skills

Ø                  Use of diverse equipment and techniques

Ø      Practice outdoor fundamentals (i.e., camping, hiking, backpacking of wilderness travel).

Ø                  Map & compass skills

Ø                  Incorporate athletic/performance based skills

Ø      Practicing specialized and diverse skills on a regular bases will promote skillful competence with an automatic conditioned response.

 

Standard 2:            Outdoor Education

Rationale:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of philosophies, principles and practices in outdoor education/adventure activities.

The objective for this standard is to implement the cognitive knowledge and understanding of concepts, philosophies, principles, and practices.  Outdoor participants will then integrate their prior and current knowledge with sound decision-making (instinctive) skills in making a positive process into their overall outdoor experience.  The overall purpose of this criterion is to take an individuals acquirement of cognitive knowledge and process it to enhance physical skill performance. Instructional training and positive experiences provides the knowledge necessary for enjoyment of these pursuits, to teach the students how to achieve control in high-risk situations and to instill a health respect for natural environments.  Educators interested in conducting outdoor education experiences regularly would benefit from background knowledge of history and evolution of outdoor education. 

Benchmark:

Ø                  Wilderness first-aid training

Ø                  Safety & survival skills

Ø                  Leadership skills

Ø                  Trip planning & preparation

Ø                  Specificity training

Ø                  Processing of outdoor knowledge and experiences

Ø                  Historical reflection

 

Standard 3:            Lifestyle Fitness

Rationale:

Participate regularly in a variety of outdoor ventures that will promote a healthy and fit lifestyle.

The objective of this standard is for participants to actively include outdoor sports, recreation and leisure activities as a healthy and physically active lifestyle.  By incorporating a variety of outdoor activities, this will help individuals to discover, explore and venture wilderness areas of different wilderness ecosystems. Therefore, increasing the person’s interest for physical activities and decreasing physical and behavioral plateaus of redundant traditional physical activities. Outdoor activities also develop a person’s cardiovascular endurance, which will also increase their mental (self) confidence for more challenging and healthy risk-taking excursions. 

Benchmark:

Ø                  Explore a variety of outdoor physical activity ventures.

Ø      Maintain regular physical activities to promote physical and mental self-confidence.

Ø                  Recognize personal limitations during outdoor ventures.

Ø      Achieving high physical conditioning empowers men and women in performing extreme outdoor sports.

Ø      Maintain 3-5 days of cardiovascular activities a week for 20-60 minutes.

Ø                  Maintain 2-3 days of muscular endurance and strength training a week for 1-3 sets.

 

Standard 4:            Character & Social Development

Rationale:

Develop self-confidence and social responsibility of outdoor leadership skills, teamwork and competent judgment practices.

The objective for this standard is to instill and promote personal and social competence when performing outdoor activities.  Character development is a key aspect when augmenting self-constructs and personal growth during outdoor education and adventure programs. Including a meaningful and challenging adventure program that respects and develops their character, and helps them succeed morally.  When designing and developing an outdoor/adventure program, the understanding of individual and group motivations needs to highly considered in order to create a safe learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to achieve their personal best.  

Benchmark:

Ø      Promote independent and responsible personal behavior in outdoor physical activity environments.

Ø                  Partake a leadership role and learn to follow cooperatively 

Ø                  Conflict resolution skills

Ø                  Problem-solving skills

Ø      Follow safe practices, rules, procedures and etiquette during outdoor activities

Ø                  Effective communication skills

 

Standard 5: Environmental Awareness

Rationale:

Exhibit responsible awareness of ethical outdoor conservation practices by minimize impacts to wilderness areas.

The objective of this standard is to encourage outdoor participants to be more environmentally aware of their impact when traveling in natural wilderness areas. Promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education and ethical principles by Leave No Trace.  Know the regulations and special concerns environmentally for the wilderness area.  Important conservation concepts include individual, species, population, ecosystem, biogeochemical cycle, energy production and transfer, niche, adaptation, and humans as an ecological variable. Outdoor educators should understand and communicate how human cultural activities influence the environment from an ecological perspective.  The main point to keep in mind when traveling in a wilderness area is to minimize the impact to the environment.           

Benchmark:

Ø      Advocate the importance of personal responsibility when traveling in natural environments.

Ø      Encourage knowledge and understanding of Leave No Trace principles.

Ø      Outdoor recreationists need to be accountable for preservation of natural/wilderness areas.

Ø      Conservation concepts of ecology will promote a greater understanding and appreciation for natural environment concerns.

Ø      Promote environmental awareness to minimize human impact on private and public lands.