As I mentioned last weekend when we returned, I very much enjoyed working with you all last week on our first expedition. For this blog post, please comment on the following
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:
- LNT
- paddling skill development
- student leadership
- safety/risk management (both on the ocean and on the river)
- navigation
- natural history (intertidal zone, birds, etc)
- taking care of yourself
- your own goals
- your favorite and least favorite parts of the expedition
Be sure to include specifics with regard to:
- Rob & Scott's roles
- wilderness (or Wilderness)
- the pace of the program
- any other aspect of the experience that sticks out in your memory
Part II:
Visit the following web site and read about Expedition Behavior: http://www.troop116.org/philmont/ExpeditionBehavior.pdf
Visit the following web site and read about Expedition Behavior: http://www.troop116.org/philmont/ExpeditionBehavior.pdf
- Identify one action you took and one action another first year student took that modeled good EB while on your expedition.
- Identify one action you took that did not contribute to good EB.
- Revisit the Full Value Contract we created together before the expedition here: https://flic.kr/p/2hoBgKE .
- Compare the list we created with the bulleted list of behaviors at the end of the article.
- Comment on how incorporating good EB into your every-day routine could impact your life.
Part III:
Visit the LNT website to read and learn about the principle "Plan ahead and Prepare" at https://lnt.org/learn/principle-1 .
- Identify three ways we used proper planning to reduce impact while on our expedition.
- Identify one way in which you would improve planning on your next kayaking expedition to better reduce impact.
Part IV:
In his book "Outdoor Leadership," John Graham writes:
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 week?
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 9 am on Friday, October 4.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteDuring this expedition I learned a lot more about LNT than I knew before, when it came to telling the difference between what well established trails looked like, and what a social trail looks like. This is something I never knew! I also developed better paddling techniques, I always used my arm's to paddle but after Scott showed me a different way to use better rotation I felt a difference right away, I wasn't as tired after that paddle as I had been previously.
I was also able to better use my navigation skills, I believe being ale to apply the skills I already knew in the field made that connection a lot easier. I was also impressed with the way I was able to take care of myself while paddling, I never drink water but knowing that it would be a long day of paddling in dry suit I made sure that I was drinking water often.
My favorite part of the expedition was the first night on Hell's Half Acre, the first years all got together and had a "campfire" we took all of our headlamps and put them into a dry bag and went and sat near the ocean and just talked. I will not be sharing my least favorite part of the trip in my post, but I will share privately if you wish.
Part 2
An action that me and another first year took that showed good EB was when we were up before the rest we offered to help the second years prepare breakfast.
I did not always show good EB however, I didn't have the best attitude at first due to stress which I allowed to show.
In our list of EB we stated that we would ask what can we do to help?, respect others, stay organized as well as being safe, much like the article stated.
Having good EB can make you happier, one bad mood in a group can and will change the entire group attitude.
Part 3
On expedition we traveled and camped on durable surfaces, we carried out our waste in "poop tubes", and we left behind what we found.
On the next trip I will not be there due to being in Conservation Law.
Part 4
A. Leadership is not something that one can be taught in a classroom, but something that can be taught be example.
B. This applies to expedition because on race day I was learning how to help the racers maneuver around obstacles, this is something I have never done, so the second year I was with took the lead and sowed me what to do.
The expedition sure was something, I wouldn't say I had the best time of my life, but I sure did experience alot, and whether these experiences are good or bad is still up for interpretation, but I will say I did learn a thing or two, and I will now reflect on said things. LNT was easy for me, I took an LNT course last year and got the advocate cert but admittedly, many aspects and practices of LNT were foggy in my mind. As for paddling skill development I think I did fairly well, I definitely had the form down, just wasn't used to contorting my broad shoulders in such a way as to propel a kayak, because doing the form correctly hurt like hell so I only used it when Rob or Scotty were observing me! Another thing Id like to reflect on is the student leadership aspect of the trip. You could defiantly tell that it was there first time planning a trip and you can defiantly tell it was stressful for them, that is all. One thing that was done fairly well was the risk management aspect. There was never a point where I felt unsafe or like I was at risk, though I did get sick when I got back, my hypothesis is that all the vegan meals and hand sanitizer had made my immune system frail. Navigation was alot of fun, atleast on land out in the field, trying to triangulate was useful to learn. My favorite part of the expedition was Rob, my least favorite part of the expedition was all of it.
ReplyDeletePart II:
One action I took was when I didn't feel like getting up suprimo early, I had to push myself to focus and actually function, this was mainly achieved by not sleeping, so I wouldn't have to wake up early. One action another first year student took that modeled good EB while on the expedition was how Gabriel comforted Jessica in her time of need. .
One action that I took that didn't model good EB was how I projected my aggravation and frustrations from the trip out onto others who didn't necessarily deserve it.
Incorporating good EB into your life is ideal and would certainly make you in whole a better person, but I also think that it would be holding yourself to a ridiculous standard that the self regulation youd have to do would make putting EB into practice seldom. It would take alot more then just replicating the aspects of EB to be able to acceptably follow them in everyday life.
Part III:
Identify three ways we used proper planning to reduce impact while on our expedition. (1.Plan for a way to make packing out trash or waste easier, so one would be more inclined to do so. 2.Plan to keep food away from your camp site and away from wild animals. 3. plan to bring eco friendly dish soap, if dish soap is necessary.)
Identify one way in which you would improve planning on your next kayaking expedition to better reduce impact. ( I think that we did a good job at minimizing impact, if anything, we left the island looking more natural then when we got there. But I suppose in case of any littler, doing more thorough sweeps of the island as I found trash even on the last day in plain sight that I had picked up that looked like it had been there before us.)
Part IV:
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. I think he means that leadership is a role that you must witness and get experience in yourself in person to truly learn
2. This applies to our experience because the second year students got there first opportunity to truly learn about leadership in planning for our trip. very cool
Hattie Gibbs
ReplyDeletePart 1
The trip was fun but people's attitudes could have been better on everyone's part. I really focused on my torso rotation while I was padding. I sometimes mess up how to line of the compass and take a bearing, but I think I figured it out now. I already know a lot about LNT but it was good for the people who didn't know anything about it. Sometimes it was hard to stop for birds and they took up time, but mostly it was okay.
Part 2
I offered to help Dom with something. Jessica, Shawn, and someone else did the dishes one night. I probably could have helped more. Expedition behavior could make or break the whole trip.
Part 3
Know the skills and abilities of the group you plan to lead, Know the area that you plan to visit. Plan what you’re going to pack based on the environment that you are going too. One thing you could do is explain social trails sooner so we do have a lot of time to use them causing a greater inpact.
Part 4
The fact is you can’t teach someone good leadership qualities and make them follow them. They have to learn what to do through experience and hard work.
This applies to last week because none of use have learned how to be a really good leader yet.
Part I:
ReplyDeleteDuring the expedition there were a few LNT Presentations done by our peers in which I learned some interesting facts about how the simplest things, if done numerous times by multiple people can leave a huge impact on the environment. The concept of re naturalizing was particularly interesting to me because I never really thought about how I can try to help the heal from human impact, like making trails less desirable to walk on by putting obstacles in the path. That helped me look at things differently, and I was really intrigued by the idea.
While out there learning about leaving no trace, which I know is impossible to do, but learning which actions will leave the least amount of impact, made me think about the “Wilderness” reminding me of this quote from environmental activist Wendell Berry “a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children” which has been modernized over the years to “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” This quote, although very brief has left a huge impact on how I think of my personal impact and how educating others on the prevention of impacting what wilderness we do have so it can be enjoyed by future generations.
The student leadership on expedition was, I must say a little rocky, there were moments where I was very disappointed in some of my peers and how they presented themselves. I believe the group, this includes myself can benefit from thinking about the delivery of their thoughts when speaking to a group.
My paddling on this entire trip was “mint” …ha-ha just playing, however towards the end of the week I felt a huge improvement in my skills as a paddler, and was very proud of myself for the progress I made and feel like I will continue to improve that skill every time I get on the water. The confidence I gained on this trip was very much needed in order to continue to progress towards my goal to be a kayaking guide someday. Having that time to practice, gain knowledge, and get the direction I needed from Rob and Scott on the proper ways to paddle was a big part of the confidence I gained.
My favorite part of the expedition was getting to know some of my classmates and gaining some really awesome friendships with them, they may not feel the same way but I really enjoyed getting to know them. My least favorite experience of the trip was the damn dry suites, man that was a little rough at the beginning, although I did get used to it by the last day but the first five days of wearing them were a little brutal. Robb was not kidding when he told us it was going to feel like a really weak guy trying to choke you all day.
Part II:
One action I took while on expedition that I believe demonstrates god EB was, even times when I was miserable I tried to keep a positive attitude, although there were times I did fail at that. I kept myself clean so nobody had to hold their breath when near me. Other classmates showed good EB by offering to help each other, and asking how you were doing. I believe the first years showed very good EB during the entire trip.
One action I took that did not demonstrate good EB was losing patience once or twice, and I may have been hangry during one of those times. I should have made sure I had enough snacks and kept hydrated to avoid getting short with some of my peers.
Before the expedition the class made a contract which, full discloser I did NOT sign so I am not legally obligated to uphold… ha-ha just kidding. In all seriousness though the contract we made goes hand in hand with the principles that were written in the article about good EB. People really need to be tolerant of differences to the best of their abilities, one bad attitude from someone can really put a negative impact on someone else’s experience and there were a few moments that a few people were doing just that. I get that nobody is perfect and we all exhibited poor EB, however it is something we all can learn from for next time.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals going into the trip was to feel comfortable in the kayak, I think that through out the week my paddling skills developed to the point that I felt comfortable in my kayak. I think my favorite part of the expedition was making new friends. The my least favorite part would be the first day on the ocean and hoe nervous I was. Another I liked on the trip was how we stopped to find bearings with are compass it really helped me to understand what I was doing when trying to navigate.
Part 2
One action I took that represented good EB was helping wash the group dishes, along with another first year student.
On the first night of the trip me and the people in my tent could have been quieter so that the others in the camp could sleep. We did not show proper EB. Both are list and the list in the article put an emphasis on people being responsible for themselves as well as trying to look out for the other people in the group.
Having good EB will help those around you stay in good moods which in turn will allow you to also be in a good mood.
Part3
During are trip we had a well thought out plan for how to bring out EVERYTHING that we brought in to the camp site.
I will not be on the next kayaking trip, but if I was, I would want to go over some of the LNT lesson before arriving on the camp site especially the lesson on the walking trails. Because before that lesson people where walking on the social trails.
Part 4
The way I view Grahams quote is that a person can not be a leader If they have not had actual experiences in those situations.
I think this applies to my experiences because we were in the field learning what it takes to be out, they’re doing the tasks not just in a classroom learning
this is Shawn
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