Canoeing Basics and Techniques

Canoeing

• Canoe Parts:
  • Stern: Back of the canoe
  • Bow: Front of the canoe
  • Hull: Entire frame of the canoe
  • Gunwales: Sides of the canoe (black plastic)
  • Yoke: Middle section between seats
  • Bow Seat: Front seat
  • Stern Seat: Back seat
  • Handles: For lifting and carrying
  • Deck: Tip of the canoe (black part)
• Canoeing Safety:
  • Maintain low center of gravity and balanced weight
  • Avoid entering/exiting from high docks
  • Use paddle for entrance/exit stabilization, avoid grabbing gunwales
  • Wear a life jacket
• Canoeing Strokes:
  • Forward Stroke: Pull paddle backward to the hip
  • Draw Stroke: Pull boat towards paddle (docking/tight spaces)
  • Pry Stroke: Push paddle outward against gunwales
  • J Stroke: Turn paddle sideways for changing direction
• Canoeing Techniques:
  • Power comes from torso rotation, not arms
  • Rotate shoulder, plant paddle, rotate back
  • Brief arm engagement at end of stroke

Hiking

• Hiking Hazards:
  • Wear proper shoes
  • Check weather conditions
  • Stay on marked trails
  • Carry enough water and food
  • Avoid poison ivy
• Hiking Locations:
  • Durham Forest
  • Waterfront
• Environmental Values:
  • Respect for the environment
  • Appreciation for natural environment
  • Protect and maintain healthy environment

Camping

• Camping Planning:
  • Tent set-up
  • Firebuilding safety:
    • Choose safe spot away from dry areas and trees
    • Fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen
    • Use tinder, kindling, and fuelwood
  • Firebuilding techniques:
    1. Tepee Fire: Tinder in center, cone-shaped kindling, add fuelwood
    2. Log Cabin Fire: Tinder in center, square frame of kindling, layering larger fuelwood

Cycling

• Bicycle Parts:
  • Handlebar: Front, above tire
  • Front/Rear Brakes; Gear shifter
  • Frame: Top tube, head tube, down tube, seat tube
  • Pedals; Crankset; Chain stay; Chain
  • Seat post; Saddle
  • Fork, hub, disc brake rotator
  • Caliper, spokes, nipple
  • Rim, Tire
• Cycling Safety/Signals:
  • Left arm outstretched for turns left
  • Bent elbow, forearm up for turns right
  • Palm facing back for stopping/slowing
  • Check shoulders
  • Single-file line
  • Follow road rules/stop signs
  • Only ride in middle of road at red lights turning left, on left side of lane
• Cycling Techniques:
  • Downhill: Butt off seat, lean over back tire
  • Rough terrain: Level pedals, lean over

Ropes

• Ropes Knots:
  • Figure 8 knot
  • Bowline knot
  • Clove hitch
  • Trucker's hitch
  • Prusik knot
  • Square knot
  • Timber hitch
  • Double Loop Figure 8

Environmental Science

• Environmental Values:
  • Conservation: Protecting for use
  • Preservation: Protecting from use
• Biodiversity:
  • Species Identification:
    • Trees: Deciduous (wide leaves); Conifers (needle-like leaves)
• Wilderness Hazards:
  • Poison Ivy
  • Dangerous/aggressive animals
  • Getting lost
  • Cold
  • Dehydration
  • Insufficient food
  • Falls/trips
  • Injuries
  • Invasive species (Japanese Beetles, Emerald Ash Borer)
• Wetlands:
  • Types: Marsh, Swamp, Fen, Bog
  • Characteristics: Waterlogged soils, water-tolerant plants, shoreline protection, natural runoff
  • Landmark species: Shrews, lemmings, voles, muskrats, beavers, otters, loons, many bird species
• Mapping:
  • Map Elements: Scale, reference, symbols (roads, water, land, contour), legend, latitude, longitude
    • Latitude: Horizontal lines (degrees N/S of Equator)
    • Longitude: Vertical lines (degrees E/W of Prime Meridian)
  • Topographic maps: Show elevation
  • Contour lines: Represent elevation & land shape, connecting points of equal elevation
  • Contour interval: Vertical distance between contour lines (usually 50-100m)

Orienteering

• Orienteering:
  • Compass and GPS basics; UTM zones(essential for GPS)
  • Earth divided into UTM zones for GPS.