Outdoor adventure Training
Chapter NINE
Performance Objective 409
Who can resist the lure of an outdoor adventure training weekend? Fresh air, back to nature, living off the land, and the wide open skies continue to ensure the popularity of these exercises for Sea Cadets. By the time you reach Phase IV, you know how much fun these weekends can be.
In Phase III, you were tested on your leadership ability by completing tasks that were assigned to you on an outdoor adventure training weekend. In Phase IV, you are given the opportunity on these weekends to practice your instructional technique. You should be fairly comfortable with the outdoor adventure training material by now and ready to get some practice teaching.
There are three periods still scheduled during regular parade nights for organization and preparation for an outdoor adventure training weekend. You will probably be asked to help with the following during these periods:
- Preparing operations orders
- Organizing the nominal roll
- Calculating rations
- Calculating equipment requirements
- Preparing a kit list for the cadets
- Presenting the briefing prior to departure
- Demonstrating appropriate kit to bring
- Assist in the reconnaissance
- Organizing activities for the weekend
- Instructing suitable lessons appropriate to the theme of your adventure training weekend
- Setting up a duty watch/fire picket
- Collecting data or completing a critique to be used during a debrief of the weekend
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Methods of Instructing in the Field
Outdoor adventure training weekends are the perfect opportunity to practice different methods of instruction. We all know how boring it can be to sit in a classroom and listen to someone lecture at you, so here’s your chance to make your lessons as creative, interesting and as participative as possible.
Remember that the Sea Cadet Program is a “hands on” program which encourages as much “learn by doing” as possible. If you were teaching a class on how to build a fire would you lecture them, or have them read a book? Of course not. The best way to learn how to build a fire is to build a fire.
Did you know that Halifax was almost destroyed by an explosion in 1917? Two ships collided, one of them an ammunitions ship that blew up from the resulting fire. The cataclysm leveled much of Halifax; 1,635 died and more than 9,000 were injured.
Let’s quickly review the methods of instruction:
- Discussion method
- Guided discovery
- Problem-solving
- Role-playing
- Game-playing
If you were asked to teach a lesson, which methods could you use for the following?
- Camp routine
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Personal hygiene
- Clothing and equipment maintenance
- Survival kits
- Environmental concerns
- How to pitch a tent
- Backpacks
There are many different ways that you could teach the lesson. Let’s pick one subject, Survival Kits, and apply the different methods of instruction.
| Discussion method |
- Present your class with the problem that a survival kit has to be assembled for an outdoor adventure training weekend.
- Facilitate a discussion on what should go into the survival kit.
- Encourage imaginative solutions.
- Draw the group's ideas into some sort of conclusion.
|
| Guided discovery |
- Present the question "what do you think should go into a survival kit on an outdoor adventure training weekend?"
- The cadets should be able to figure out the items with your assistance.
|
| Problem-Solving |
- Give the cadets the problem, i.e. "what do you need to survive in the bush?"
- Can be done in a group or on their own.
- Encourage applying theoretical learning to practical situations.
|
| Role-Playing |
- Use a situation where cadets must list items needed for a survival weekend.
- Make sure cadets are comfortable with their assigned role.
|
| Game-Playing |
- Try using a game, such as charades, for acting out the items needed in a survival kit.
- Encourage participation and have fun!
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You can see how the same class can be taught in many different ways. Use your imagination with the methods listed here or develop your own ideas. The type of method doesn’t matter. What is important is that you are comfortable with the method and that the objective of the lesson is met.
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Conclusion
Outdoor adventure training weekends remain an excellent venue to practice your instructional technique, not to mention that they are also a lot of fun! This is your opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience and ensure that junior cadets learn the necessary skills for living on the land.
Other chapters:
Table of Contents | Chapter 1: Serve with a Sea Cadet Corps |
Chapter 2: Drill |
Chapter 5: Naval Knowledge |
Chapter 6 : Seamanship |
Chapter 8: Instructional Technique |
Chapter 9: Outdoor Adventure Training |
Chapter 10: Physical Fitness |
Chapter 11: Canadian Citizenship
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