Outdoor Action Newsletter |
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| OA
Office: 330 Alexander Road, 8-3552 Equipment Room: 48 University Place, 8-6417 Climbing Wall: The Armory Trip Hotline: 8-3552 |
November '00 - January '01 |
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Last page update 02/02/01
| Activities | Training | Resources |
The Outdoor Action Program (OA) is Princeton University's outdoor experiential education program. We offer trips and courses throughout the academic year to Princeton undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff in many different outdoor activities. All OA trips are led by students who have gone through an extensive Leader Training Program. If you are interested in becoming an OA Leader, see the back of the newsletter for details and schedules. Sign up for all OA Trips at the TripStore
Winter is an excellent time to learn to Eskimo Roll in a warm pool. An Eskimo Roll is the act of righting a kayak if you flip. Beginners will learn the Roll and basic kayaking strokes. There will be two beginners classes, one from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. and the other from 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. on Sunday nights starting on November 12. Only sign up if you can attend all the classes. Participants should arrive 30 minutes early to the first class to watch the Eskimo Roll Video. Course fee: students $45, faculty/staff $60 Section 1: 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Section 2: 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Dates: November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10
If you are interested in learning to rock climb, then this 2-week course will teach you all the essential techniques of climbing, including tying in, belaying and specific climbing techniques like weight shifting, stemming, and laybacks. The course will meet at OA's indoor Climbing Wall in the Armory. The last class will meet on a Saturday for a day trip to the Philly Rock Gym. Course fee: Students $65, faculty/staff $90. Tuesday, 11/28, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 11/30, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 12/5, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 12/7, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Philly Rock Gym: Saturday 12/9, 11 - 5 p.m.
In June 1998 two teams of women-one a group of breast cancer survivors, another a group of young Princeton University women-climbed Alaska's Mt. McKinley (also known as Denali). The purpose of the Climb was to raise funds for breast cancer research, raise awareness that 1 in 8 American women will get breast cancer, and to support those with the disease who struggle against the odds. This is an inspiring one-hour PBS documentary about the climb, with a soundtrack by major artists including the Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Paula Cole. Wednesday, 11/15, 7:30 p.m. McCosh 66
These two free workshops will teach you the fundamentals of safe travel in the winter. Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, snowshoer, or a winter camper, these will enhance your ability to enjoy the winter environment.
Skiing or snowboarding safely in the mountains requires significant preparation and knowledge. Whether you are in the backcountry or on the slopes, this workshop will help prepare you to deal with high altitude and severe weather conditions. We will also focus on the basics of trip planning and equipment needs. Please join us! Tuesday, 11/28, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Robertson Hall Bowl 5
If you travel outdoors in the winter time, it's important to understand your body's physiological responses to cold. This seminar will cover the causes, recognition, and treatment of the major cold-related injuries: hypothermia, frostnip, and frostbite. The program does not assume any prior first aid training, yet will cover these topics in depth. This program is highly recommended to anyone engaging in outdoor winter sports. Monday, 12/4, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Robertson Hall Bowl 6
On May 25, 2000 Lily Leonard successfully summited Mt. Everest after two previous attempts in 1995 and 1998. This half hour interview with Ms. Leonard, sponsored by the International Center at Princeton University will be broadcast on Princeton Cable TV Channels 11A, 23A, or 30B on Friday, December 8 at 8:00 PM and again on Sunday, December 10 at 9:00 PM
Last July a group of Princeton students spent a month amidst the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. Join us for a slideshow by Eric McGlinchey GS as he tells us about mountaineering in a part of the world that is sparsely traveled and holds many unnamed and unclimbed high peaks. He will talk about some of the preparations involved in this type of expedition and some of the differences found in Russian-influenced mountaineering. Tuesday, 12/12, 7:30 p.m. Robertson Hall Bowl 5
OA is offering two Adult CPR refresher courses this fall for anyone who needs to update their certification. Course fee: $16. Both courses will be held in E. Pyne 219. Tuesday, 11/28, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Monday, 12/11, 7:30 - 10 p.m.
Outdoor Action is offering a variety of trips and training programs during Intersession break. Trips fill quickly so sign up early. The sign-up deadline for all Intersession Break Trips is Friday, December 15.
Cross-country skis set you free to go almost anywhere on the snow. There is no better place in the east for cross-country skiing than Vermont. All levels of skiers are welcome from beginner to advanced, so no previous skiing experience is required. Beginners will be taught the fundamentals of in-track skiing while experienced skiers can be off skiing on their own. The trips will be staying in a rustic house in Rochester, Vermont, cooking their own meals, and skiing at some of the finest cross-country ski touring centers in the east. Each day the group may have a new skiing experience. In the evening you can sit around the wood stove and relax after a good meal. Trip fee: students $170, faculty/staff $220, which includes transportation, meals, lodging, ski equipment, and trail fees. There is a $25 discount if you have your own skis. The dates for the trips are as follows:
Trip 1: Saturday, 1/27 - Wednesday, 1/31
Trip 2: Wednesday, 1/31 - Sunday, 2/4
Snowshoeing through the deep forest, cooking on the snow, and sleeping in a snow cave are part of the special magic of camping in the winter. The 3,000-foot peaks of the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts near Mount Greylock serve as a spectacular backdrop for this trip. Winter camping is a demanding physical activity that builds on three-season camping skills. Therefore, these trips are open only to those who have been on a previous OA backpacking trip (such as the Frosh Trip) or who have other backpacking experience. The trip will teach a broad range of winter camping skills, including snowshoeing and basic winter travel skills. Most specialized winter equipment will be provided by OA. Persons interested are recommended to attend the Hypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries Seminar in December or obtain the workshop notes from OA (available on the OA Web Site). Trip fee: students $95.00, faculty/staff $130.00. Pre-trip Preparation: Saturday, 1/27 Trip: Sunday, 1/28 - Wednesday, 1/31
OA is sponsoring a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course during Intersession taught by Wilderness Medical Associates. This is an excellent course for anyone spending extended periods in wilderness or remote environments including backpackers, paddlers, climbers, photographers, and scientists. This 72-hour course is specifically designed to emphasize the wilderness context-remote locations, severe environments, and simple improvised equipment. The course will cover patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, trauma care, environmental emergencies, splints, wilderness rescue, and backcountry medicine. This is an intensive course that meets 10 hours each day with morning lectures and afternoon skills practice including simulated rescues, daily quizzes and a final exam. The course will run from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. each day. The course will be held at the Princeton-Blairstown Center in northern New Jersey. At the Center participants will stay in rustic cabins. The cost of the course includes transportation, lodging and meals from Saturday, 1/27 - Sunday, 2/4. Preference will be given to OA Leaders and Leaders-in-training. Course fee: OA Leaders $295, Princeton students $495, faculty/staff $590, outside the University $675. Saturday, 1/27 - Sunday, 2/4
The OA Frosh Trip is the largest program of it's kind in the country. It takes a lot of preparation to send over 750 people backpacking for one week in September. OA is looking to hire two leaders to work full-time next summer from the end of exams through the Frosh Trip. This is a challenging and extremely rewarding job that requires you to learn and implement many skills including logistics planning, route planning, menu planning, equipment inventory and ordering, trip assignments, researching new areas, etc. At the end of the summer it is incredibly gratifying to see the end result of all your efforts, another successful Frosh Trip. It's a great learning opportunity for anyone interested in working in outdoor education. In addition, in mid-July you will help lead an all-expenses paid trip to climb Mt. Princeton (14,197') in Colorado. Qualifications: You must have completed all of the leader training requirements, have lead at least one multi-day OA trip and be an authorized van driver. In addition, you need to be well-organized and a self-starter to take on this position of significant responsibility. If interested, contact the OA office for an application. Salary: $3,000 for the summer plus an $800 housing allowance
The Princeton Blairstown Center has openings for summer staff in its summer camp program. Each summer PBC offers an outdoor adventure program for urban youth ages 10 - 17. This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work in the outdoors. Persons interested should contact the Blairstown Office at 908-362-6765 for additional information and applications. Additional information is available at the OA Office or check out the Princeton Blairstown Center website (http://webware.princeton.edu/PBCenter/index.htm).
OA's Leader Training Program is considered one of the most comprehensive in the nation and has been used as a model by numerous schools across the country. In the Leader Training Program participants develop skills in leadership, group facilitation, safety, and first aid, as well as valuable wilderness travel skills. Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible to apply to lead OA trips. OA Leader Training Requirements The five components of Leader Training are listed below. The first four must be completed before participating in the Leader Training Course (LTC). The first four components can be taken at any time; some participants prefer to take all of them at once (in Fast Track format) and some prefer to spread it out over a few semesters. The LTC is offered during Fall Break, Spring Break and Dead Week each year.
Wilderness First Aid is an intensive course that covers patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, wound care, splinting, environmental emergencies, and backcountry medicine. Hands-on simulations provide first-hand training in treating patients. This is an excellent course taught by experienced Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians and is highly recommended to all wilderness travelers. Adult CPR certification by American Red Cross Instructors is included. This class fulfills the First Aid requirement for OA Leader Training. Course fee: $89 leaders-in-training, $100 students, $120 faculty/staff. See the Spring Leader Training Schedule (right) to find out when it will next be offered.
Facilitating positive group interaction and teamwork requires excellent listening and observation skils and a set of activities and techniques to guide people through personal growth and development. This workshop will train OA leaders and others who work with groups in specific techniques for effective group facilitation. This is a hands-on, experiential workshop. Be prepared to have fun! See the Spring Leader Training Schedule (right) to find out when it will next be offered.
One of the greatest challenges of being a group leader is learning how to lead and motivate a group, and how to use group experiences to promote self-exploration and learning. This workshop is designed to teach OA leaders and others how to effectively lead groups. This is a hands-on, experiential based workshop so be prepared to be active. You must have completed the Facilitators Workshop previously in order to attend. See the Spring Leader Training Schedule (right) for times and locations.
This seminar is designed to make all wilderness travelers familiar with the causes of accidents in the wilderness, how to prevent accidents through effective pre-trip planning, how to identify risks in the field, and how to increase your margin of safety. See the Spring Leader Training Schedule (right) for times and locations.
Leading a group on a backcountry trip requires extensive training in wilderness camping skills. The Leader Training Course (LTC) is designed to teach all the wilderness skills necessary to lead multi-day backpacking trips, including route planning, equipment preparation, wilderness travel techniques, map and compass, outdoor cooking, and minimal impact camping. The course includes 16 hours of pre-trip classes and preparation, and a 5-day trip. Most of the trips we offer are backpacking trips, therefore, most leaders-in-training participate in a Backpacking LTC. We also offer a Backpacking & Canoeing Leader Training Course in the spring which provides training in both skill areas (see below). Trip participants will plan all aspects of the trip, including route, food, and equipment, and each participant is required to research and teach a class on a particular wilderness topic. Participants are required to attend all meetings and classes. The text for the course will be the Backpacker's Field Manual, written by Outdoor Action.
1. Backpacking Leader Training Course
Next Spring the Backpacking LTC is being offered in Fast Track format during Spring Break and in regular format during Dead Week. To take part in Fast Track participants must have already completed first aid and CPR. The Fast Track program during break will include all other workshops required for leader training and the 5-day trip. Regular format trips schedule pre-trip meetings during the weeks leading up to the trip. To take part in one of these trips, participants must have completed all other requirements before hand. Course fee: $95 students, $120 faculty/staff. See the Spring Leader Training Schedule (right) to find out when it will next be offered.
2. Backpacking & Canoeing Leader Training Course
This course covers the same skills taught in the Backpacking Leader Training Course, plus the skills necessary to lead a multi-day canoeing trip. This 7-day trip will spend 3« days backpacking and 3« days canoeing, so participants will gain experience in both skill areas. This is a requirement for anyone interested in leading a canoeing Frosh Trip. Course fee: $115, faculty/staff $145. See the Spring Training Schedule (right) to find out when it will next be offered.
OA Leaders are strongly encouraged to become authorized van drivers. You must complete an online course and quiz on driving 15-passenger vans. Drivers must also complete a 30-minute road test. To gain access to the online course and schedule a road test contact the Fleet Safety Road Test Instructor, Avery Waddell, at awaddell@princeton.edu. See the Public Safety Office website for more information (http://webware.Princeton.edu/pubsaf/QuickRefrGuideFleetSafey.htm).
*Section A (Monday and Wednesday class):
CPR: Monday, 2/12, 7 - 11 p.m. Weds. 2/14, Mon. 2/19, Weds. 2/21, Mon. 2/26,
Weds. 2/28, Mon. 3/5
Final Exam: Wednesday 3/7
*Section B (Tuesday and Thursday class):
CPR: Tuesday 2/13, 7 - 11 p.m. Thurs. 2/15, Tues. 2/20, Thurs. 2/22, Tues. 2/27,
Thurs. 3/1, Tues. 3/6
Final Exam: Thursday 3/8
Saturday, 3/17 Facilitator's Workshop, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, 3/18 Leadership & Group Dynamics Workshop, 12 - 7 p.m.
Monday, 3/19 Leader Training Trip Pre-Trip Classes, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Safety Management Workshop, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/20 Leader Training Trip Pre -Trip Classes and Preparation, 9 a.m.
- 8 p.m.
Wednesday, 3/21 - Sunday, 3/25 Leader Training Trip
Sunday, 4/1, 12 - 7 p.m.
*Section A (Monday and Wednesday class):
CPR: Wednesday, 4/4, 7 - 11 p.m. Mon. 4/9, Weds. 4/11, Mon.4/16, Weds. 4/18,
Mon. 4/23, Weds. 4/25
Final Exam: Monday 4/30
*Section B (Tuesday and Thursday class): CPR: Thursday, 4/5, 7 - 11 p.m. Tues.
4/10, Thurs. 4/12, Tues. 4/17, Thurs. 4/19, Tues. 4/24, Thurs. 4/26
Final Exam: Tuesday 5/1
Sunday, 4/22, 12 - 7 p.m.
Dates to be announced
Pre-trip Classes: To be scheduled by group during weeks leading up to the trip.
Trip: Saturday, 5/26 - Wednesday, 5/30
Pre-trip Classes: To be scheduled by group during weeks leading up to the trip.
Trip: Saturday, 5/26 - Friday, 6/1
All online information at the Outdoor Action Web Site is protected by copyright laws. You may set up links to material found at the Outdoor Action Web Site. Printed versions of the material may be distributed for nonprofit educational use as long as no fees are charged for the material, attributions are made to the author, and no content changes are made. Commercial use of this material either in electronic or printed form is prohibited without express written permission from the author. Copyright © 1995 - 2004, all rights reserved, Rick Curtis, Outdoor Action Program, Princeton University. Send your comments and suggestions on the OA Web Site to Outdoor Action
