Course Syllabus

Introduction to Outdoor Adventure

Faculty

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Course Description

This course introduces students to the field of outdoor education through firsthand outdoor adventures in combination with classroom sessions. Students develop leadership and planning skills through physical outdoor experiences, place-based learning, and natural and cultural history. Field trips are required. Specific outdoor adventures will be determined based on season, overall class make-up, physical ability, and equipment availability. Activities may include hiking, snowshoeing, outdoor journaling, and orienteering.

Essential Objectives

1. Design, plan, prepare, participate in, and evaluate outdoor adventures that are accessible for and inclusive of a wide variety of levels and abilities.
2. Learn and practice how to resolve interpersonal and small group communication issues, especially in isolated and outdoor emergency situations.
3. Develop leadership skills, focusing on effective communication, situational awareness, adaptability, risk assessment, and risk management.
4. Develop contingency and emergency plans, and an understanding of weather forecasts, safety skills, and outdoor navigation skills including map, compass, and GPS use.
5. Research and reflect on how place-based learning and experiential learning help foster group cohesion and stronger connections to the natural world.
6. Identify and reflect on the physical and mental skills required for different outdoor adventures and describe appropriate preparation exercises.
7. Monitor physical and mental response to physical exercise before, during, and after each outdoor adventure to better understand overall wellness.
8. Research and reflect on humans’ relationship with and impact on the natural world.
9. Research the specific natural landscape in which chosen outdoor adventures occur, considering its natural and cultural history, including Indigenous peoples’ past and present connection to the land.
10. Identify physical, socio-economic, cultural, and racial barriers to outdoor adventures and strategize solutions to reduce these barriers.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity