Ten Thousand Islands to Blue Ridge Mountains Leadership Semester
PHASE l: TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
February 5 - February 27, 2022
This phase will take you and your crew through a maze of lush mangrove tunnels in a land of contrast: between tropic and semi-tropic, land and sea, and salt and fresh water. As a team, you will work together to navigate with tide charts and maps, explore fragile and unique ecosystems, cook and set-up camp on platforms and white sandy beaches under the stars and paddle to new areas each day within the Ten Thousand Islands. You will also learn about what makes the Everglades famous worldwide, the environmental value the area adds, and how we can better take care of it.
It will be necessary for you and your crewmates to perform a swim assessment; as well as a flip and swim assessment as practice for paddling and self-rescue. This activity is closely monitored by your instructors. It is critical for us to determine your paddling comfort as you and your crew explore the islands. Even if you are a non-swimmer or weak swimmer, you will still participate in this safety assessment. All students will be wearing personal flotation devices (PFD's) during the assessment. PFD's are required gear anytime students are on the water.
Activities during this phase will include the following:
Coastal Canoeing: You will be canoeing in Everglades National Park. Navigate a maze of lush mangrove tunnels and explore this "river of grass," 120 miles long and 50 miles wide in search of adventure. All activities are weather permitting.
Skills:
- Riverine expedition risk assessment and management
- Riverine route planning and navigation
- Paddle strokes and techniques for propulsion and steering
- Canoe-based assisted rescues and self-rescues.
- Canoe expedition equipment use, care and maintenance.
- How to work with your paddling partner
Ongoing Initiatives/Activities/Workshops
Skills:
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Personal Growth
Crew Led Expedition
- Put your new skills to the test as you and your crewmates plan and lead your own expedition.
PHASE II: BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
February 28 - April 10, 2022
This phase will take you and your crew through the beautiful and varied terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Appalachian Range, of which the Blue Ridge Mountains are a part, are more than 200 million years old. These mountains once rivaled the Himalayas in stature. You and your crew will discover some of the finest terrain for outdoor adventure in the country. You will learn and hone backcountry backpacking, rock climbing and whitewater canoeing skill as you expedition through Pisgah National Forest.
Activities during this phase will include the following:
Backpacking: Weather permitting you will spend up to 17-days backpacking. You will learn you learn safety precautions for backcountry foot travel, how to find campsites, how to navigate terrain as well as how to use a map and compass. Since your crew’s navigation depends on individual and group decision making, your crew could make some navigational errors along the way. You may hike 12 to 15 hours in one day to reach your destination or you could go three miles uphill one day and 12 miles over varied terrain the next day. The backpacks can weigh 55+ pounds. Remember, PHYSICAL PREPARATION IS KEY!
Skills:
- Map and compass navigation
- Expedition planning
- Leave No Trace minimum-impact techniques,
- Wilderness First Aid and CPR
- Emergency procedures and weather forecasting.
Rock Climbing: Weather permitting, you may spend up to eight days climbing and attending climbing workshops. Start out bouldering then progress to more challenging climbs. Each day that you climb you learn and practice new climbing techniques.
Skills:
- Climbing safety systems and practices,
- Bouldering
- Belaying
- Multi-pitch climbing
- Rappelling
- Care and use of equipment
- Knot-tying.
Whitewater Canoeing: Weather permitting, you may spend up to six days canoeing on the French Broad or Tuckaseegee Rivers.
It will be necessary for you and your crewmates to perform a rapid swim assessment; as well as a flip and swim (or canoe capsize) assessment in the river. This activity is closely monitored by your instructors and river specialists. It is critical for us to determine your whitewater paddling comfort as you and your crew maneuver challenging rapids. Even if you are a non-swimmer or weak swimmer, you will still participate in this safety assessment. All students will be wearing safety helmets and personal flotation devices (PFD's) during the assessment. Helmets and PFD's are required gear anytime students are on the water.
Skills:
- Basic water safety and rescue techniques
- Identification and use of paddling equipment;
- How to work with your paddling partner to successfully negotiate class II and III rapids;
- Advanced skills paddling strokes and maneuvers.
Swiftwater Rescue Training
The Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) encompasses a broad range of skills related to performing rescues and keeping one's self and others safe on whitewater rivers. Participants on this course will spend two days learning and practicing those skills. Topics will include whitewater swimming, use of throw ropes, technical rigging and rope-work, rescue strategies and philosophy, and more. This portion of course will be provided as a Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue training course by American Canoe Association, and at the end of the skills course, participants will be provided with a participation card.
Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certification
While in the Blue Ridge Mountains, participants will have the opportunity to prepare for the unexpected by earning a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification during the mountains phase of the course. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to teach skills to care for those who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, this certification will include classroom lectures and demonstrations, combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge participants to use what they've learned.
Ongoing Initiatives/Activities/Workshops
Skills:
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Personal Growth
Crew Led Expedition
- Put your new skills to the test as you and your crewmates plan and lead your own expedition.