Links to Handouts and Assignments:

Purpose of the Trip:

The overall objective is to have a practical experience whereby the student uses some outdoor skills.  Those
skills might include: hiking, backpacking, backcountry living (cooking, camping, etc.), map interpretation and
orienteering, leadership and decision-making, group cohesion, environmental ethics, and personal and group
reflection.

Preparation and Procedures:

Preparation for the trip comes from class presentations and participation in all lead up activities.  The students
should be prepared for the physical and psychosocial nature of the class backpacking expedition.

Participation on the trip includes involvement in all group activities associated with the expedition.  The trip will
require students to hike safely, demonstrate an environmental ethic, set-up and breakdown camp, and participate
in an orienteering lesson and exercise.  Also, students will be expected to apply the Situational Leadership Model
to all decision made during the trip.  Those decisions will be discussed in the Leader Decision-Making Journal.
It is expected that students will cooperate with the group during all phases of the expedition.

Keeping a journal of your experience is required.  In your journal, a record of your activities should be kept.  Also,
in your journal, any personal comments or thoughts regarding the activities should be highlighted.  The following
paragraph describes the nature of the journal assignment.

Leader Decision-Making Journal.  A decision-making journal format will be given to the group prior to the trip.
Students are required to reflect on the decisions made by the leader over the course of the day (or designated time).
Decide what leadership styles were used and what the readiness levels of the group were at the time of the decision.
Upon returning home, summarize your journal in a three-page, word-processed, APA style report on the value of
your experience and the importance of leadership.  Analysis of your leader decision-making journal is expected.
Discuss the results from the ELSA Inventory and be sure to illustrate how your decision-making styles may have
changed as a result of your opportunity to apply the Situational Leadership Model on the trip.

This experience and resulting paper will be examined critically by the instructor.

Evaluation:

Participation in the class backpacking expedition is worth 30% of the final grade, with the reflective paper worth
10% of the final grade for a total of 40%.