Wilderness Exploration and Landscape Studies Fall Osprey Block (3 week intensive)
School is about to begin and we are so excited to start the year off with our WELS Osprey Block Course! This course has a fantastic blend of classroom and field experience and we’re hoping it will be something our students will never forget. The first and third weeks of the class will be held on campus during normal school hours. We will be using this time to deep dive into geology, ornithology, natural history, studio art, outdoor leadership and expeditionary planning as well as wrapping up the course with reflections and project finalizations. In week two, we will be doing a four day, three night canoe trip down the Colorado River starting. We will put on at Potash, just south of Moab, paddling 52 miles down to Spanish Bottom. Thankfully, at this point, we will be picked up by Tex’s jet boat service and transported back to Potash. During this time students will engage in further studies of the landscape and put in practice the leadership and outdoor skills they studied the week prior. The final product for this portion of the course will be a field journal capturing their learning and reflections.
Wilderness Exploration and Landscape Studies (WELS) Syllabus
Course Description This course develops students' canyon and river-based expeditionary skills through design, implementation, and facilitation of expeditionary technical skills. This includes a 4 day self-supported canoe trip down the Colorado River from Potash boat launch to Spanish Bottom just downstream of the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers. Course outcomes include a working knowledge of trip planning and logistics; equipment use and care; minimum impact camping techniques; map and compass navigation; technical canyon travel, whitewater rafting hydrology and canoe-piloting techniques; risk management; and strategies for facilitating group dynamics and decision-making during collaborative, educational expeditions, geology and landscapes studies of the canyonlands area and the creation of a journal combing art, writing, and scientific studies. In the context of expeditions into remote countries, students cultivate proficiency in outdoor technical skills related to canoeing along with an in-depth knowledge and rendering of the landscapes in which they are traveling.
Enduring Understandings: We all hope to come away from this course knowing…
The Colorado River Corridor has a wide variety of life and geological features that, when being observed, provide a window into the history and systems of the area. I can identify those systems.
To be successful in the outdoors, it is important to be planned, flexible and prepared to the best of your ability.
Art is a way in which we can observe the natural world, connect with the land we are on and practice mindfulness.
Essential Questions: Together we will work toward enduring understanding through the answers to these questions…
How can we use our natural surroundings to create art?
How does observing our environment via all senses ensure a deeper understanding of the natural world and drawing from life?
Why do we study geography and landscape as a way to observe history?
What is included in preparation for wilderness adventures?
How can I increase my skills outdoors through practical experience?
What is the impact of changes in ecosystems on the species that live in them?
Assessment This Osprey Block will be graded on the standard Animas A-F grading scale. You will be assessed on your ability to engage meaningfully and productively in the class community and the various activities, experiences, and assignments throughout the three weeks. More specifically, we are looking for AUTHENTICITY, EFFORT, COMPLETION and MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION on each of the following “tasks”:
Growth and Use of 21st Century Skills (40%): This course requires students to demonstrate and develop problem solving, initiative, effective communication, creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and independent learning through the below activities. Students will complete reflections on their use of these skills as a large portion of their grade.
River Trip Planning/River Navigation and Etiquette/Meal Planning/Trip Activities
Final product creation
Class Participation and Engagement
General Classroom Activities and Assignments (30%)
Activities and classroom assignments during weeks 1 and 3
Final Products (30%)
Travel Journal
Refined Art or Writing Piece
Interpretive Educational Display
Potash To Spanish Bottom : The Potash Dock to Spanish bottom section of the Colorado river is a great option for those who want to spend a few days enjoying the river, but don’t want to navigate intense whitewater. Boaters of all ages and ability levels will enjoy this float.
TUESDAY: - pass out journals - "Secrets of the Moab Desert" video - student videos (above) - adorn nature journals
WEDNESDAY: - journaling 101 + take notes in journal! - "like a river" + attainable self goal -review terms : gestural, continuous line, thumbnail, anatomy, how to's, composition, viewfinder - practice in classroom (follow me fauna) --> practice outside
THURSDAY: - flora / fauna sketch how to (follow me) - work on creature, study + draw --> share to google doc - print and adhere list and creature studies in journal
FRIDAY: - glue in creature studies + glue nature journal requirement list - creature study presentation - pass out supply kits, name and turn in to me - review journal expectations + self goal (neural pathways)
Gear List: Each student will need the following…
1 Drybag large enough to carry your stuff for the trip
1 small drybag for quick boat access
CLOTHING:
1 long sleeve t shirt
1 t shirt
1 sunshirt (if possible) to wear while paddling each day
1 pair of river shorts / swimsuit
1 pair of lightweight pants
1 fleece top should the weather cool down at night
1 pair of hiking shoes
1 pair of sandals/river shoes
1 sleeping bag
1 sleeping pad
1 sun hat
2 pairs of socks
1 raincoat (we’ll check weather to see if this is necessary)
1 pair of sunglasses
Bathroom kit including toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, sunscreen, whatever else you may need
Group Gear in cook groups of 4-5 students/group
2-3 backpack style stoves per group
Fuel canisters/lighter
Shelter to be shared by multiple people
Lightweight cup, bowl, spoon, silverware
1 cooler no bigger than 45
Art supply list: Waterproof journals Local field guide Laminated scavenger hunt of the indigenous flora/fauna Art tool kit/ PER STUDENT: waterproof pencils, paintbrushes, watercolor paper, watercolor pencils, watercolor sets, charcoal in ziplock
Art Projects in Field Guide Scavenger hunt on river (flora, fauna, insects, birds, indigenous creatures) Art in nature: complete field guide/ biological studies: River paintings (watercolor on site) Documentation of plant life-pressed leaves, flowers Renderings with burnt willow (evening campfire sketches) Mud paintings/illustrations for nature writing Rock rubbings/relief
EVACUATION DATA
CalTopo Link to Trip153907Mileage-Time Calculation: 2 miles per hour on trail, 1 mile per hour OFF trail, + 1 hour for every 1,000 vertical feet and 15 minutes of break time for every hour traveled.
DayStartEndDistance (miles)Elevation +Elevation -Estimated TimeClosest Evac (distance to TH)Notes
9/5Potash Putin - CO RiverDownstream camp river left1539285 hoursjet boat / helicopter15 mile push to river left around the sand bar. 9/6mile 15mile 301539075 hoursjet boat / helicopter15 mile push to river at a left hand bend. inside sand bar beach
9/7mile 30mile 451538945 hoursjet boat / helicopter15 mile push to the confluence of the Green River and Colorado River. Camping river right at the big beach. looking at the confluence and trying to gain elevation to see the impact of this incredible place.
9/8mile 45mile 50538801.5jet boat / helicopterPaddling down to Spanish Bottom where the jet boat will pick us up at 10am. This means an early start for all students. TOTAL500