Spring Break
Backpacking class provides education in the outdoors
Katie Main
Issue date: 4/9/04 Section: Campus News
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Every Tuesday and Thursday in Bost gym, director of leadership and volunteerism Kelly Brame and 12 students meet for "Outdoor Education."
The three-hour credit course is now in its second semester since being resumed last spring. The course, which teaches students backpacking skills and includes a weekend-long hike, is part of a program designed to establish a recreation minor at Gardner-Webb. Brame, who already coordinates the Broyhill Adventure Course and teaches Alpine Tower Challenge, was asked to teach the class after former teacher Gary Chandler left on medical retirement.
The class is offered every spring semester, and is limited to 12 students. All equipment is provided; students have to supply only their clothing and toiletries for hikes. During a typical class, the group discusses topics addressed in their text, applies what they talked about by working with the backpacking gear and finally heads outside to hike. If time is limited, the class hikes through the woods around campus; if not, they head to the Broad River Greenway.
The class includes two outdoor trips each semester; the first is a weekend-long backpacking trip and the second is usually a canoeing trip that lasts about a day. Earlier this spring, Brame's class spent three days on a 20-mile hiking trail at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The group covered about 17 miles.
"All in all, everybody did well; they were troopers and stuck it out through a rainstorm," Brame said.
Students are graded on attendance, participation, several quizzes and tests and a research presentation. The final exam consists of a "reflective essay" as well as a challenge for the class in an outdoor setting.
Kyle Loughran, Amanda Brown and Ashley Prior decided to try the class together.
"I had never really done any camping or anything before," Loughran said, "And we thought it would be fun to do it together."
The sophomore from Connecticut enjoyed the challenge of the weekend trip, despite its complications.
"It was really difficult for me the way up the mountain; the way down was great," she said. "But Saturday night, there was this huge thunderstorm, and all the girls got jammed into one tent because one group forgot theirs."
Loughran said that given the opportunity, she would continue backpacking after finishing the course.
"It definitely was a learning experience," she said.
The three-hour credit course is now in its second semester since being resumed last spring. The course, which teaches students backpacking skills and includes a weekend-long hike, is part of a program designed to establish a recreation minor at Gardner-Webb. Brame, who already coordinates the Broyhill Adventure Course and teaches Alpine Tower Challenge, was asked to teach the class after former teacher Gary Chandler left on medical retirement.
The class is offered every spring semester, and is limited to 12 students. All equipment is provided; students have to supply only their clothing and toiletries for hikes. During a typical class, the group discusses topics addressed in their text, applies what they talked about by working with the backpacking gear and finally heads outside to hike. If time is limited, the class hikes through the woods around campus; if not, they head to the Broad River Greenway.
The class includes two outdoor trips each semester; the first is a weekend-long backpacking trip and the second is usually a canoeing trip that lasts about a day. Earlier this spring, Brame's class spent three days on a 20-mile hiking trail at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The group covered about 17 miles.
"All in all, everybody did well; they were troopers and stuck it out through a rainstorm," Brame said.
Students are graded on attendance, participation, several quizzes and tests and a research presentation. The final exam consists of a "reflective essay" as well as a challenge for the class in an outdoor setting.
Kyle Loughran, Amanda Brown and Ashley Prior decided to try the class together.
"I had never really done any camping or anything before," Loughran said, "And we thought it would be fun to do it together."
The sophomore from Connecticut enjoyed the challenge of the weekend trip, despite its complications.
"It was really difficult for me the way up the mountain; the way down was great," she said. "But Saturday night, there was this huge thunderstorm, and all the girls got jammed into one tent because one group forgot theirs."
Loughran said that given the opportunity, she would continue backpacking after finishing the course.
"It definitely was a learning experience," she said.