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The Great Outdoors
Camping Trails
Created and Maintained
by Russell Yates
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Which camping task did you decide
on? Each task has a separate "trail" to follow to reach
its end. Follow the links here to get on the proper trail, then,
putting one step in front of the other, follow the steps to the
trail's end. Before you get too far along your trail, you should
visit the Camper's Evaluation
page. This page lets you know how your learning will be evaluated
and will give you some targets to aim for.
1. If you want to plan an itinerary for a
2-week camping trip, task 1, follow these steps.
You are going to plan a 2-week
(14 days) travel camping trip visiting Washington State Parks.
To do this you are going to figure out which parks to visit and
in which order you will visit them. You will also need to decide
on how long you would like to spend at each park. Listing what
activities are available at each of the parks may help you decide
how long you want to stay at each. You need to plan on camping
at three or more parks and be sure the driving distance each
travel day is a reasonable one for your family. Below are the
steps.
a. Go to the Washington State Parks:
Park Information webpage (http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/)
and explore the different regional state park maps.
b. Decide which region (or regions) you wish
to visit. Be sure that you don't choose parks in regions that
are too far apart.
c. Decide which parks you want to visit.
You will probably want to visit those parks that have activities
that you like best. For instance, Crow Butte State Park
has lots of boating, water skiing, and windsurfing opportunities
in addition to swimming and camping. If you like to boat and
swim you may want to go there, but if you would prefer surfing
and clamming, Crow Butte wouldn't work out as well as
Pacific Beach State Park.
Tip: Some parks do not have camping
facilities. You may wish to visit them on a travel day, perhaps
a lunch break, but you will need to plan on staying only at parks
that permit camping.
d. Now that you have a list of parks you
want to visit, decide which order you would visit them. Be sure
that you base your decision on driving distance, you don't want
to spend any extra time on the road criss-crossing parts of the
state when you'd rather be camping! A state map when combined
with the state park maps you have already looked at should help
you decide on this. Here are two online Washington state maps
to choose from:
Tip: With both of these maps, be
sure to pay attention to the scales. They will help you figure
out the approximate distance between the parks.
e. You have decided on which parks to visit,
what order to visit them, and approximately how far it is between
the parks. Next you need to make a decision about how long you
should camp at each park. To make sure to leave enough time for
you and your family to take advantage of all the opportunities
available, list all of the activities you plan to do at each
park for each day.
f. Now it is time for you to put together
all of the information you have gathered. First get a large piece
of tag board or poster paper. Draw a map of the portion of Washington
state you plan on visiting. On this map include the following:
- state parks you will be visiting.
- towns and cities you will be traveling
through or that are nearby.
- important lakes, rivers, and other
bodies of water.
- roads that you plan on following
between your home and all of the parks you will be visiting,
include approximate distances between planned stopping points.
- other features that you think
are important to include.
- label all features of your map.
- include a map key and compass
rose.
g. Next to the map, glued onto the same piece
of poster paper, include a written copy of your itinerary. List
all of the parks, when you will be visiting them, what you plan
on doing each day you are at the park, and other activities available
there. Don't forget to plan for travel days to and from your
home, and between parks.
h. Present your map and itinerary to the
class, we can't wait to see what your perfect state park camping
trip looks like!
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2. If you want to make a model of a perfect
campsite, task 2, follow these steps.
a. Go to the following websites and read
about setting up a camp. Take notes on what you think are important
things to keep in mind when setting up a campsite.
b. Keeping in mind everything you learned
from reading about camping, draw a detailed picture of the perfect
campsite. You will use this drawing as a plan for your diorama.
c. Use your plan/drawing of what you have
learned to make a diorama of what you believe would be a perfect
campsite. Be creative with the materials you use. The sides of
the box can be painted to look like a forest. Small twigs can
be cut and used as miniature tent poles. Pebbles can be glued
to the bottom of the box in a circle that would represent a campfire
ring. If you choose to include a river, paint the river course
blue, glue a few pebbles in the middle of the river and some
more along side, then attach a piece of plastic wrap to act as
the surface of the stream. Use your ingenuity to make your model
campsite look as real as possible.
d. Write a description of the important parts
of your campsite and glue it to the side of your box. Be sure
to explain why it is a perfect campsite so that others can learn
from you.
e. Present your perfect campsite to the class.
Be prepared to answer questions.
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3. If you
have decided to fill a backpack with everything you need for
an overnight camping trip, task 3, follow these steps.
a. It seems that every camper and hiker has
their own list of "essential" items to take camping.
Read the following equipment lists and take some notes (or perhaps
print them out with your teacher's permission).
b. From what you have read and using your
notes, create your own equipment list. Use a computer program
like AppleWorks or MS Word for your final draft.
Tip: Use the outline and checklist
features of your computer program.
c. Go to the following links and read about
the best ways to pack a backpack. Don't forget to take some notes.
d. Using your equipment list and the notes
about how to pack a backpack, gather all of the equipment you
will need for an overnight camping trip and pack it in a backpack.
e. Bring your fully loaded pack to school
and share it with the class, taking out the items and explaining
why they are needed as you do so. It would be great if you could
give each of your classmates a copy of your equipment list, check
with your teacher to find out if he can make some copies for
you.
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4. If you
want to plan a camping menu for a week-long trip and bring samples
of one of the menu items to share with the class, task 4, follow
these steps.
a. First create a blank menu plan for seven
days. Be sure to include space for breakfasts, lunches, dinners,
and snacks. You might make it look like a list or like a table
(examples below).
Example of a Menu Plan - List
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Day 1
Breakfast -
Lunch -
Dinner -
Snacks -
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Day 2
Breakfast -
Lunch -
Dinner -
Snacks -
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Then repeat this for seven days.
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Example of a Menu Plan - Table
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Breakfasts |
Lunches |
Dinners |
Snacks |
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| Day 2 |
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| Day 3 |
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| Day 4 |
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| Day 5 |
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| Day 6 |
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| Day 7 |
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Be sure to leave lots of space
in each box to write in (more than in shown).
b. Food always tastes best on a campout,
I don't know why but it does. Read through the camping menu links
below. Take notes on which foods you think everyone on your trip
would like. Don't forget to include some variety and keep your
meals nutritionally balanced. If you have some favorites, please
feel free to use those too.
c. Make the final decisions for your menu
and write them on a piece of paper, leaving LOTS of room for
notes you will take at the grocery store. Try and list ALL of
the items you will need for everything on your menu, this will
become your grocery list.
d. Set up a time to go to the grocery store
with your mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, or someone else
who has shopped for groceries. You won't be actually buying the
food on your grocery list, you will simply be doing some research
about the cost.
e. At the agreed upon time, go to the grocery
store with the person you have made the appointment with. Have
them help you list all of the food items you will need for each
meal (Hint: If you didn't already include all of the ingredients
to your grocery list, you may need to bring along copies of some
of your recipes). As you are listing each item, write down the
cost. Also make sure that you are getting the right amount of
food for four people, no one wants to go hungry and you don't
want to spend money on food you won't be eating.
f. When you have finished, go home and use
a calculator to figure out the total cost for all of the food
on your menu.
g. Write out a final draft of your campout
menu. Include the total cost for the food you plan to take.
h. With your parents, decide on one of the
items on your menu to make. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive,
just fun. Make enough of the item so that everyone in your class
can have a small sample.
i. Set up a time with your teacher to share
your menu with your classmates. Bring the camping food you have
made and share it at the end of your presentation.
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copyright ©
2007 by Russell
Yates
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