Grade 11 Expeditions September 2006

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Grade 11 Expeditions September 2006

• "The only source of knowledge is experience." -
  Albert Einstein

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 2. Goals and Objectives of the September
  Expeditions
• Personal growth
• To develop personal traits such as
  self-confidence, pride in personal achievement,
  courage to persevere, empathy, and trust.
• Group dynamics
• To develop team traits such as cohesion, group
  solidarity, purposefulness, and leadership skills
• Environmental awareness
• To foster an understanding of environmental
  stewardship and an appreciation of a unique part
  of the Canadas geography.
• Fun
• To have a happy positive experience with their
  peers through a shared adventure in the out of
  doors.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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Itinerary Meeting at school on Thursday, August
31 values clarification, final details, clothing
check Depart Toronto on Tuesday, September 5.
Make your own way to airport for flight to
Vancouver. Met at airport and transported by vans
or buses to base camps. Meet instructors/leaders.
Training, food packing, equipment
preparation. Expedition starts. Return to
Vancouver airport on Thursday, September 14 for
return to Toronto in the late evening. There will
be a GCS staff person on the flight and on the
west coast in case there are issues.
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There are three types of experiences this
September. 1. Sea kayaking 2. Backpacking in the
mountains (mountaineering) 3. Canoeing in the
Bowron Lakes All experiences take place in
British Columbia. On the west coast, two sea
kayaking trips are with Outward Bound out of
Clayquot Sound on Vancouver Island. Another two
trips are with a company called SKILS in the
Broken Islands Group on the west coast of
Vancouver Island. A third sea kayaking trip is
with Spirit of the West, based on Quadra
Island. One mountain hiking is with Outward Bound
from their base camp, near Pemberton, BC. The
other is by Summit Outdoor Centre (called Camp
Summit), based in Squamish, BC. The canoe trip
is also run by Camp Summit.
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Not everyone is sea kayaking because we simply
can find an adequate number of qualified
outfitters. Outfitters were selected on the basis
of their skills and reputation, their local
knowledge, and, most importantly, their ability
to work with people your age.
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SKILS - Sea Kayak Instruction and Leadership
Systems (www.skils.ca) Based in Victoria, BC Run
by a number of highly skilled and qualified
people who have been in the industry a long
time. Highly recommended by a range of
experienced folks on the coast. Experienced in a
range of locations in BC. Notably so in the
Broken Islands Group, which is part of Pacific
Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver
Island.
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Camp Summit Founded in 1999 by Geoff Park (Parky
is a Kilcoo alumnus) Leaders have a lot of local
area knowledge and have all the requite
qualifications and certifications Summit hires
highly experienced mountain guides to assist with
backcountry expeditions The goals of Camp
Summits experiential program are the same as the
schools objectives transfer, that is, take
the lessons of your experience home with you to
your day-to-day life
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Outward Bound Canada There is more in you than
you think. Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward
Bound Outward Bound is the gold standard in
terms of safety/risk management and also in terms
of developing challenging programs for young
people. Outward Bound has a complete west coast
operation, based in Pemberton, BC. There will be
two OB sea kayak trips this fall and one
mountaineering experience.
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Spirit of the West Based on Quadra Island run by
John Waibel Visited by Mr. Taylor highly
recommended by a range of experienced folks on
the coast very successful trips the last two
years. Very experienced in a range of locations
in BC, but especially in the immediate locale of
Quadra Island (Discovery Sound).
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The Trip Sea Kayaking On the sea kayak trips,
the students will see a wide range of wildlife,
including birds, seals, sea lions (west coast),
porpoises, and whales, as you will paddle and
travel among the islands. As leaders for the
day, the students will learn first hand by
doing - navigation skills, how to read charts and
tide tables, and how to make good decisions for
their group. The students will learn a great deal
about the environment in which they will live
the interplay between sea and land in the
inter-tidal zone, the role of native people, and
the different pressures for land use.
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The Trip Mountaineering The students will
practice their climbing skills with some of the
best climbing instructors in Canada. They will
learn how to travel safely and effectively in the
back country, independent of outside support and
very dependent on their team. They will summit a
peak, and share the common sense of purpose and
achievement of a goal. Note that the actual
summit climb does not involve any technical
climbing, although there may be places where, for
safety reasons, the group may be roped up. And
there will not be any travel where there is any
avalanche danger.
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The Trip Bowron Lakes One of the most
spectacular and sought after canoe trips in
Canada Permits must be booked years ahead of
time Run by experienced guides from Summit
Outdoor Centre.
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• The Trip Similar Experiences
• Work closely for an extended period of time with
  a small group to achieve a shared goal.
• Develop first hand, and in a meaningful way,
  leadership skills and an understanding of how to
  work effectively in a small group.
• Travel and live in some remarkably beautiful and
  very special parts of Canada.
• In a focused and directed manner, reflect on the
  nature of the experiences in their journal. Some
  of this reflect time may well be a solo
  experience for a few hours.
• Hopefully, have a lot of fun.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 4. Group and location Who goes where and with
  whom?
• There are several parameters that must be
  considered
• groups are single sex
• outfitters can take only a certain number of
  students
• flights have been booked
• some outfitters prefer working with a specific
  gender (some dont care)
• group dynamics design the make up of the groups
  in an effort to maximize a successful experience
  for all
• new students and what we know of them
• individual wishes
• The groups will be announced before the end of
  the school year.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

Risk has a double-edged nature.  Risk can cut,
risk can heal. - after Kurt Hahn
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• 5. Risk Management Sea Kayaking
• Guide Qualifications
• have completed SKGABC training, or have
  equivalent qualification.
• 80 Wilderness First Aid or equivalent
• CPR training
• training in operation of marine radio
• have been fully briefed on the routes the group
  will take
• very experienced with the area where the students
  will travel

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• Specific Risks for Sea Kayaking
• A. Capsizing and drowning
• Staff paddle one person kayaks to facilitate
  rescues and must remain in position to assist in
  a capsize situation
• Staff boats will carry sponsons (to assist with
  rescues)
• Maximum number of boats is 8
• All participants must complete and be comfortable
  with wet exits and re-entrys prior to going on
  the trip
• All participants must complete a rescue during a
  training session
• All students will wear PFDs and wetsuits during
  the trip
• Boats travel in a convoy (or pod) and must
  remain within conversational distance

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• B. Adverse weather
• When paddling close parallel to shore convoy will
  remain within approximately 1 kilometer of the
  shore (or closer if conditions require it)
• Staff boats will be outfitted with tow leashes
• No crossing over 6km will be undertaken unless
  the weather is to remain stable and participants
  have demonstrated considerable confidence and
  ability
• Staff will carry either a weather radio (VHF), a
  satellite phone, a cell phone or some combination
  per group
• Staff will maintain daily contact for weather
  conditions
• Staff may choose to evacuate a group if necessary.

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• C. Getting lost/lost gear
• Staff boats will carry appropriate maps/charts
  with well established routes marked and
  communication points indicated
• In addition to the VHF and sat/cell phone, the
  staff will carry flares, an air horn and whistles
• All participant PFDs are equipped with a whistle
• Staff will ensure that conditions are appropriate
  for safe paddling before the group proceeds. This
  may involve scouting out conditions ahead of the
  group.
• The group carries spare paddles, spare PFD, spare
  spray skirt, a pump per cockpit
• Boats are stored well above waterline and/or tied
  off and on flat ground
• D. Personal injury when carrying boats or
  entering/exiting boats
• An adequate number of people will carry each boat
• Participants are trained how to get in and out of
  boats safely at the shore

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 5. Risks Mountaineering
• In addition to the usual risks associated with
  camping, other specific risks include
• wildlife encounters
• falls from a height
• adverse weather
• getting lost
• physical (athletic) injuries
• hypothermia/hyperthermia (cold and heat related
  injuries)

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• Rock Climbing
• Both Outward Bound and Camp Summit have an
  extensive set of policies around rock climbing.
• All rock climbing is supervised by qualified
  instructors at sites which have been
  pre-inspected and students are closely monitored.
• Approved helmets are worn by everyone on the
  site.
• All students must be belayed from an independent
  system.
• Belayers will always have a backup belayer.
• Instructors check all knots, harnesses, etc.
• No student or staff will be closer than three
  meters to the edge of the cliff, unless clipped
  in.
• A backboard, cervical collars and a rescue kit
  will be readily available at the rock site with
  the instructor first aid kit.

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• Bears
• No food will be eaten in or near sleeping
  quarters food preparation, storage and
  consumption will be done at least 30m away from
  sleeping area.
• Staff will report bear sightings to Course
  Director
• Each patrol will carry a canister of bear
  repellant spray at all times.
• If there is a confirmed grizzly bear sighting,
  students will leave the area if any aggression is
  suspected or displayed.
• Best information at this time is grizzlies are
  very rare in the areas where the students will be
  travelling.

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• Mountain Travel
• Potential for extreme weather must always be
  considered and frequent evaluations must be made
• Particular care will be taken to ensure the
  adequacy and appropriateness of clothing,
  equipment and student condition.
• Specific instruction will be given to each
  participant in self protection against weather
  hazards, which will include preventative actions
  to avoid emergencies
• clothing appropriate to the expected weather
  conditions
• shelter construction
• safety or survival techniques including those in
  case of heat or cold related problems and
  lightning
• travel techniques for severe weather conditions
• Participants must be trained in necessary
  techniques before undertaking peak climbs.
• Fixed lines will be used as appropriate
• Belays must be used when fixed line do not
  provide adequate protection.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 5. Risk Management Canoe Tripping
• Camp Summit staff training specific to canoe
  tripping
• staff will complete a guide training course, or
  receive approval by the the Camp director.
• staff will have practised and demonstrated
  competency in capsizes and rescue techniques and
  paddling techniques
• staff must have been fully briefed on the routes
  the group will take

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• A. Capsizing and drowning
• Students are taught and practise canoe over canoe
  rescue within the first 24 hours of water travel
• There is a 12 staff to student ratio when
  students are in the water
• All students will wear PFDs during the trip
• Before any water activity takes place the
  instructor shall determine who are swimmers, weak
  swimmers and non-swimmers.
• Carry out reconnaissance to ensure that the
  defined area is free from hazards such as rocks,
  currents, underwater obstacles.
• All water activities will be supervised by an
  instructor.
• There will be no swimming at night.
• There will be no diving.

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• Before any swimming or dipping activity takes
  place, the instructors will
• Develop a pairing or buddy system. No student
  may swim alone.
• Clearly define the swimming, stream crossing or
  dipping areas
• Develop a rescue system suitable for the site.
• Prior to removing their PFD while swimming,
  students most complete the swim evaluation swim
  50m tread water for 4 minutes put PFD on in the
  water (where student cannot touch the bottom)

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• B. Adverse weather
• Trips will paddle close to shore as much as
  possible
• No extended crossings will be undertaken unless
  the weather is to remain stable and participants
  have demonstrated considerable confidence and
  ability
• Staff will as a minimum one satellite phone for
  group
• Staff will maintain on a daily basis a weather
  log for the duration of the trip
• Staff may choose to evacuate a group if
  necessary.
• Staff has a protocol to follow when electrical
  storms are nearby. This involves moving to a
  safer location and following a specific drill
  when the length of time between flash and bang is
  less than 10 seconds.

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• C. Getting lost/lost gear
• Staff carry appropriate maps/charts with well
  established routes marked and communication
  points indicated
• All participant carrywhistles
• Staff will ensure that conditions are appropriate
  for safe paddling before the group proceeds. This
  may involve scouting out conditions ahead of the
  group.
• The group carries spare paddles.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 5. Risk Management Camping
• General procedures for camping
• All water is treated before consumption
• All food and garbage is packed out
• Grey water is disposed of in a designated area
  only
• All dishes are washed in grey water or cooking
  water only.
• Personal hygiene practices are practised before
  food handling
• Tent areas are located away from cooking areas
• All food is stored in a bear proof manner
  (hanging, barrels, etc.)
• All food items, gum, sunscreens, repellants,
  cosmetics (including toothpaste and deodorant)
  are never taken into tents
• While at campsite, outhouses are to be used if
  available.
• In a wilderness setting, all participants are to
  use a cat hole to bury human waste, and toilet
  paper must be burned or carried out.
• No open flames are permitted in or near any tents.

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• Students are not to bring knives of any sort.
• Supervision ratio is 18 maximum
• Staff are expected to have recognized
  certification and/or training specific to the
  activity.
• Staff are expected to have demonstrated
  instructional skills working with students
• Primary staff leaders must have 80 hour
  Wilderness First Aid qualification assistant
  staff must have 40 hour Wilderness First Aid
  qualification
• All participants are expected to comply with
  staff instructions and requests at all times but
  especially when matters are deemed urgent by the
  staff.

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• Some of the general risks associated with camping
• Hypothermia
• Hyperthermia
• Wildlife encounters
• Drowning
• Personal injury - minor (eg., sprained ankle) and
  major (eg., spinal)
• Lost participants
• Food/water contamination
• Loss of food

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• A. Athletic Injuries
• Greenwood College staff will assess fitness,
  experience, and health of students in preparation
  for the trip.
• Medical forms are assessed by instructional staff
  prior to the trip. It is the responsibility of
  the parents to provide the school and the
  outfitters with accurate medical information.
• Student behavior expectations will be reviewed
  pre-trip by Greenwood College staff.
• Appropriate supervision and group management
  strategies will be employed on all trips.
• Horseplay and erratic behavior will not be
  tolerated on the trip if they are deemed by the
  trip leaders to endanger the participant or other
  members of the group. The staff may evacuate a
  student from a trip if in their opinion the
  students behaviour so warrants it.

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• B. Driving Accident
• Greenwood College or its agents/contractors will
  provide transportation to and from the trip and
  will only contract with established coach/bus
  companies that employ trained and qualified
  drivers.
• Agents of Greenwood College that use their own
  vehicles and staff to transport our students are
  expected to follow all traffic and transport
  regulations as they pertain to the vehicle they
  are driving

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• C. Wildlife Encounters
• Wildlife recognition and avoidance techniques
  will be taught to all students.
• The use of insect repellent is encouraged on fall
  and spring season trips.
• Absolutely no food will be eaten or stored in
  tents.
• Students will be instructed in appropriate meal
  planning, packing and preparation strategies.
• Food must be eaten in designated eating areas
  only.
• Cooking areas will be located away from tents and
  preferably downwind.
• Food is hung where possible, or walked out of
  camp 100 meters from the tent site.
• Dishes must be washed well away from the sleeping
  area.
• Groups will not travel or camp in areas closed
  due to recent large animal/bear activity.

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• D. Lost Participants
• Leaders must account for all participants at the
  start and finish of each leg of travel.
• Leaders are responsible for keeping the group
  together. Pacing and group management is the
  responsibility of the primary trip leader, and
  must be appropriate for the age of the
  participants.
• Before the activity, students will be instructed
  in the procedures dealing with being lost and
  alone.
• Students must inform a leader if they need to
  leave the group for any reason (toilet). A leader
  and one or more participants must remain in the
  area until the participant returns.

• E. Allergic Reaction
• All students must have on file at the school a
  completed medical form.
• Staff will be notified of any allergies students
  may have, and will prepare the trip accordingly.
  (i.e. extraction of certain foods, carrying of
  Epipens)
• Parents are requested to provide for the trip
  leaders additional medications as required.

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• F. Heat Related Injuries
• Students will be instructed in appropriate
  strategies for preventing heat related injuries
  prior to activity.
• Appropriate clothing and equipment will be worn
  by all group members and monitored by trip
  leaders.
• Use of a hat and sunscreen is mandatory when
  conditions warrant.
• All students will carry their own personal water
  bottle during outdoor activities.
• Leaders will monitor students for early signs and
  symptoms of heat related injuries.
• G. Cold Related Injuries
• Students will be instructed in appropriate
  strategies for preventing cold related injuries
  prior to activity.
• Appropriate clothing will be worn by all group
  members and monitored by trip leaders.
• All students will carry their own personal water
  bottle and snacks during outdoor activities.
• Leaders will monitor students for early signs and
  symptoms of cold related injuries.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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• 6. Assessment and Evaluation
• The students will be evaluated by the leaders on
  the basis of three groups of parameters
• GCS Character Evaluation
• GCS Camping Evaluation
• These will be shared with the students prior to
  departure in September.

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• Agenda
• 1. Welcome and introductions Please Sign In!
• 2. Goals and objectives of the experiences
• 3. Description of the trips and itinerary
• 4. Group and location Who goes where with whom?
• 5. Risk management - procedures and strategies
• sea kayaking
• mountaineering
• canoeing
• camping
• 6. Student assessment
• 7. Forms QA

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7. Forms and QA While it will not be possible to
satisfy everyones wishes for group or location,
we will do our best to make the experience as
meaningful and positive as we can. We have asked
the students to help by recognizing the
constraints under which we are working and being
as open minded and accepting of the circumstances
as you can be. Groups will be finalized by early
next week. Most students have indicated a
preference. New students please contact me. We
will email the lists to the students. Important
packages will be mailed home next week. PLEASE
complete and return to me all the required forms
before Friday, June 16. Finally . This is the
first major expedition outside of Ontario. We are
confident that the places the students will have
an opportunity to travel in, and the people they
will meet and travel with, will make for powerful
and positive memories.
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The Question Mark butterfly (Polygonia
interrogationis)
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One more thing . announcing . Greenwood
College returns to Kenya! When July, 2007
(approximately the first two weeks) Where
Laikipia District, Central Kenya (near Mt.
Kenya) What community visits, game drives, visit
with mobile health clinic, visit schools,
possible expedition on Mt Kenya, mountain biking,
rafting/canoeing on Ewaso Nyiro River, community
service Who Anne Wellnhofer, Todd Lamont, Rex
Taylor In Kenya Nick Miller of Rift Valley
Adventures Cost Approximately 5500 How Watch
for announcement in late September for a meeting.
Students will be asked to apply