PAD2O Article Assignment


The best way for people in the outdoor industry to keep up with the latest trends, equipment, techniques and safety measures, is to read articles in magazines and on-line.


For this assignment, you are to read 4 articles/books and watch 1 TED Talk.

Complete these throughout the semester and do a short report on each.

The Report

Title – author

Rating - * not very good    **** Excellent

Opening Statement

Short paragraph summarizing article/book/TED Talk

Short paragraph on how it has affected you? What has it made you think about? What did you learn? 
How has it inspired you? Will it make you change your behaviour?

A proper citation


The report must be posted to the Outdoor Ed Reading blog.



Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Article
Article/TEDTalk/Resource was chosen just do an article. Not much relevance to outdoor pursuits.
Article/TEDTalk/Resource has some relevance to outdoor pursuits.
A good Article/TEDTalk/ Resource with relevance to outdoor pursuits, with opportunity to learn.
A great Article/TEDTalk/ Resource that will enhance personal or class knowledge and experience.
Paragraph
Some good ideas presented, but there is a lacking in organization and flow of thought.
Good ideas were shared and were put in paragraph format, but lacks organization and flow.
Article report has a title, a summary paragraph and a reflective paragraph.
Article report has a title, an opening statement, a summary paragraph, a reflective paragraph and a closing statement.
Grammar & Spelling
Minimal effort put into proofreading, spelling and grammar.
May have checked for spelling and grammar, but there are still obvious errors.
There has been a good effort to proofread, as well as, ensure grammar and spelling was checked.
There is great detail put into proofreading, as well as, grammar and spelling.
Citation
Some effort made to identify author and name of source.
Extensive search would locate the article.
Majority of source provided, but lacks organization. Struggle to find article.
All information is provided, but needs to organize. Could find the article.
Excellent source provided and anyone could find the article.


It is an expectation that students will keep up with the articles 
throughout the semester and not save them until the last week.

42 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. “My Close Call The Night Of The Wolves”
    - Bruce Watts

    Rating: ****

    This article is an exciting life threatening true story read of Bruce Watts and a close encounter with wild wolves the night of his one man hiking trip.

    It was late August when Bruce Watts had just been diagnosed with cancer and had a lot of other things piled up on his shoulders. He needed a break, to be alone and clear his head, so what better way to go out on a one man hiking trip where your closest neighbors are red squirrels and a pair of loons. At night he enjoyed the close symphony of the wolves. Bruce suddenly realizes he has never heard them that close. Close enough to feel the rich depth of the howls, but when the wolf music stopped he began to hear them rustling around his tent. They were close, too close.

    Throughout the article you realize that Bruce becomes very frightened. I admire how calm and focused he tried to stay while the wolves were attacking his camp site. I suggest people read this article because it is an intense and thrilling piece that will keep you interested from start to finish. Also it teaches people basic survival tips while being threatened by a force of nature. Another tip is that you should not camp alone because if something ever happens to you on your trip you'll have someone that can help you.


    Watts, Bruce. My Close Call The Night Of The Wolves. Ottawa Outdoors Magazine Fall 2012.

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  3. Outdoors: Dealing with autumn’s mud-BY DAVE BROWN, OTTAWA CITIZEN

    Rating-****
    “Dealing with autumn’s mud” informs you on the perfect tips on how to stay comfortable in your hiking shoes this fall.

    This article is about how to clean your hiking boots after a muddy trail of autumn hiking. It demonstrates several different ways to clean your boots whether you are at home or camping in the wilderness. Dave Brown explains ways to wash your boots in ways that they will still keep their form. He also informs us on how to clean and dry specific materials for them to not get ruined.

    I enjoyed this article because some of the tips will be very useful for me since enrolled in Outdoor Education this fall. It gave me many new ideas on how to keep my shoes clean especially since we are starting orienteering which will be very muddy. Some ideas it gave me are: use a firm-bristled brush to remove remaining mud and dirt that has been caked on, if needed, use a pocket knife or other sharp tool to get rid of any excess dirt. From this article I have learnt that I will need to be more careful when cleaning my running shoes because I now know they should be cleaned a certain way to avoid damaging the shoe.

    BROWN, DAVE, and Ottawa Citizen. "Outdoors: Dealing with autumn’s mud."Ottawa Citizen | Latest Breaking News | Business | Sports | Canada Daily News.. N.p., 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Outdv

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  4. 9 Ways to make a fire without matches

    rating ****

    This article tells us how to make a fire without matches. They use different scenarios in which you lose your survival kit and you have to build a fire.

    The 9 ways to build a fire are Friction, fire plough, bow drill, flint and steel, lens, balloon and condom, ice, the Coke Can and Chocolate Bar, batteries and steel wood. This article tells us how do build a fire with these every day things. They might take a little bit more time than using a match or using a lighter but if you’re in a desperate situation these tips will definitely get you somewhere.

    This article has affected me a positive way because now I know that there are plenty of ways on how to build a fire without matches or lighters. I found the fact that you can build a fire with a condom was pretty interesting. I thought that a condom had only 1 use but it didn’t. This will make me think about what other everyday things have more than 1 meaning in use.
    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/04/29/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/

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  5. First timer’s guide to snowshoeing

    Rating****
    This article like the title is a first timer’s guide to snowshoeing. It explains Knowing What to Buy, Where to Go, How to Get Started and Learn what’s Important. The sport is easy to learn, and not that expensive (compared to other winter sports). There is very little risk of injury too. It’s a great way to exert energy during the cold winter months.
    This article has affected by me because I learned that there are such things as snowshoe races which I thought was pretty neat. I also learned that there are 3 types of snowshoes (Recreational Hiking, Aerobic/Fitness and Hiking/Backpacking). For a beginner recreational hiking are the best but for athletes Aerobic/Fitness snowshoes are more suited and for powdered snow Hiking/Backpacking are the best types. This article has changed my behavior because I now know that you can be more competitive on snowshoes.
    I recommend this article to those who are new to snow shoeing and also to those who like snowshoeing.

    http://www.snowshoemag.com/first-timers/

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  6. Lost at Sea****
    By: Allison Klein
    Lost at sea is a story about a man named Steven Callahan who set sail from the Canary Islands on a small boat he built himself.
    The boat sinks six days into his trip and all Callahan is left with is a 1.5 meter raft, three pounds of food and eight pints of water, a solar still and a makeshift spear. He is saved 76 days later but during his 2 months at sea he traveled about 2,898 kilometers on his little raft. He had several sharks try to attack him which caused the leaks on his raft. Callahan managed the leaks for 33 more days until his rescue.
    This article has made me think to plan ahead and imagine what could happen if I’m doing something in the outdoors learned to always use top quality material when I’m in the outdoor and to only make my own raft or boat when it’s life or death.

    http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/survival.htm#page=1

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  7. Clothing layer for winter sports
    By aurora LaJambre
    Ratting ***
    This article tells you about the different clothing layer for winter actives/sports so you can be safe and warm while you have fun.
    The Inner layer- this layer is for keeping you dry by taking the sweat off of you, mid-layer materials that resist weather and keep you warm while leaving room for more layering if needed. Then the outer layer – Your outer layer should be wind and weather resistant, thin and easy to store. The outer layer is not meant for warmth, that’s the mid-layer’s job.
    I enjoyed this article because it teaches you about how to dress for actives/sports. I also liked how I can use this later on in my life. It has changed the way I dress when I go outside to play hockey or do any other activity so I don’t get too hot or too cold I can stay at a normal temperature.
    http://www.catalogs.com/info/outdoor/layers-for-winter-sports.html

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  8. Cross Country Skiing for Absolute Beginner
    Cross Country Skiing fro Absolute Beginner : by Michael Mcgoldrick

    Rating ****

    This is a great article that provides many tips that can be useful for beginner cross-country skiers, such as myself.

    Cross Country Skiing for Absolute Beginner is an article that informs beginner skiers on what it's like to cross country ski, and how to gradually improve. It explains different techniques to use when skiing in various places and conditions, such as going uphill, downhill, skate skiing, and the regular classic skiing. It also includes many tips and tricks to ensure a successful ski trip without injury, which would include proper stretching, nutrition, enough clothes, and making sure not to over exert yourself when you're new to cross country skiing.

    Overall I found this article very useful, seeing as I'm new to cross country skiing, and these tips and techniques will definitely come in handy, especially on my ski trip in Gatineau Park next week. I wasn't aware that there were so many different techniques that facilitate corss country skiing, but now that I've read about them, I'll be sure to try them out.

    McGoldrick, Michael . "Cross-Country Skiing for the Absolute Beginner." XCSkiing.ca 2006:

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  9. Go camping, sleep better- By Allen MacArtney

    Rating: ***

    This article is based around how unnatural lights (computers, phones, etc.) are disrupting our internal clocks and how camping for a week can fix the problem.

    Naturally our bodies create a chemical called Melatonin, which prepares our bodies for sleep and helps us make up alert in the morning. Naturally our bodies will sense the sun going down and start to produce Melatonin making us tired. Once the sun starts rising our bodies begins to slow down production of the chemical. The unnatural light produced by electronics throws this chemical production off balance, which in turn makes us more tired in the morning. An experiment was done which had a group of people go camping for a week without electronics. A saliva sample was taken at the start and end of the experiment. The samples proved that by spending a week without electronics will allow your body to create the right amount of Melatonin and in turn allows you to sleep better.

    This article has shown me that it is true that electronics can actually cause a bad sleep. Before I wasn’t aware that the body requires a set time for the sun to go down to have a better sleep. From now on I will limit the amount of electrical light I se once the sun goes down.

    Citation: Macartney, Allen. "Go Camping, Sleep Better." Ottawaoutdoors.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .

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  11. Make Simple Repairs to Wooden Paddles.
    Make Simple Repair to Wooden Paddles: By Allen MacArtney.

    Rating:****

    This is a very useful article about how to repair wooden canoe and/or rowing paddles and when to know if the paddle is beyond repair.

    The article describes how after excessive use over spring, summer and fall can leave your paddles damaged. Some of these damages include water damage, damaged blade tip and a cracked shaft. There are many simple and non-costly ways of how to fix these damages. For example, if your paddle has multiple little scratches, due to hitting rocks and other hard surfaces, you can just sand paper them until they're gone. This article also provides knowledge of when one should stop using the paddle if it is too damaged, like when the shaft is cracked.

    I liked this article because it has useful tips on how to save paddles in order to not buy new ones. It also has useful knowledge for beginners on when it is safe to stop using the paddle if it is too damaged, so when it comes time to canoe again you won't be left with a broken paddle. These tips may be useful to my classmates and I, because in a couple of weeks we will be going canoeing!

    Citation: MacArtney, Allen. (Fall 2013) "Make Simple Repairs to Wooden Paddles"
    Ottawa Outdoors,10. Retrieved from: http://www.ottawaoutdoors.ca/#!pastmagazines/c1diw

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  12. Climbing Shoes- Mountain Equipment Co-op.

    This article highlights the important decision making process of choosing the proper rock climbing shoes.
    The article points out the key aspects of finding the proper shoe for you. It describes what types of materials are used to create a climbing shoe, like a part of the shoe called the midsole, can be thin plastic or even fiber-glass. It gives you a bit of an understanding as to what is on your feet while rock climbing. The article also provides the knowledge of how to choose a specific type of shoe for the kind of climbing you would be doing. Someone who would be doing a lot of performance and power climbing, would need a shoe that would be sensitive. Crack fiend climbers could use soft slim shoes, with a "narrow profile". In addition, this article also tells you how tight your shoe should be.

    I liked this article because it provides tips on how to fit and select the right shoes for the type of climbing you want to do. I was not aware that you needed a specific type of shoe to climb different sorts of rocks. These tips and suggestions may come in handy to someone that has just started rock climbing!

    Citation: "Climbing Shoes" (2014) Mountain Equipment Co-Operatives. Retrieved from: http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary/Learn/Climbing/Footwear/ChoosingRockClimbingShoes.jsp

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  13. Climbing Devils Tower: When "Bad" Weather Makes an Even Better Adventure.
    Rating: ****
    Review By: Ashton Renia.

    The article , Climbing Devils Tower: When "Bad" Weather Makes an Even Better Adventure, shows that even if you cannot control certain things you must make the most of the situation.
    Max Lowe, along with his father and friend Bud, had drove up to northeast Wyoming with intentions of climbing the famous Devils Tower. The large formation of volcanic rock is thought to be a place of spiritual power by most Native- American tribes , who came up with the original name Bears Lodge. After the trio arrived at the rock, it was clear that they couldn't climb due to bad weather conditions. Instead they went to a near by hotel and cooked on a camping stove in the vacant indoor pool. The following day Lowe, his father and Bud tried to climb Devils Tower but ultimately could not and had to return home.
    Even though Max Lowe did not succeed in reaching the summit of Devils Tower he feels as though he bonded with his father and friend. I can relate to Max Lowe because the weather was not perfect during our Frontenac hiking trip but my friends and I still made the most of it.

    Lowe, Max. "Climbing Devils Tower: When "Bad" Weather Makes an Even Better Adventure." Nationnal Geographic. Web. 1 June 2014.
    http://adventureblog.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/30/climbing-devils-tower-when-bad-weather-makes-an-even-better-adventure/

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  14. The Happy Camper: Tips for Camping Solo.
    Rating:****
    Review by: Ashton Renia.

    The article, The Happy Camper: Tips for Camping Solo, descibes ways of how to make camping alone not only enjoyable and refreshing but safe too!

    This article talks about how going camping alone my be even safer than going in a group, due to the fact that you are worried about something bad happening and take more pre-cautions than usual. The article lists some tips about camping alone, like, someone who is new to camping shouldn't attempt going solo untill they have a couple trips under their belt, pack light because you don't have anyone to share the load with and another very important tip is to tell someone where you are going, incase something bad happens.

    Although I don't think I would ever have the guts to go camping alone for ten days, the idea of camping alone does sound very refreshing to me. To go out by yourself must be a very exciting yet scary at the same time. I would definately recommend this article to someone who wants to camp alone because it gives very useful tips that will make their camping trip easier.

    Callan, Kevin. " The Happy Camper: Tips for Going Solo" Explore Magazine .Web. 1 June 2014.

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  15. TED- Brian Skerry: The Oceans Glory and Horror.
    Rating*****
    Review By: Ashton Renia.
    Brian Skerry: The Oceans Glory and Horror, is an eye opening TED Talk about the oceans creatures and how humans have influenced them over the years.

    Brian Skerry, Nationnal Geographic photographer, has worked in and around the ocean for many years, long enough to see the beautiful animals that live in the sea and how their populations are declining due to humans. He shares many photos of how these animals are being eliminated, with fishing wires that are ment to catch one spesific fish but at the same time kills other types of fish aswell, most are just thrown back into the ocean. Brian also talks about how many species and places in the ocean have bounced back from near extinction.

    I was drawn to this video because I have a fascination for deep-sea creatures like sharks and whales. It also made me think hard about how I am living and how I treat the enviroment around me. This article has inspired me to learn more about the oceans creatures and what we are doing to protect them.
    Brian Skerry: The Oceans Glory and Horror. TEDTalk. April 2010. Web. 1 June 2014. http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_skerry_reveals_ocean_s_glory_and_horror

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  16. What to do when water runs out.
    Rating: *****
    Craig Macartney

    This article written by Craig Macartney demonstrates how to obtain water when it runs out through various techniques; for example, solar still, plastic bags, and few collection.

    I enjoyed this article because it described important survival techniques for finding water in the three main seasons; of course, during winter you have snow. This article has affected me because it may be an asset to my survival in a desperate situation. I highly recommend that this article is read by all outdoor ed students as it may save your life one day.

    http://issuu.com/ottawaoutdoors/docs/digitalissue-ottawaoutdoorsmagazine/16

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  17. Adopt a snake.
    Rating: **
    Sheila Ascroft

    This article written by Sheila Ascroft is an attempt to raise money towards snakes. By donating twenty five dollars your name is added at the park's visitor centre as well as on the grey rat snake blog.

    I found this article really boring as the author talked about her personal experiences throughout the article. This article was really dry, and also didn't use proper grammar, for example, using "and" at the start of a sentence. This article did not affect me because I couldn't care less about snakes. I don't recommend this article unless you're interested in snakes and can handle poor grammar.

    http://issuu.com/ottawaoutdoors/docs/ottawaoutdoors-fall2013
    Page 6

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  18. Go camping, sleep better.
    Rating: ****
    Allen Macartney

    This article written by Allen Macartney demonstrates how sleeping in the wilderness can improve your sleep due to the lack of artificial light from cell phones, tv etc.

    Even though this article is long and dry, I found this article interesting because it explains why sleeping outdoors gives you a better night sleep. This article did not really affect me because I don't have trouble sleeping and I already knew that artificial light disturbs your sleeping cycles; tho I highly recommend this article for someone who's interested in camping and has trouble sleeping.

    http://issuu.com/ottawaoutdoors/docs/ottawaoutdoors-fall2013
    Page 5

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  19. The Canadian Stroke
    Rating: *****
    Paul Mason

    This article written by Paul Mason demonstrates how to perform the Canadian Stroke.

    I found this article a great read due to the fact that it gets to the point right away. This article affected me because we're currently canoeing as part of the curriculum and I'll attempt this new stroke in class.

    http://issuu.com/ottawaoutdoors/docs/ottawaoutdoors-fall2013
    Page 11

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  20. Article #1


    I am doing a review on a story by Ryan Stuart of his bike trip on the Canol Heritage Trail. This 300Km trail seems like a long way for me, I don't think I would be able to do it in a week, let alone 3 days. The start of the paragraph makes me think of how I felt about the trip we just went on, how miserable and tired they were, except they went a lot farther. I learned about the pipeline that goes across this trail, it was supposed to be a 1000km pipe from a gold dig site to the Alaskan Highway project, but it was abandoned because of WW2. It has inspired me because of the distance they went, I think if they can go 300k, I can go at least 20k, over 3 days. I don't think this story will change my behavior, considering I don't go mountain biking, but is still a very good read.

    I give it a **** out of 5.

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  21. Day Hiking

    Rating: ***

    This particular article is an easy to find, quick read that will provide some essential information before traveling in the outdoors. Anyone going on a hiking trip would benefit from this read.

    The article provides instructions as to what items to bring hiking and what preparations are necessary in order for a fun, stress-free trip. The piece mentions proper footwear, water, food, clothing and other equipment that may be needed. It also states what to avoid bringing and what not to do during a trip. Aside from this, small pieces of advice are given to ensure a trip is most enjoyable.

    I found a load of useful information in the article which would be especially helpful to review before an outdoor activity. Although the provided content was useful, it wasn’t the most exciting article to read through. The article wouldn’t be a piece I would read for fun; it should be read for educational purposes.

    Before you pack for a hiking activity, I recommend you read through this article to use as a checklist and preparation guide for your trip.

    "Outdoor Adventure Canada - Day Hiking Essentials." Outdoor Adventure Canada - Day Hiking Essentials. N.p., 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.

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  22. Dream Machines

    Rating****

    Dream Machines is one of many articles in the latest Rapid it is also my favorite article in the magazine.

    This Article is about people who have modified trucks, trailers and vans so they can live in them as houses down by the river. This Allows these paddlers to paddle everyday. These paddlers gave up most modern luxuries to live in their trailers and vans to fuel the passion of paddling.

    I enjoyed this article be cause it sounds like a cool way to live. I would love to paddle every day in the summer. It was also interesting because three of the paddlers live in the Ottawa Valley and the Madawaska Valley. I also met one of the paddlers Kyle Smith, he works as an instructor at the Paddler Co-op where I paddled this summer. He is a crazy good kayaker, canoeist and it was cool to see him and the trailer he lives in the article. I had a chance to talk to him about his trailer while was at the Co-op

    i recommend that you read this article because some of the ideas were interesting that the paddlers came up with.

    Stinson, Sierra."Dream Machines". Rapid(Summer 2014): 28-30

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  24. The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors - Gretchen Reynolds

    Rating: ***

    This article had a lot of information on how it is more efficient to workout outside then indoors.

    This article was about how much better it is to exercise outside then inside. The author starts by saying that the benefits of exercising outdoors can’t be replicated on a treadmill or a stationary bicycle. She asserted that running outside is different from running on a treadmill because while outside people flex their ankles more compared to on a treadmill, which makes use more energy. While running outside there will be some downhill parts which can’t be done on a treadmill. Then she says the different between a gym bicycles to an outdoor one. In a gym the bikes can’t simulate the pressures of wind, which causes us to use more work. She wrote about how volunteers have been asked to go for two walks, one inside (treadmill or on a track) and one outdoors. Reported by the volunteers, they stated that they enjoyed walking outside more than indoors. The rest of the article is about more studies that have been done to show how much better it is to workout outside then inside.

    This article has made me realize how people don’t take advantage of working out outside, so many people spend hundreds of dollars on gym memberships when they can just go for a 30 min run outside. I find it really interesting that people who exercise outside tend to workout longer then people inside. I will try to go out for runs or walks now and then to stay fit and to see if it is better than working out in a real gym.

    Reynolds, Gretchen, “The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors”, The New York Times, 21 Feb 2013

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  25. OE Article #1
    Mike LeBlanc

    The Stakanoo - Victoria Woollaston

    Rating: ***

    The “Stakanoo” is a portable canoe that can be stacked together to the size of a suitcase that will fit neatly into a car boot. The Stakanoo’s three sections weigh about nineteen kilograms all together. The Stakanoo is a great idea and if it takes off in our world, putting your canoe on the roof of your car or portaging it will be unheard of!

    The Stakanoo article written by Victoria Woollaston tells us all about Stuart Woodward’s invention, the Stakanoo. The Stakanoo is like it sounds, a canoe that stacks! It is very easy too, you can stack the Stakanoo in under a minute. Victoria tells the reader about all the benefits the Stakanoo has to offer. Benefits such as, you don’t have the hazard/inconvenience of a big canoe on your car roof, it fits in the back seat. Also, it is extremely lightweight due to its fibre glass materials. To top it all off, you don’t have to portage a huge canoe on your shoulders anymore. You can carry the stakanoo like a suitcase (without wheels of course). Even though we haven’t learned about portaging yet in my outdoor education class, it looks like a pain to carry that heavy canoe out of the water! At the end of the article, Victoria adds comments from the inventor Stuart Woodward. Stuart says that the idea came to him when he was watching canoes being transported on roofs of cars in Cornwall. Which to him and many others, is a safety hazard. He also likes that it gives his car maximum fuel economy, due to the fact it fits right inside it. He goes into detail on how he made it and other perks about the Stakanoo. The article got a three instead of a four because it wasn’t very interesting after the initial opening sentences and the canoe name.

    The Stakanoo hasn’t really affected me in any way. This is probably because I haven’t portaged or driven with a huge canoe on my roof. I’m sure if I had these experiences while reading the article I would’ve been greatly affected by the knowledge that a canoe can fit in your back seat. It has honestly made me think about how relieved avid canoers will be when they find out that they won’t have to portage their canoe from lake to lake. It also makes me think about how easy it is to store compared to other canoes. In places like your house, usually you would have to make a spot for it in your garage, but the Stakanoo just requires the amount of space a regular sized suitcase requires. I think about little things like these. I don’t think I’ve learned much from this article apart from the fact that a portable canoe exists and how much easier canoeing would be. This article isn’t really the “inspiring” type article, it’s more of an eye opener.

    In conclusion, I really enjoyed the article on the Stakanoo. I definitely think that this invention will go far with the right publicity and I think it will be great for canoers to have. Not just because of how much easier canoeing would be, but also for safety reasons.


    Citation:

    Woollaston, Victoria. "The portable canoe that can be stacked together to the size of a SUITCASE and fits neatly into a car boot " MailOnline. 15 Jul. 2013. N/A. 11 Oct. 2014 .

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  28. PAD2O Article Assignment

    Dogsledding in the Great White North – Katrina Tomaszcyk

    Rating ***

    The article “Dogsledding in the Great White North” tells about the author’s experience of dogsledding and surviving Yukon Wilds.

    This article informs people of what dogsledding is through the author’s very own experiences. It tells of the hard work, enjoyment, and discipline that come with dogsledding. From the author’s firsthand experiences in the wilderness, she gives tips, rules, and insights on how to dogsled and survive.

    This has affected me by giving me awareness on how difficult dogsledding can be and how much effort it takes. It made me think about the type of people who choose to dogsled as a sport while surviving in harsh landscapes, as it is mostly people who have been exposed to that. I’ve learned that this takes a lot of effort, and requires a lot of mental skills (keeping pace, staying calm, endurance, surviving) when sledding with them, I have also learned that to some dogsledding is the only way of transportation through the wilderness. It has inspired me to think that not all sports can be easy just because they look that way, as for dogsledding, I had thought that the dogs do most of the work, but in reality, the dogs must me mentored, instructed, and taught by its driver. This takes a lot of effort. From this, I see people who survive in the wilderness, and dogsled as people who are to be respected greatly.

    Tomaszczyk, Katrina. "Dogsledding in the Great White North." Explore Magazine. N.p., Oct.-Nov. 2014. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.

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  29. By:Suryadev.A 2014/10/12

    Article Assignment

    Salus Bijoux Infant PFD

    Rating:***

    This article tells you about a Salus Bijoux Infant PFD and if it’s the right PFD for your infant.


    The Salus Bijoux Infant PFD is an article that reviews the PFD for infants. It tells you all about the PFD from the price to comfort and safety. The PFD comes in many different colours and for about 89 dollars. Which is nothing if it’s is supposed to protect your child. The article talks about how their child once the PFD was on got a bit aggravated but then soon calmed down realizing that it was not going to restrict the baby’s movement at all. The build quality on the PFD is really good compared to other PFDs that are around it’s price. The life jacket consists of 2 parts, the portion behind the infant’s head so their head stays up all the time with no risk of drowning. Also the main portion that is on the torso and stomach. The back and front of the PFD all have a bunch of straps located on them that will keep the baby in place securely. And due to it only having 2 main parts to the life jacket it also is fairly cool. You will not have problems in hot weather as the mesh at the back will allow air through and keep the infant cool. Since there are only 2 main parts of the PFD it is rated for use between babies that weigh from 9 to 25 pounds. This PFD will probably only last you a season for the average growing baby.

    I found this article not that helpful towards my self as there are no family members in Canada that have a enfant. Though if my family members in India decide to take their Infant for a dip I will recommend this product to them as it has gotten tons of good reviews. This product has made me think about water safety a lot. You might be having fun with friends in a pool but if someone doesn’t have a lifejacket in a really deep pool or lake it could turn dangerous any second. Safety is always first. I learned that PFDs that are meant for infants should have padding behind the baby’s head so if they do fall in the water they are able to breath at all times and will not drown. This product costs $89, that may sound like a lot but the infants life is certainly worth more than the $89 price tag. This will make me change my attitude around water more towards safety first. I personally can not swim well at all so I am already pretty careful around deep ends of the water but this article will help me recognize the importance of life jackets even better.


    "Outdoor Adventure Canada-Salus." Outdoor Adventure Canada - Baby's First Canoe Trips. Outdoor Adventure Canada, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

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  31. Snow Trench a Handy Haven Indeed – Dave Brown
    Reviewed By: Alex Parsons
    Rating: ***
    This article I found being used as a book mark in an outdoor survival guide. This is a newspaper article from the Ottawa Citizen.
    This article is a newspaper article telling you how to build a snow trench that you can sleep in. There is also a picture showing you the dimensions and what it should look like. It explains in detail that you need a shovel or your hands for digging, some sticks and/or ski poles or hiking poles, if you have them, to support the tarp that goes over the top and acts like a roof.
    This was a good article it was very descriptive and gave the reader really good detail on how to build a snow trench. I also liked this article since the next time I am bored I can just go in the back yard and try to build one.
    If you want to know how to build a snow trench I would recommend reading this article.
    Brown, Dave. “Snow trench a handy haven indeed”. Ottawa Citizen_05 February 2012: Page number unknown. Print
    *the page number of this article is unknown as it was cut out of the Citizen some time ago. I found it, read it, found it interesting and relevant to outdoor education.

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  32. Beginners guide to orienteering

    By Laura Moss

    Rating- ***

    Reviewed by: Jahleel B.

    This article gives a short guide to orienteering in the outdoors for beginners. It shows videos, gives tips, and provides information on what to use.

    This article is a great way for beginners to understand and know how to orienteer. From this article, the reader will learn tips such as, safety first, understanding your map, thumbing, etc. For every tip, the author gives an elaborate explanation on what she means, and how to do it. For example, she explains what a pace count is by saying, “A pace is equal to your natural step”, then goes on to explain it more.

    This article has affected me by helping me remember the basics of orienteering. I’ve only had a small experience with orienteering so far, and reading this article, it has helped me improve my orienteering mental skills. This has made me think about teaching orienteering to other people, this article would be a great way to introduce them to what orienteering is. This article has inspired me to get more people to understand what orienteering is, and maybe get them to try it. When I read that this article was for beginners, I immediately thought that this would be a great way for starters to read up on what orienteering is. This will not affect my behavior negatively, as I am fond of the activity of orienteering.

    Moss, Laura. "Http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/a-beginners-guide-to-orienteering." Mother Nature Network. Mother Nature Network, 23 June 2014. Web. 30 Oct. 2014. .

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  33. Pavlok Fitness Band - Hannah Weinberger
    Mike LeBlanc : ***

    The Pavlok Fitness Band article is great. It gives us insight on how great technology is and it also gives us a glimpse at the future of technology in our world.The article I chose about the Pavlock fitness band talks about the great invention that is the fitness band coming out in 2015. It describes the habit-forming, accelerometer-equipped fitness band functions. The Pavlock doesn't let you avoid your goals, It has an app that uploads your progress after each workout. Also, it helps you track your fitness benchmarks on the app. On this app, you can receive money and other prizes for achieving your fitness goals. However, with a positive reward also comes a negative. This feature is my personal favorite. If you get lazy and miss a workout, the Pavlok will publicly shame you on facebook, letting all your friends know you are sleeping in or slacking off. Along with this feature, you can sync yourself with a “buddy”. What this does is insure you stay on top of your workouts. This is because if you decide to stop working out your “buddy” can shock you electronically or require you to pay a fine.

    The Pavlok hasn't really affected me or anyone else due to the fact that it hasn't been released yet. However, when it does come out, I feel like it will have a huge impact on people’s fitness around the world. This article has made me think about how lazy I am sometimes when it comes to fitness and getting in shape. Also, how much I want a Pavlok to win prizes and keep me in line! When the Pavlok comes out in 2015, it will change my behavior and inspire me to work out, complete my goals, and stay fit. Hopefully, it won’t embarrass me on Facebook!


    Citation: Weinberger, Hannah. "Pavlok Fitness Band" Outside. 26 August. 2014. N/A. 30 October 2014 .

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  34. Are Triathletes Really Dying of Heart Attacks?
    Written by Brian Alexander
    Rating: ***
    In this article, it tells you about something that some triathlon participants are all of a sudden dying during the swimming portion of the race. They explained that the participants seem to die from heart attacks or heart related things. In this article, Brian Alexander teaches us some different symptoms of this illness and how some triathlon participants can protect themselves from this horrible thing.
    In this article it tells us that 45 people in the years between 2003 and 2011 have died from this, and 31 of these incidents happened while doing the swimming portion in the race. This happens when there are fluids in the lungs (from swimming). In the article, they mention that a journal from the Royal Society of Medicine hypothesised that pumping efficiencies of the left and right sides of the heart become unbalanced under the conditions of swimming in a triathlon.
    This article has affected me a little bit because I enjoy swimming a lot at my cottage, and even though I don’t swim nearly as much as triathlon participants do, I wonder if this can somewhat happen to me or anyone that likes swims a lot! This made me think about the people that have lost their lives due to this, and I wonder if any of them had any major symptoms before the race, and what were they? I learnt a lot of different things not only about this heart problem, I’m also learning about triathlons for example, the length that they have to swim. This has inspired me to try a triathlon someday!
    Website: Outside Online
    Article Title: The Mysterious Disease That’s Killing Triathletes
    Author: Brian Alexander
    Date Accessed: November 04 2014

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  35. How to Start and Maintain a Fire in a Winter Survival Situation - Daniel Bauwens
    Rating - ****
    By: Mike LeBlanc

    I chose this article purely from the failure that our group had to start a fire this Tuesday. We were very frustrated and didn’t know what we had done wrong. This article really helped me personally, as it explained/cleared up some of the basic fire making principles that we had forgotten.

    This article has a total of six easy steps for firemaking. It starts off with something that we have always been told this year, you need to prepare materials before you start. Also, you can never have enough wood, and you run out more quickly than you think. It also brings up a valid point about not running around trying to find wood after you start it and saving a lot of energy from that. The author then goes over which type of wood you should be collecting for your fire, areas you should look in, and methods of obtaining the wood. The article then goes on to talk about tinder, the types, its uses, and what it is. This was nothing new to me, but it was nice to get a refresher. After this, he talks about how to construct your fire, he uses the “tepee” like method in the pictures. He talks about the next step after the tinder, small things such as twigs smaller than a pencil, pine needles and things like that. After this, the fire is almost built and he suggests to put wood that is ever increasing in size in comparison to the ones you just laid down and not to smother it. Also, you should “roast” the fire so you don’t have to waste time tending to it.

    This article was a great help, and it was good to know what our group had to do for next time we try to build and start a fire. It was also some peace of mind knowing that we didn’t miss much and it was just our circumstances. The only thing that we did wrong was the structure of the fire. We had all the right materials and we took our time starting it. Hopefully, we can get a fire going next time!

    Citation:

    Bauwens, Daniel. "How to Start and Maintain a Fire in a Winter Survival Situation" wikiHow. 19 4 2014. Wiki. 19 11 2014 .

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  36. Passion to Paddle
    Rating: ***
    This article is by Jez Henry, a 15 year old paddle enthusiast. Jez has attended a summer camp called fallen creek camp; a camp where extreme is its middle name! At that camp, they take high adventure to a new level with expeditions all over North America such as mountain biking in Colorado, rock climbing in New Hampshire, backpacking in Wyoming, and paddling in Costa Rica. In this case with jez, she went on an Adventure, she went white-water kayaking at a total remote place in Canada—the kind of expedition most paddlers only dream about!
    In this article, Jez explains all about the camp, like that the ages of paddles varies from 14-17 years of age, and that wildlife was everywhere. On one of the rapids, the group noticed a bear was standing close to them, so they ran as fast as they can to their boats to keep going ! 
    This article affected me because it shows me that paddling can not only bring you fun but it can also bring you amazing adventure! This article made me think about how much bonding would have happened between the paddlers, between being together for a long time, and to seeing bears in the wilderness! I learnt that paddlein g can take you far, and this has inspired me to try water kayaking!!\

    Article title: Passion to Paddle
    Auther: Jez Henry
    Published: October 21 2014

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  37. Khumbu Climbing Center: In the Footsteps of Hillary and Norgay

    -Freddie Wilkinson

    Rating: ****


    The Khumbu Climbing Center article is a very interactive and knowledging piece of writing that describes really well about how to train and teach uneducated mountain climbers and sherpas to properly use mountaineering and medical techniques.

    This article kicks off with an American climber Conrad Anker explaining the problems and challenges he experienced with other Sherpas dying by simple tasks like knowing in which direction to attach an ascender to a fixed rope and their lack of knowledge of diagnosing altitude sickness. A few years later returning to Everest with his wife Jennifer Lowe-Anker, they realised how much the nepali community craved the knowledge of such mountaineering techniques. After explaining the first ever successful expedition to the summit of Everest of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay with their backstories, the article explained how they gave back to the Sherpa people by building schools and medical centres all over their remote locations forming the Himalayan Trust . Anker was so inspired by this generous act formed long ago he we’re to help out with the The Khumbu Climbing Center with their main goal to not only teach technical hard skills, but also to promote climbing for fun. With rapid success the KCC expanded on first aid, English language skills, and the natural history of the area. With as many as 68 graduates in the basic curriculum and 46 in the advanced curriculum they knew they were doing something right to help the Sherpa community.

    This article affected me by re-understanding the importance of education and it made me think about each class I take or each lesson I learn could be valued by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. I learned that not knowing something as simple as tying a reef knot or paying attention to certain instructions can have a huge effect on your everyday life and should be taken seriously and attentive. This inspired me to think about the critical decisions I make while rock climbing or any type of climbing to ask for clarity when faced with a problem and to just have fun and enjoy the activity i’m doing

    Article: National Geographic http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/everest/sherpas-khumbu-climbing-center/#page=1
    Author: Freddie Wilkinson

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  38. High Water Holy Grail
    -Nick Troutman
    *****

    This article was very great because it is written about the Eastern Canada with a focus on the Ottawa Valley and that is why it got 5 stars.

    This article describes the search for the perfect play waves. With the spring run off (Stakeout) in full tilt, the rapid known as Gladiator was “in” on the Coliseum rapid. Ottawa native, Joel Kowalski, called his friends, world class paddlers, Dane Jackson and Nick Troutman, both freestyle champions, to come and paddle some of the best waves possible. By the time Joel Kowalski’s friends get to Ottawa, the water was too high to high to actually surf. So they found out that Lucifer’s wave was “in”. Lucifer is a wave with huge air potential and massive beat downs in the hole beside it. After Lucifer’s, the small group heard that the Ruins wave in downtown Ottawa had the perfect level. Boaters form all around the world came to surf this wave. The Ruins offers crazy airtime potentials with triple combos. Keep in mind this wave was really a blank canvas. The river Gods made the level come down a bit so then Gladiator was in its prime just in time for the Ottawa XL qualifiers. Gladiator is probably the biggest wave on the Ottawa has huge air time but it has a huge hole behind it (ledge). At the end of the spring is the best time of the year for this wave!

    This article really makes me want to go paddle. This article really makes me think what else is just out the door because these places in the article aren’t that far away. I learned that Ruins wave is super popular. I knew it was popular to locals and professionals but not the world. It inspired me to go paddle more. This article helped change my behavior to paddle more.

    Citation: Troutman, Nick. “High Water Holy Grail” Rapid. Spring 2014

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  39. Building A Quinzee - Steve Nicolini
    Rating: ***

    The reason I chose this article was once again because of the activities we are currently doing in outdoor ed. Today was our first day for building quinzees and I had forgot to research this, so I felt lost. Since the article was due anyways, I figured this was the perfect chance to do some research and improve our quinzee.

    This article was great, it started out with the origin of the quinzee, the materials, and what it was used for. After this the author moved onto the main topic: how to build a quinzee. This was very interesting because I never knew how tactical and important every little detail was. He started out this segment with the ideal dimensions of the quinzee, the shape, and how many sticks you should put into the quinzee for later measurements. The sticks were to aid you in digging out the quinzee, so you didn’t go too far. The sticks could save your life. This is because if you dig out too much snow, the roof gets very unstable and could collapse on you half way through your night. Next, the author gets into how to excavate your big pile of snow. He has three golden rules of excavation: don’t dig past the sticks, make sure the lowest spot of the shelter is near the door, and lastly, you want to create yourself an elevated sleeping platform. Then he talks about the importance of having something under your sleeping bag for comfort. Then he concludes the article with some decoration ideas to personalize your quinzee and make it feel more like home.

    After reading and reviewing the contents of this article I feel like I definately have a better grasp of quinzees. I will hopefully be able to guide my group to quinzee greatness! This article has made me think of how tactical and time consuming building a quinzee is, but also how much it is worth it. Also, to be honest, I am kind of afraid of quinzees now, just the thought of being buried alive in your sleep freaks me out. Hopefully we will do it right! From this article I have learned a lot about the construction, excavation, and overall engineering of a quinzee. Additionally, I have learned a bit about where they came from and what they do. This article will definitely help me change my behavior, I will go into outdoor ed class with a whole different mindset tomorrow. I now know how to construct a proper quinzee and I can now put that to use thanks to this article. The reason I rated it with three stars instead of four was because of the presentation. The diagrams/pictures were pretty unprofessional and messy. Having said that, the overall content and writing was great.



    Citation: Nicolini, Steve. "Building A Quinzee" Alderleaf. 2006-2015. Alderleaf Wilderness College. 11 Dec. 2014 .

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  40. Alta Lift Ticket Deal

    Rating ****

    This article was pretty good. It wasn’t great but hey what can you do.

    Alta Ski Hill in Utah is one of 3 ski hills left in the U.S. that does not allow snowboarding. This article explains in detail how you can get yourself on a run at Alta and not get caught by Alta’s ski patrol. To do it, you have to go to the neighbouring ski resort “Snowbird”, which allows snowboarding, and buy a pass there then make your way over to the rope that separates Alta from Snowbird.

    This article affected me by making me think about the discrimination of snowboarding and how many people have stereotypes about snowboarding that are probably wrong. Unfortunately for me, I will probably not ever go to either resort because there is better snowboarding elsewhere that I would rather travel to. I learned that Alta is on U.S. federal land which means that anybody can use the land but for some reason a policy has been made by the resort to prevent snowboarders from using the land. This article inspired me to go ride even more. The article changed my behavior to RESIST AGAINST SKIIERS THAT HATE SNOWBOARDING.

    Reference:
    1. B., Wilbere. "Alta Lift Ticket Deal - Ride Alta for $85" Transworld Snowboarding November 2013: 034.

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