PEH 4

MODULE 1: OUTDOOR RECREATION

RECREATION

• Derived from the Latin word “recreare” which means to be “refreshed”

• Relaxing the mind and the body

• Relieves day-to-day tension

[3 PARTS OF A DAY (Acc. to Clayne R. Jensen, 2006)] 

EXISTENCE TIME

• Time spent on biological needs

• (ex.) having a meal, sleeping, and other personal care

SUBSISTENCE TIME

• Time spent for economic survival

• (ex.) work, chores, school

FREE TIME 

• All the remaining time after 

• Time allotted for recreational activities

OUTDOOR

• Is a space outside an enclosed area

• Includes the natural environment and resources which comprises the land, water, wildlife, vegetation, open space, and scenery.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

• Recreational activities performed outdoors

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Activities that you voluntarily do during free time.

• All activities are held for everybody’s enjoyment and pleasure.

• Revitalize all the different aspects of life (Physical, Mental, Social and Emotional)

[CLASSIFICATION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES] 

SPECTATOR TYPE

• People spend their time watching the event and derive enjoyment from it

PARTICIPANT TYPE

• People do not gain enjoyment merely by watching; they do so by joining the activity

ACTIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

• People have to function effectively in performing the action

PASSIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY 

• People have no excessive movement in performing the task or action

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• People have to function effectively in performing the action

MENTAL ACTIVITY

• The mind is doing the functions with less body movement

PUBLIC RECREATION

• Involves the general public, run by the state, government or by non-profit agencies. Free, necessary service for society.

PRIVATE RECREATION

• Confined to people working in private companies. Profit-making business.

COMMERCIAL RECREATION

• Recreation which the consumer pays and for which the supplier expects to make profit.

DIFFERENT OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

MODULE 2: BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION & 7 PRINCIPLES OF LEAVE NO TRACE

[ BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION ]

PHYSICAL HEALTH

• It gets the heart pumping and their bigger muscles at work.

• Promotes cardiovascular and muscular fitness. 

• Improve the function of the immune system.

• Reduced obesity, reduced risk of disease, and increased life expectancy.

PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL HEALTH

• Helps people to rest, relax or unwind, and feel revitalized.

• Provide the sense of “feeling good”.

• Allows us to discover the inner spirit of self, creating new behaviors and identities.

SOCIAL HEALTH

• Allows one to meet and interact with others who share the same passion for outdoor recreation.

• Also promotes stewardship.

• Helps form a lasting friendship and develop a community.

ECONOMIC HEALTH

• People who have a relaxed body and mind tend to be more productive at work.

• Attracts tourists who spend on accommodations, food, and gear rentals, stimulating local economies.

• Provide jobs in tourism, guide, and gear industries.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH

• Stir up spiritually.

• Brings a certain calmness within a person.

• Strengthens an individual as it heals, rejuvenates, and soothes the body and soul.

[ THE LEAVE NO TRACE 7 PRINCIPLES ]

PRINCIPLE 1: PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE

• Before going to a place, check if your planned activity is permitted. Make sure to know the rules, guidelines, and safety procedures they have set.

• Some places require certain permits or clearances.

• Make sure you have the needed equipment for your activity and the skills needed to undertake the activity.

• Plan how to cope in case an emergency arises

• Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing weather conditions

• Learn when areas are most crowded and try to avoid those times

• To minimize environmental impact and for safety reasons, keep ground numbers small.

• Repack food to minimize waste

• When trekking, maps and compass must be used to avoid markings or leaving of marks on rocks and the like.

PRINCIPLE 2: TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES

• Walk, run, bike, or camp on durable surfaces like established tracks, rocks, gravel, and dry grasses.

• Avoid walking on soft surfaces like soft plants. You might be trampling on a young tree or pasture and this will cause vegetation damage.

• Use existing trails or campsites, no need to build a new campsite that will alter the environment to avoid erosion, walk in single file in the middle of the trail.

• Avoid places where impacts are beginning to show.

• When camping, keep the campsite small and discreet.

• Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and rivers to protect the waters.

PRINCIPLE 3: DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY

• "Pack it in, pack it out" means everything you brought should be brought back with you including left-over food or fruit peel. Nothing should be left.

• When camping, cat holes are dug (6-8 inches deep) for human waste and covered just the same with soil and weeds or leaves on top

• Dishes should be washed 200 feet away from lakes or rivers and use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

PRINCIPLE 4: LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND

• Examine archeological structures, old walls, and other heritage artifacts but do not touch nor leave marks on them.

• Leave nature as you found them. Do not take any plant, rock, plants, or marine animal with you.

• Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals.

• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

PRINCIPLE 5: MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS

• Use lightweight stove for cooking; campfires can use lasting impacts

• If fires are permitted, use fire rings or mound fires that are already set-up.

• Keep fires small and use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand

• No burning of plastic or other substances that emit toxic fumes

• Burn all wood to ash and make sure fires are completely out. Scatter the cool ash.

PRINCIPLE 6: RESPECT WILDLIFE

• Observe wild animals from a distance and they should be avoided during sensitive times such as mating, nesting, or raising the young.

• Do not feed wild animals or birds as it is not their natural food. The food might damage their health or alter their natural behaviors and even expose them to predators.

• Protect wildlife and protect your food as well by storing and securing the trash well.

• In case you decide to bring your pets along, make sure it is allowed and you can control them. Otherwise, do not bring them with you.

PRINCIPLE 7: BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS

• Respect people who live and work in the countryside.

• Respect other visitor and let them have a momentous experience as well.

• Allow the sound of nature to prevail, not your noise or radio

• Be courteous, yield to others on a trail.

• Camp away from trails and other visitors.

MODULE 3: KAYAKING & CANOEING

CANOEING

• Origin of "Canoe": Derived from the Carib word "kenu", meaning dugout.

• Early Canoes: Carved from large tree trunks.

• North American Influence: Indigenous people-built canoes with wooden rib frames for durability.

• Likely began as impromptu races after hunting, fishing, or war expeditions.

• Became an organized sport in the 19th century in Great Britain and North America.

KAYAKING

• Origin of "Kayak": From the Inuit and Aleut word "qajak", meaning "man's boat" or "hunter's boat".

• Early Users: Developed by Inuit and Aleut tribes in Arctic North America.

• Custom Design: Handcrafted to fit the user’s own body measurements, not a standard size.

• Origins of Kayaks: First created by Eskimos in Arctic regions for hunting and fishing.

• Sport Evolution: Mid-1800s – Europeans, especially Germans and French, popularized kayaking as a sport.

[ PARTS OF A CANOE ]

BOW

• The front of a canoe is called the bow. It cuts through the water for speed and easy paddling, usually has a seat for the front paddler, and may have a spot to tie an anchor line.

STERN

• The canoe's rear end. It helps reduce turbulence, allowing the canoe to glide smoothly through the water. The back paddler usually sits at the stern, and on a squareback canoe, it's where a trolling motor is mounted.

YOKE

• A support bar located at the center of a canoe, designed to help carry it over the shoulders during portage. Its curved shape rests on the back of the neck, ensuring better balance and comfort when transporting the canoe.

THWART

• A crossbeam that braces the canoe's sides, maintaining its shape and strength. Typically, two thwarts are placed for support, with one behind the front paddler’s seat to handle extra pressure.

GUNWALES

• The reinforced top edge running along the canoe’s length. It protects the hull and provides a mounting point for seats, thwarts, and accessories.

[ PARTS OF A KAYAK ]

COCKPIT

• The large opening or area where the paddler is seated.

DECK 

• The top surface. In sit-inside kayaks, it covers the paddler’s legs and extends behind them. In sit-on-top kayaks, it includes the entire flat area where the paddler sits.

HATCH

• Storage compartments beneath a kayak’s deck, often waterproof and secured with elastic bands.

HULL

• The bottom part of the boat that sits in the water. It determines the kayak's stability, speed, and maneuverability.

KEEL

• The central ridge on a kayak’s hull that helps with stability and tracking.

[ PADDLES ]

SINGLE BLADE PADDLE

• Are usually used for CANOE

DOUBLE-BLADE PADDLE

• Are usually used for KAYAK

[ OTHER WATER ACTIVITIES ]

WHITEWATER RAFTING

• An adventure sport where people navigate fast-moving rivers with strong rapids using an inflatable raft and paddles.

SAILING

• A water activity where boats use wind power to move with the help of sails.

BAMBOO RAFTING

• A traditional water activity using a raft made of bamboo poles tied together. It is usually done on calm rivers or lakes and is often used for recreation or transportation in some cultures.

[ BASIC SKILLS OF KAYAKING ]

FORWARD STROKE

• The main stroke for moving forward. Dip the paddle into the water near your feet and pull it back along the kayak’s side.

BACKWARD STROKE

• Used to move in reverse or stop the kayak. Push the paddle forward from behind your hips to your feet.

DRAW STROKE

• Moves the kayak sideways. Place the paddle in the water beside you and pull it straight toward the kayak.

SWEEP STROKE

• Helps turn the kayak. Make a wide, arcing stroke away from the kayak’s hull, starting from the bow (front) or stern (back).

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CANOEING AND KAYAKING

• Improved Upper-Body Strength

• Improved Care Strength

• Improved Leg Strength

• Improved Cardiovascular Fitness

• Weight Loss

• Reduced Stress Levels

THINGS TO REMEMBER

C - Check weather condition

A - Always plan ahead (studying the river maps ahead of time)

N - Never forget to put things in a waterproof bag

O - Orientation given by the facilitators or leaders is important

E - Equipment should be tried and always checked

K - Know first your skills in swimming, canoeing, or kayaking

A - Avoid paddling alone, paddling far from coastline, or paddling in routes of ships

Y - Yield to safety and know where to go in case of emergency

A - Always wear personal floatation device and other safety equipment

K - Keep hydrated as you will go be under the sun

MODULE 4: HIKING AND TREKKING

WHAT IS HIKING?

• A recreational activity that involves walking on well-marked trails, usually for a few hours or a day, making it a leisurely and accessible outdoor experience.

WHAT IS TREKKING?

• A more challenging journey that lasts multiple days, often through rough and remote terrains, requiring greater endurance and preparation.

HIKING VS. TREKKING

[ HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A HIKE OR TREK? ]

The demands for preparation for a hike or trek depend on the intensity of your climb. Preparing for a hike on an easy trail, which inky entails a day or less, will have different preparation from that of long treks or organized climbs.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

• Pre-conditioning is essential

• Include aerobic activities

• Good health and fitness matter

• Proper nutrition is key

• Carbo-loading helps

TRIP PLANNING

• Planning is crucial

• Group climbs require coordination

• For self

• Smaller groups are preferable

• Check key factors

• Seek advice

[ OTHER LAND ACTIVITIES ]

MOUNTAINEERING

• Sport of climbing mountains, requiring physical endurance, technical skills, and specialized equipment

CANYONEERING

• Involves navigating through canyons using a mix of hiking, climbing, rappelling, swimming, and jumping

ORIENTEERING

• A navigation-based outdoor activity where participants use a map and compass to find specific checkpoints in unfamiliar terrain

[ HIKING ESSENTIALS ]

BACKPACK

• A backpack is essential for both hiking and trekking. For a short hike, a small pack with basic items is enough. Trekking requires a larger pack, carrying food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials, like carrying “your home on your back”.

FOOTWEAR

• Proper footwear is essential for trekking. The wrong shoes can cause blisters and bruises, so choosing a well-fitting pair suited to the terrain is crucial

HIKING SHOES

• These shoes are lighter compared to boots and more flexible but offer less supports. They are best for well-defined trails and shorter hikes where one carries relatively lighter load.

HIKING BOOTS

• Hiking boots give more support and have more protective features than hiking shoes because they have a higher cut with slightly stiffer materials. The trade-off though is the weight. These are heavier than hiking shoes.

BACKPACKING BOOTS

• For longer treks carrying heavy loads, the backpacking boots are more advisable. These shoes are tough and can cope with all kinds of terrain and weather conditions. They are taller and stiffer and have thicker outsoles with all-around protection.

TREKKING POLES

• Trekking poles have a maximum length of 135 cm (54 in). They are often made into two or three sections and can be retracted or extended as necessary. When fully retracted, it may be attached to the backpack.

BASIC SKILLS IN HIKING

• Setting hiking pace

• Establishing your rhythm 

• Taking breaks

OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS

• First-aid kit

• Water

• Trail food

• Map and compass

• Extra layers and rain gear

• Firestarter and matches

• Multitool or knife

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Sunscreen and sunglasses

• Insect repellant

• Camera/binoculars

• Cellphone/two-way radios

• GPS/altimeter watches

• Extra batteries for mobile devices/memory card 

SAFETY REMINDERS

H - Hike with a group and neer aline. Hike within your skills. Hike within the trails and be aware of your surroundings.

I - Instruction from guides, facilitators, or leaders should be given utmost attention. Rules and regulations should be followed strictly.

K - Keep in mind and heart the Leave No Trace Seven Principles

E - Ensure the safety of self and others. Learn to apply first aid. Learn where to go and what to do during emergency situations.