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From a Ryan Brady Photo
Northland College Syllabus “ The history of the human race is a 2 ˝ million year long camping trip. The technology has changed, but we’re still just camping out on this rock you know?” – Steve Watts Course
Links: I. Course Information
Course:
OED 050 Earth Skills Text: Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olsen
Deadlines: Last day to add courses with faculty approval............................................ September 16 Last day to drop courses without record ....................................................September 16 Last day to withdraw from first-half courses ................................................October 7
Instructor: Paul Van Horn Office: Wheeler Hall 313 Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10:30-1:30; Thursdays, 11:30-2:30 Phone: 682-1324 E-mail: pvanhorn@northland.edu
II. Course Description: This course will introduce the skills needed to travel and camp in the backcountry with a minimal amount of modern equipment. Students will learn the fundamentals of friction fires, primitive shelters, construction of wooden utensils, safe and effective knife use, edible/useful plants, and the context and ethics of practicing traditional skills.
III. Intended Learning Outcomes: Students will…
1. Place the field of traditional skills in proper historical and recreational contexts. 2. Articulate a well-founded set of environmental impact guidelines for the use of traditional skills. 3. Demonstrate effective stalking, tracking, and other nature awareness skills 4. Demonstrate the use of simple, improvised, and traditional outdoor living equipment. 5. Explain the physiological needs of humans in a natural environment. 6. Explain how to prioritize and provide for those needs. 7. Demonstrate efficient and safe use of simple crafting tools (knife and bow saw) 8. Construct and explain the features of three simple shelters. 9. Start a fire using the bow drill method. 10. Demonstrate and explain the uses of the parallel-laid and teepee fires. 11. Explain how to select a quality campsite for traditional uses. 12. Demonstrate the “reverse wrap” method of cordage construction. 13. Demonstrate proper use of the blanketpack and Roycraft frame. 14. Create a scraper and simple stone knife. 15. Create a wooden bowl and spoon using the coal-burning method. 16. Spend a night out using a minimal amount of commercially-manufactured equipment.
III. Class Schedule
*Please note that this schedule of class topics and dates is tentative, and subject to change! Additionally, there will be in-class handouts and other resources that are not listed on this syllabus. If you miss a class, be sure you get this information from me or a peer.
Date Topic Assignment Sept. 9th Context; Awareness; Harvesting; Knife Use Site Selection, Group Shelters Sept. 16th Bow Drill; Fire use and Ethics Try Stick Due; Bow drill handout; Olsen, Ch. 3 Sept. 23rd Burn Bowls; Personal Shelters Olsen, Ch. 2 Sept. 30th Cordage, Baskets, Blanketpacks Olsen, p. 158-9; 160-164 Oct. 7th – 9th Weekend Field Camp Oct. 14th Skills tests, all projects and paper due.
V. Evaluation: Grades will be based on your performance in these areas: 1. Attendance and participation (20%) (see below) 2. Required Projects (5% each): Try Stick; Sharpened Knife; Bow Drill Set; Burn Bowl; Wooden spoon; 1 ft. of cordage; Blanket Pack… (35% total) 3. Demonstrated skills: Bow drill fire; discoidal stone blade; cordage; safe and efficient knife use (20%) 4. Quizzes (3): 5% each: 15% total 5. Paper: 10%
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale: A 100% - 95% A- 94% - 90% B+ 89% - 87% B 86% - 84% B- 83% - 80% C+ 79% - 77% C 76% - 74% C- 73% - 70% D+ 69% - 65% D 64% - 60% F 59% - less
VI. Attendance: Attendance and punctuality to each class is expected. Unjustified absences will affect your final grade. One third (1/3) of a letter grade will be deducted from your final grade (to a maximum of 20% off) for each unjustified absence or pattern of tardiness to class (i.e., two or more late arrivals to class). The overnight field trip is required for passing this course (think of it as a final exam!) Example: Final Grade A 1 absence A- 2 absences B+ 3 absences B etc... You must justify your absence by calling my office before 8:30 on the day of the missing class. If you miss class, I expect you to seek me or your peers to review what has been discussed or presented in class. VII. Professional Recommendation: If you would like to receive a letter of recommendation for employment or graduate work based on your participation in this class you should consider the following: Be punctual and prepare for class by doing all your required readings. Actively participate in class discussions and exercises. Take initiative, do extra readings to explore your interest in group process, and help teach others by holding study sessions. Be a critical thinker; ask questions, challenge assumptions. Turn in your assignments on time. Be polite, professional and courteous. VIII. Academic Assistance: Students in need of academic or medical accommodation should contact Judi Holevatz, R.N., Disabilities Coordinator, @ ext. 1340, Rm. 206 of the Ponzio Center.
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