Thursday, October 28, 2010
DNR: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" / Reading the Woods
Just by coincidence, this was the last session of my stay. And it pretty much summed up and used all the other courses I had taken.
We spend the half-day in the woods, observing different things - plants, animal trails & habitat, invasive species, the effects of human behavior -- and talking about its purpose and how it got there and what it indicated about what was goingon.
The session started out with a fun game that highlighted my *dismal* powers of observation. We didn't know it, but on the first part of our trek, our instructor had placed pipecleaners. Colorful ones. And they weren't hidden. They were in plain view. The first time down the path, one person found one. No one else noticed any. :(
The instructor told us about the game, and we headed back the way we came. With the goal of this time actually finding the pipecleaners. I think I saw 6.
Regrouping, the instructor told us there was more than 10. And taught us how to observe better. This time through the path, I found 13. I think overall, there was 16. Fun & enlightening game.
We spend the half-day in the woods, observing different things - plants, animal trails & habitat, invasive species, the effects of human behavior -- and talking about its purpose and how it got there and what it indicated about what was goingon.
The session started out with a fun game that highlighted my *dismal* powers of observation. We didn't know it, but on the first part of our trek, our instructor had placed pipecleaners. Colorful ones. And they weren't hidden. They were in plain view. The first time down the path, one person found one. No one else noticed any. :(
The instructor told us about the game, and we headed back the way we came. With the goal of this time actually finding the pipecleaners. I think I saw 6.
Regrouping, the instructor told us there was more than 10. And taught us how to observe better. This time through the path, I found 13. I think overall, there was 16. Fun & enlightening game.
DNR: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" / Twig Detective
In this class, we studied how to identify trees. The instructor started out by talking about dichotomous keys, and I was immediately lost.
But then we learned how to use them, kind of like written maps -- along the lines of the process of elimination -- to get to what kind of tree it is. Dichotomous keys are handy and fascinating.
Then we spent most of the half-day session out in the field, using the tools we just learned to identify the trees in the forest around us. It was fun to be trekking/bushwhacking in the woods, using our brains, and having a deeper and closer view of the woods around us.
I know I've taken a lot for granted during my hikes and other times spent in nature. An almost cavalier attitude of "it's just a tree". Now I'll be much more fascinated by and interested in exactly what I'm trekking through, and how it grew there.
The day kind of reminded me of the Ents in "The Lord of the Rings". And the Apple Trees in "Wizard of Oz". Yes, the trees are alive.
But then we learned how to use them, kind of like written maps -- along the lines of the process of elimination -- to get to what kind of tree it is. Dichotomous keys are handy and fascinating.
Then we spent most of the half-day session out in the field, using the tools we just learned to identify the trees in the forest around us. It was fun to be trekking/bushwhacking in the woods, using our brains, and having a deeper and closer view of the woods around us.
I know I've taken a lot for granted during my hikes and other times spent in nature. An almost cavalier attitude of "it's just a tree". Now I'll be much more fascinated by and interested in exactly what I'm trekking through, and how it grew there.
The day kind of reminded me of the Ents in "The Lord of the Rings". And the Apple Trees in "Wizard of Oz". Yes, the trees are alive.
DNR: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" / Tracks & Trails
I thought in this course we would learn to identify animal tracks. But it was So. Much. More.
So much to say about this course!
What did we learn about? Our power of observation. How people feel they are productive/how we feel we've accomplished something. Human behavior (humans are animals too, and they leave tracks ...). How to observe signs around the tracks, so you can form the whole story -- not just what animal was there, but what they were doing, where they came from. Was another animal stalking them?, did they run? was there a battle? or were they playing? What time of day is it? When was the last tide? Did it rain? How deep are the tracks. How to tell how long ago they were formed.
Just amazing the stories that are behind a simple track.
So much to say about this course!
What did we learn about? Our power of observation. How people feel they are productive/how we feel we've accomplished something. Human behavior (humans are animals too, and they leave tracks ...). How to observe signs around the tracks, so you can form the whole story -- not just what animal was there, but what they were doing, where they came from. Was another animal stalking them?, did they run? was there a battle? or were they playing? What time of day is it? When was the last tide? Did it rain? How deep are the tracks. How to tell how long ago they were formed.
Just amazing the stories that are behind a simple track.
DNR: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" / Map & Compass
My first course at DNR's "BOW" program was "Map & Compass". I've had a few short (like 1/2 hour) training sessions on using a compass, but I just didn't "get" it.
This course was a half-day. We learned all the details around a topographic map. I was kinda comfortable reading a topo map, enough to get myself out of trouble. But now I know more. We spent a lot of time learning how to properly use a compass. And now I get it! I need to keep using the skills so that I don't forget how to do it.
We concluded the class with a really fun game in a field where we were given compass readings that we had to follow and take notes of where we ended up. I did the route correctly! and quickly. So I did another one. It was a ton of fun!
The instructor told us that if enjoyed the game, we should try orienteering. Yikes, another fun thing to get myself into! I can't wait!
This course was a half-day. We learned all the details around a topographic map. I was kinda comfortable reading a topo map, enough to get myself out of trouble. But now I know more. We spent a lot of time learning how to properly use a compass. And now I get it! I need to keep using the skills so that I don't forget how to do it.
We concluded the class with a really fun game in a field where we were given compass readings that we had to follow and take notes of where we ended up. I did the route correctly! and quickly. So I did another one. It was a ton of fun!
The instructor told us that if enjoyed the game, we should try orienteering. Yikes, another fun thing to get myself into! I can't wait!
My Great Adventure! Dept of Natural Resources: Becoming An Outdoors Woman
October 21-24, 2010
On my first camping adventure, back in April, at Greenridge State Forest, the rangers had told me about this program: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman". I'm not sure if they told me about me because I had passed some test by actually surviving camping those two short days when it was clear I had no idea what I was doing; or, if they thought I'd better go get some training. Maybe both reasons.
So I signed up way-back-when. But ... the program is held in Garrett County, south of Deep Creek Lake. Like on the other side of the mountains.
All summer I debated whether I was going or not -- simply because of my fear of heights and the mountain driving. I got more & more nervous, but then also afraid that my fear of heights and mountain driving would just stop me from doing fun things. I had to face my fears and do it.
So I did all kinds of research on mountain driving and phobias, and for weeks, I mentally prepared myself. Or tried to. And I went and did it! Whew!
The program was phenomenal! There are all kinds of outdoor adventure courses you can take, ranging from sports to hunting to survival to cooking. They are geared from beginner level to advanced. All of the instructors are experts, personable, and approachable. Many of the participants have attended several times, so classes are becoming more advanced as we all learn more stuff. And the women who attended are adventurous, have interesting jobs, have traveled to so many places -- it was a great joy to socialize with so many fascinating people!
Camp Area:
On my first camping adventure, back in April, at Greenridge State Forest, the rangers had told me about this program: "Becoming An Outdoors Woman". I'm not sure if they told me about me because I had passed some test by actually surviving camping those two short days when it was clear I had no idea what I was doing; or, if they thought I'd better go get some training. Maybe both reasons.
So I signed up way-back-when. But ... the program is held in Garrett County, south of Deep Creek Lake. Like on the other side of the mountains.
All summer I debated whether I was going or not -- simply because of my fear of heights and the mountain driving. I got more & more nervous, but then also afraid that my fear of heights and mountain driving would just stop me from doing fun things. I had to face my fears and do it.
So I did all kinds of research on mountain driving and phobias, and for weeks, I mentally prepared myself. Or tried to. And I went and did it! Whew!
The program was phenomenal! There are all kinds of outdoor adventure courses you can take, ranging from sports to hunting to survival to cooking. They are geared from beginner level to advanced. All of the instructors are experts, personable, and approachable. Many of the participants have attended several times, so classes are becoming more advanced as we all learn more stuff. And the women who attended are adventurous, have interesting jobs, have traveled to so many places -- it was a great joy to socialize with so many fascinating people!
Camp Area:
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