Training Techniques - Plan Ahead and Prepare

The following techniques focus on teaching participants what to bring and what to leave behind when preparing for a trip as well lessons on trip planning.

Perfect Packing

Objective: To consider how careful planning and packing can allow you to make better ‘Leave No Trace’ choices.
Materials: A variety of equipment for a short hill walk and an overnight in the Irish hills.
Audience: 12yrs and over.
Duration: 15 to 20 min.

Direction:
Give a brief explanation of the importance of planning ahead and preparing, elements to consider when planning ahead and preparing and the importance of writing up a checklist. All equipment must be mixed up and spread out on the ground. Split the group into two smaller groups. Group 1 have to pack what they think the need to carry for a short day in the Irish hills and Group 2 have to pack what they think they need to carry for an overnight in the Irish hills. Give groups approx, 5-8mins to do this, then have a discussion about what each group packed, (e.g. did they pack luxuries or essentials, did they pack enough or too little etc…). Discuss, if they had planned ahead and prepared, would they have packed differently? Discuss, how different locations, time of year and group size effect what you pack. Talk about how good planning affects the quality of your trip and does it prevent impacts that emergency rescue would cause?

You Make Your Own Good Luck

Objective: To demonstrate the effects of poor planning on the quality of a trip through role play.
Materials: Two cards with lists of equipment.
Audience: 12yrs and over.
Duration: 15 to 30 min.

Directions:
This scenario can be easily adapted to any activity. For this activity, make two rock climbing equipment check lists on separate cards. One is a list of exactly what two people would need to go rock climbing for a day in the Irish mountains. (Helmet, ropes, harness, water, food, boots , climbing shoes, first aid kit, group shelter or bivy bags, maps, phone with the no. of mountain rescue, guide books, weather print out, wet gear, etc). The other is a list of two very badly prepared people going rock climbing for a day in the Irish mountains. (Cans of beer, old ropes, boots with holes in them, a peaked cap, plastic bag to carry everything, radio, cushion, drinking glasses, crisps, phone with only one bar of battery left etc). Then on a separate card (this one is for you to use) write down certain things that can happen on a day out rock climbing. (It begins to rain, some one breaks an ankle, you end up stranded on the mountain, you get lost and have to stay out longer than expected, one of your ropes snaps. Ask for 4 volunteers, split them into two groups, give each group the list of gear that they will have with them on their rock climbing trip. So make sure you have enough space for the two groups to act out their trip. You narrate the trip and guide them along. As you narrate, the groups act out how they deal with the circumstances you describe, according to what they have on their list. For example, if you say it begins to rain, the group with wet gear can put on their jackets and leggings, the other group with nothing have to wait under a tree till it stops.If you have a shy group that are not happy to act out, make it a question and answer game. So you can simply ask questions and they can tell you how they would cope with the circumstance based on what equipment they have. For example, It’s starting to rain what are you going to do? At the end of their “trip” either have the two groups meet each other on the way home and share their experiences a good day or a bad day, what went wrong etc. Or simply ask them how did they feel the day went, did they enjoy it or not? Afterwards discuss the finer points of ‘Plan Ahead and Prepare’ and how you can prepare to ‘Leave No Trace’.

Specific is Superior

Objective: To understand the importance of planning ahead and preparing for time spent in the outdoors. Participants will identify ways to get information about areas they will explore.
Materials: Pens or pencils, two sheets of paper with instructions and one of the scenarios (see below, also include headings and space for the 2 lists the group will write), a flipchart or blackboard (optional).
Audience: 12yrs and over. Groups of any size.

Directions:
Divide students into two groups. Describe the following scenario: the group is going on an overnight backpacking trip. The leaders have written down the description of the trip they will be taking. (Make the scenario applicable to the group; i.e., a University outdoor club day, local hill walking group, scout groups, mountain biking club.) Each group is to look at the trip description, then write down two lists: what gear they should bring and what, if any, questions they have for the guides. Scenario 1 gives exact details about the trip. Scenario 2 is very general and vague.

For example:
1. “Your scout troop leader has set a weekend in September as an overnight camping weekend. Your troop will be hiking and camping in Glenveagh National Park, starting at 10:00 a.m. at the main car park by the visitors centre and hiking two miles to the next hiking spot. The next day, after breaking camp, there will be a four mile hike out to the car park, arriving back by 6:00 p.m. The first day’s hike will be mostly downhill. The return hike will be mostly uphill. Temperatures during this time of the year can range from 17 degrees during the day to 23 degrees at night. The weather is predicted to be mostly sunny, but with some showers and be prepared for any weather, including heavy rain. The planned campsite area is out of sight of the trail, several hundred yards from a river that has running water, which needs to be filtered for drinking (we will provide filters). No open fires are allowed in the national park so all cooking will be done on camping stoves. The troop will provide tents, water filters and stoves. All other gear must be brought with you. Be prepared for a wonderful time! See you there!”
2. “Your Scout troop leader has set a weekend in September as an overnight camping weekend in Glenveagh National Park. Your troop will be hiking a couple of miles to a beautiful camping spot. We’ll have a great time! See you there!”

Give groups 5 -10 minutes to read the scenario and write down the answers. Call them back together. Have one group read their scenario and their lists of gear needed and questions. If a black board or flip chart is available, write down their answers. Write lists so that the answers from the two groups can be easily compared. Have the second group do the same. After reports have been given, ask the group which trip they would feel more comfortable going on. Emphasise the importance of planning ahead and preparing for individual trips as well as for group trips. Ask the group how they can find out more information as they plan for their own trips. Write down ideas on the blackboard. Some suggestions are: calling the land owners responsible for areas ahead of time, talking with someone who had been there, reading books, internet, stopping by the visitor centre, etc.

All in the Pot

Objective: To discuss the elements of planning and what is needed for a successful trip.
Materials: A number of pictures of ingredients for a recipe (meat, fish, peppers, rice, pasta, vegetables, garlic, herbs etc).
Audience: Trainer courses.
Duration: 15 to 30 min.

Directions:
In preparation for this activity you need to write the elements that you want them to think about on the back of the pictures:
• Cost
• Time
• Duration,
• Group ability
• Location
• First aid,
• Experience of group and leader,
• Permission
• Permits
• Food
• Equipment etc.

If you wish to put more of a structure on it, you could put the most important things on the back of the most important food item. Split your group into two. Explain that you have a pile of ingredients here, that they can use to make a great meal. But before they can have them they must tell you what the most important elements of planning and preparing for a trip are. Put some questions to the group to get them thinking, maybe even a sample trip to help them think of ideas. As they guess all the elements involved in preparing a trip, they receive the picture of an ingredient that element is written on. The team that shouts it out receives the ingredient, pass the card with the picture facing down so they do not know what the food is. At the end when you have no ingredients left or the group is starting to fatigue slightly. Ask them to turn over the cards to see what food they have and give them 2 minutes to decide on what they are going to cook with the food. Let the groups share their ideas, and ask them after all the thought they put into their trip, do they think it will be as successful as their dinner?

Packing Light

Objective: To teach how to reduce excess waste and rubbish when packing for a trip.
Materials: A range of different foods that you would bring when going on a trip.
Audience: Any ages. Groups of anyl sizes.
Duration: 15 min.

Directions:
This is a useful quick activity if you are providing food for a course. Simply keep the food you are providing in its original wrapping, and lay out on a table, provide tin foil, cling film, ziploc bags, and even some lunch boxes. Ask everyone to come up to the table and explain that they need to pack their own food (this can just be lunches and breakfasts, or dinners too, depends on your trip plan). Explain how many days and what meals they must cater for. Tell them that the person that can pack the least amount of waste/rubbish (not food, in case anyone decides to fast for the trip), will be the winner, (if you have a small prize you can offer it here). When the game is over, discuss with everyone the benefits of this kind of packing, and how the less you take in with you, the less chance there is of you leaving it there.

Lighten Your Load

Objective: To teach students the importance of taking the proper items on a day hike.
Materials: A daypack filled with items such as a torch, map, food, water, jacket, first aid kit, radio, heavy bulky food, noisy toys, a mix of necessary and unnecessary equipment.
Audience: Ages 8 – 12yrs. Groups of any size.
Duration: 15 to 20 min.

Directions:
Prepare a daypack full of both necessary and unnecessary items for a long hike. Tell the students that you are going on a long hike and that you have your daypack ready. Have them each feel how heavy your pack is. Have each student, one by one, reach into your daypack and pull out an item. Have the student tell everyone why the item would be necessary or unnecessary to take. For example, a jacket would be a good thing to take for unexpected weather, but a can of chilli would not be a good item because it is heavy and not packaged for hiking. After they have sorted through all the items, have students feel the weight of your daypack and see if they can feel a difference. For additional discussion, ask students what items might be important to take when going on an extended trip.

Good Gear, Bad Gear

Objective: To teach students which types of outdoor gear are the most “low-impact”.
Audience: Any age. Groups of any size.
Materials: High-impact and low-impact camping gear, one Leave No Trace principles poster, several pre-made worksheets on which kids can list the two types of equipment, Soft Paths video (optional).
Duration: 45 min.

Directions:
Conduct this activity with all sorts of outdoor equipment and lay out on the floor. Have the group sort out the equipment into those that minimise impacts and those that create impacts. For the high-impact equipment, discuss what environmentally sound alternatives might be available. For the low impact discuss how it is they reduce impacts. Discuss the possibility of preparing to ‘Leave No Trace’.

Pack a Bag

Objective: To stress the importance of knowing the details of a trip so you can adequately prepare. So ask questions!
Materials: A couple of rucksacks and a range of equipment that you would bring on a picnic.
Audience: 12yrs and over.
Duration: 20 min.

Directions:
Have a rucksack and lots of items that people would need to bring with them on a trip, out in a basket (so the kids can rummage through). Ask your group to pack a bag for the day, using the stuff that we have provided. (If it’s a large group split them up into smaller ones and have double or triples of the gear). Tell your group you are going on a trip and they need to pack a bag to bring what they will need. If they ask any questions you can answer them, but only answer the question. The aim is to show them that if they do not ask any questions about where they are going, they will not be able to pack adequately for the trip.The scenario Picnic with friends for the day, with a short stroll afterwards. There will be rain, their friend will twist and ankle and the farmer won’t let them onto their original place.
• Did they check there was access onto the land?
• Did they leave early enough to allow for everything they wanted to do?
• Did they bring a first aid kit?
• Did they bring protection from the weather?
• Did they bring a few sweets to keep the spirits up when things were looking bleak?

You then read out the trip they are going to take, Begin with:
Where you were planning on going, the landowner no longer lets people onto his land.
• Have you checked for permission for access on to the land?
YES: But you checked before hand and are ready to go easily to another place without delay.
NO: You have to choose another site. Making it later in the day than planned and a site they do not know.
• Do they have a map and compass? As they don’t know this new site.
YES: On the walk you get lost but as you have a map and compass you are able to find your way easily, but people are a little tired and someone sprains their ankle.
NO: On the walk you get lost as you don’t know the area, people are getting tired and careless and someone sprains their ankle making them move slowly.
• Do you have a first aid kit and a phone for emergencies?
YES: So you can bandage up the ankle and help the friend back along the path and call for help. (Along the path back to the road your friend feels a bit better and you all stop to have some of your picnic).
NO: You need to help your friend to the entrance but with no bandages they are in a lot of pain, and with no phone you will have to help them all the way home. (Making it very late when you get there).
• F inally it begins to rain down on them very heavily.
Have they asked about the weather?
YES: They will have been told about the weather and will have brought rain gear so they simply put on the rain gear and walk to the place to be picked up and they are home before dinner.
NO: The walk takes even longer, and it is after dark when they arrive home, wet, cold hungry and tired.

Finish up, discussing how important it is to ask questions about what you will need and where you are going.

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