Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Outdoor Education provides teachers and recreation and outdoor leaders with outdoor activities as well as the expertise to expand students' understanding of the outdoors and develop their character. Units are included for challenge initiatives that don't require a ropes course, frontcountry camping, backcountry camping, outdoor cooking techniques, land navigation, casting and angling, and archery. Also discussed are rock climbing and canoeing and kayaking.

Developed for teachers and leaders of children and youth aged 10 to 15, this book does the following:

-Grounds readers in the principles of teaching outdoor education

-Provides them with current practices

-Details seven introductory, ready-to-implement units of outdoor adventure activities presented so that novices to a particular activity can teach that unit

-Includes easy-to-teach, step-by-step experiential education lesson plans that focus on basic outdoor skills, with character development qualities linked to each lesson

-Helps teachers meet NASPE and multidisciplinary national standards for students in grades 5 to 10

In addition to the units and lesson plans, Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Outdoor Education provides teachers and leaders with the following:

-Interdisciplinary connections in each lesson

-Strategies for questioning students so that they find the answers and for developing character qualities within each lesson

-Preparation, teaching, and assessment techniques for each lesson

-Safety and teaching tips for each activity

And because planning time is a rare commodity for teachers, the author has gone to great lengths to provide the background and help that teachers need in order to give outdoor education a try. In fact, through Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Outdoor Education , teachers and leaders have the tools and guidance to develop their own outdoor programs.

Part I introduces readers to outdoor education and its role in school. It explores the foundations and methods for using outdoor education and highlights its interdisciplinary connections. Part II provides detailed instructions for the novice in conducting outdoor education lessons as well as unit plans for seven outdoor education areas with sample lesson plans and activities. Part III delves into school programming, including planning field trips and starting a school-based outdoor education program.

Outdoor education has grown to be a multidisciplinary concept. This book captures the depth and breadth of that concept, provides outdoor adventure activities, and details the vital components of fostering learning and character development through outdoor education. Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Outdoor Education will more than meet teachers' and leaders' needs in using the outdoors to educate children and youth aged 10 to 15.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface
• How to Use This Book
• Part I Introduction to Outdoor Education and Its Role in Schools
• Chapter 1 Defining and Teaching Outdoor Education
• Outdoor Education Defined
• Teaching Outdoor Education
• Fundamentals of Outdoor Education
• Highlighting an Embedded Curriculum
• Summary
• Chapter 2 Foundations for Teaching Outdoor Education
• History of Outdoor Education
• Why Teach Outdoor Education?
• Theories That Support Outdoor Education in Schools
• Summary
• Part II Outdoor Adventure Activities for Schools
• Chapter 3 Challenge Initiatives-No Ropes Course Needed
• Unit Focus
• Teacher's Role in Presenting Initiatives
• Teacher's Role During Initiatives
• Teacher's Role Following Initiatives
• Challenge Initiatives
• Unit Plan for Challenge Initiatives-No Ropes Course Needed
• Cooperation and Trustworthiness
• Group Problem Solving
• Cooperating Groups-Megainitiative
• Chapter 4 Frontcountry Camping
• Locations
• Shelter
• Food and Water
• Safety
• Campfires
• Unit Plan for Frontcountry Camping
• Camping Safety
• Fire Building
• Chapter 5 Backcountry Camping
• Locations and Types of Travel
• Planning a Backcountry Trip
• Steps of Trip Planning
• Unit Plan for Backcountry Camping
• Climate Control, Personal Shelter, and How to Dress
• Climate Control, Personal Shelter, and Clothing Fabrics
• Energy Control and Backcountry Cooking
• Chapter 6 Outdoor Cooking Techniques
• Stick Roasting
• Tin-Can Cooking
• Foil-Packet Cooking
• Dutch-Oven Cooking
• Solar-Funnel Cooking
• Cooking and Our World
• Unit Plan for Outdoor Cooking Techniques
• Dutch-Oven Cooking
• Cooking Around the World
• Chapter 7 Land Navigation
• How to Use a Compass
• Pace and Pace Factor
• Compass Course
• How to Use a Map
• Using the Compass and Map Together
• Unit Plan for Land Navigation
• Using a Compass
• Using Paces and Pace Factors
• Compass Way Finding and Map Way Finding
• Using a Map
• Chapter 8 Casting and Angling
• Reels and Rods
• Angling Equipment
• Locating Fish
• Angling Ethics and Safety
• Unit Plan for Casting and Angling
• Rods, Reels, Casting Techniques, and Clinch Knots
• Locating Fish and Casting With Accuracy
• Casting Golf
• Chapter 9 Archery
• Archery Equipment
• Basics of Shooting
• The Science of Archery
• Physical Training for Archers
• Unit Plan for Archery
• Steps of Shooting a Bow
• Physics and Archery
• Chapter 10 Rock Climbing
• Climbing Basics
• Components of Climbing
• Interdisciplinary Connections With Climbing
• Character Connections With Climbing
• Chapter 11 Canoeing and Kayaking
• Types of Boats
• Equipment
• Paddling Skills
• Interdisciplinary Connections With Canoeing and Kayaking
• Character Connections With Canoeing and Kayaking
• Part III Outdoor Education Programming for Schools
• Chapter 12 Starting a School-Based Outdoor Education Program
• Clarify Your Vision
• Get Support
• Training and Certification
• Assess and Minimize Risks
• Summary
• Chapter 13 Field Trips
• Risk Management
• Educational Field Trips
• Summary
• Appendix A National Standards
• Appendix B Leave No Trace Principles
• Appendix C Character Qualities
• References and Resources
• About the Author

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Camille J. Bunting, PhD , is an associate professor in the department of health and kinesiology and director of the Outdoor Education Institute at Texas A&M University. She has been an active professional in the field of experiential education for nearly 30 years. She helped start an undergraduate major and minor emphasis in outdoor education at Texas A&M, and she is certified by the Wilderness Education Association as an outdoor leadership instructor. Bunting has conducted numerous teacher trainings and conference programs on the topics in this book and was instrumental in starting and expanding the Texas Outdoor Education Association. She is a past president of the Council on Outdoor Education for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

In addition to administering the programs of the Outdoor Education Institute, teaching graduate and undergraduate classes, and facilitating adventure education experiences, Bunting maintains a research agenda focusing on the physiological and psychological responses to outdoor adventure activities. Bunting is also the president of a consulting business, Success Dimensions, Inc. In her leisure time she enjoys doing many of the activities in this book, including canoeing, kayaking, and backpacking.