RCPT 442

I. Course Title: Expedition Skills

II. Course Number: RCPT 442

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: RCPT 331

V. Course Description: 

This course will be for outdoor recreation and leadership students interested in obtaining skills in expedition leadership. Students will plan, implement, and participate in a 7-9 day backcountry expedition (which may consist of canoeing, backpacking, biking etc.) primarily off campus. The purpose of this course is to provide an experientially-based opportunity to develop the technical and leadership skills needed to facilitate extended trips in the outdoor recreation industry.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

In this course, students will develop and implement a backcountry expedition, which may consist of any of the following activities: backpacking, canoeing, climbing, caving, biking. This course will take place primarily off-campus and will focus on the acquisition of technical and leadership skills in wilderness recreation. Formal training and experiences will include: trip planning, risk management assessments, formative and summative assessments of the experience, technical skills training, application of outdoor living skills, and leadership development activities.

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Course instruction strategies may include, but not be limited to, the following: lectures, labs, peer-instruction, and field trips to access the natural resources of Southwest Virginia.  

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Upon the completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic technical skills in at least one outdoor recreation activity, such as but not limited to: canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, biking, or caving.
2. Plan an extended expedition of at least 7 days in length using the G.O.  P.R.E.P.A.R.E method of trip planning.
3. Implement an extended expedition based on a formal tip plan by facilitating the required logistics.
4. Develop a personal awareness of one's leadership abilities through a structured evaluation process.
5. Evaluate an extended outdoor experience based on specified goals and objectives formulated through the trip planning process.
6. Apply the appropriate risk management protocol to ensure a safe experience.
7. Evaluate their ability to lead extended outdoor adventures in the future.

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Students may be assessed through the following assignments: written trip plans, peer-, self- and instructor-evaluations, journaling, leading.  

Review and Approval

August 2020