Desert DAWN’s Wilderness Pathfinder Adventures center on learning from nature and appreciating the gifts that nature provides and on living in harmony with nature without exploitation or struggling against nature. The curriculum is mostly focused on the use of low technology gear and nature’s resources in order to become more self sufficient and confident in the backcountry.
Following is the curriculum details for Foundational Backcountry Knowledge (WPA – 1)
Health & Safety
Dress for Success in Nature
Bare Necessities
Basic First Aid
Personal Hygiene
Backcountry Signaling
Nature Observation
Traditional Navigation
Cardinal Directions (natural signs)
Reading the Sun
Reading the stars
Night Walking
Weather
Weather Observation
Weather Safety
Physiology of the Human Body in Various Environments
Ecology
Life Zones
Mountain Ecology
Plants
Plant Safety
Plant Identification
Understanding Wood
Tree and shrub growth
Wood Grain
Basic Skills
Camp Craft
Camping Ethics
Camp Hygiene
Knife Craft
Terminology
Design and Construction
Science of cutting
Knife Safety
Knife Maintenance Knife Use
Knife Grips and Strokes
Basic Cutting Techniques
Reading and Using the Grain
From Log to Finishing
Rope craft
Terminology
Design and Construction
Science of Rope
Rope Safety
Rope Care & Maintenance
Rope Use – Knots
Fire Craft
Fire Ethics and Ecology
Science of Fire
Fire Safety
Fire Construction and Maintenance
Fire Lays
Match Fire
Flint and Steel Fire
Fire woods (qualities and sizes)
Fire Use
Fireplace Cooking Arrangements
Camp Cooking
Download The Curriculum Outline – Foundational Backcountry Knowledge WPA – 1
