Outdoor Adventure

thank you…

gmertz — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:23:01 +0000

Enjoy this farewell photo montage of the students who pioneered the Outdoor Adventure program at Fay School!

Download Fond Farewell

Depending on the speed of your internet connection the video may take a minute to load.

Authored by gmertz. Hosted by Edublogs.

it wouldn’t be an OA outing- if it wasn’t pouring rain

gmertz — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:59:38 +0000

Enjoy this video of our overnight adventure in shelters that student constructed themselves!

Download Who’s House

Depending on the speed of your internet connection the video may take a minute to load.

Authored by gmertz. Hosted by Edublogs.

an open letter

gmertz — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:57:56 +0000

“Hello!I just wanted to share with you how proud I am of the Outdoor Adventure kids. As many of you know we had our on-campus overnight on Friday night (May 16th). I have heard a number of students joking that OA had to sleepover on campus, but I want to make sure that people fully understand what they did.

Each student was provided three 8’ to 10’ staves, twine, and a blue tarp and was asked to work with a peer or by themselves to construct their own shelter for the overnight. They did not have tents with floors to separate them from the ground or specialized rain gear. These students utilized their knowledge of lashings, knots, and shelter construction they learned over the course of the term to build structures that would weather the eventual storm. You may recall that a steady rain began falling at about 4 pm and kept falling straight through until 8 am the following morning! The students started a fire without matches or lighter in the pouring rain, cooked their own supper, and then proceeded to stay out the entire night despite the fact that it was a cold and wet 45 degrees!

While this display of acquired skill makes Dan and me very proud… the upbeat attitudes and sunny dispositions that the students wore through the entire event was truly a credit to their individual and group spirit.

To quote the kids- “Huzzah OA!”

Thanks!

Mr. Mertz”

(click on thumbnail for larger image)

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FIRE!!!!!

mary — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:35:36 +0000

OK, so yesterday only 4 people came to sports and it was all GIRLS!

We read about 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree burns . Then we got to go outside to ACTUALLY make… FIRE!!!! It was awesome, except for the fact that none of us could really make a fire… ha ha. But we tried and, it’s true, Mr. Mertz really does make it look easy. Too bad that today we couldn’t make a fire because of a local fire ban, but tomorrow the rest of the people who didn’t do it will get to try. It’s fun- and maybe I’ll bring my marshmallows!!!! Can’t wait!

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Climb Away

jmwoah — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:51:10 +0000

The ropes course was a lot of fun. We started on the low ropes course and then later in the week moved on to the high ropes course. We completed many obstacles including crossing an imaginary acid river using only a rope to swing between two platforms. On the high ropes course we went on the Burma Bridge which had one wire in the middle and two ropes on the sides to hold onto. We also went on another with “vines” or ropes hanging down that we could use to cross a second wire. The ropes course was a lot of fun and I hope I’ll be able to have an experience like this again.

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“try not to look down”

gmertz — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:53:56 +0000

Enjoy this video of some footage from the High Elements on our school’s ropes course!

Download Don’t Look Down

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Authored by gmertz. Hosted by Edublogs.

they’ll be comin’ round the mountain…

gmertz — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:39:00 +0000

“Rising above the surrounding forest to a height of 2006 feet, Mount Wachusett stands as a unique landmark within the central New England landscape.”

The students undertook a difficult climb on a cold, very rainy New England day. The trail was the most steep they had encountered and the blowing rain obscured any possibilities of a view from the summit. Despite the difficult conditions, the students hiked with vigor and navigated a complex trail system on their own. Though opinions varied a bit, most participants were excited about getting out and trying something a little ‘bigger’ than the local Southborough area offers! (… and what would our Friday hike be with out rain!?)

click on the thumbnails for larger images

follow this link for more information and trail maps

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up, up, and away

gmertz — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:33:06 +0000

click on the thumbnails for larger image

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whoa… these rocks are steep!

mary — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:02:57 +0000

Today we were climbing on the trails of Mt. Wachusett and boy, was it hard!!! To those who wanted to go on something steep, you definitely got it today! Am I right? I thought it was very hard, but fun too. I thought it was great to have some laughs afterward. So what did you think about the hike this afternoon? Did you like the climb up the “RoCkY mOuNtAiNs” or the trail down to the amazing and wonderful bus? … just kidding! Though the arriving at the top was a relief, the view was hidden by blowing rain and cold weather at the top of the trail. The forest sheltered us on the way down though, so it got better. So, tell me what you think about this whole experience?

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Acrophobia Much?

afterthedeathofdavid — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:57:06 +0000

This week, we worked a lot on the high ropes course. We started last Friday on the Swingshot and worked are way through the week with elements such as Burma Bridge and Hanging Vines. When trying these elements, we soon learned which one of us possessed acrophobia. (I am definitely one of them.)
Acrophobia: an abnormal fear of high places (definition from dictionary.com)
Until you’ve tried it, you can’t even begin to imagine the adrenaline and fear that you get from hanging by a rope about 40 feet off the ground. It’s exhilarating and stressful simultaneously. When you finally get onto the wire, it suddenly starts to shake in the breeze and you can’t let go even though you want to get to the ground desperately. All in all, I am thankful for all the support that everyone gave me (and for making me finish Burma Bridge). Even if it takes years to get over my fear, this is a pretty good start.

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Teamwork… but, Communication?

tiffchien — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:47:14 +0000

It was a nice day out when we went to the low elements ropes course on Tuesday and Wednesday. We were able to learn different ways of working together and problem solve. Although communication is key in certain activities, sometimes it is best just not to talk at all. Afterall silence is golden. In activities such as the Mohawk walk, teamwork is essential. One person cannot simply just walk across the lines by him or herself. We each needed to help each other not only to balance, but also to spot each other and make sure no one is hurt in the process. Overall it was a fun experience and hopefully we will be able to do more of this type of activity soon!

P.S.
Don’t forget to check for ticks!

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low elements

gmertz — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:45:49 +0000

a few pictures from a day on the low elements!

(click on the thumbnail for a larger image)

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huzzah!

gmertz — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:22:50 +0000

Enjoy this video of one of the students taking a big drop on the Swingshot element of our school’s ropes course!

Download Whip It

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SWING SHOT!

cpurcell — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:45:12 +0000

We had a GREAT time today on the swing shot element on the ropes course. I would say that this is probably the most fun of all of the activities we have so far done in the program. We were hooked up to the swing apparatus and were then lifted by the rest of the group as high as we could go (or wanted to go in most cases), and were then dropped, to fall and swing back and forth. I felt extremely safe in the two harnesses with numerous extra safety knots and carabiners. I would also like to say to all of the people who are afraid of heights that no matter how high you went up on the rope you did a great job, I understand how hard it can be to over come your fears.

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This is a desert?

sydney90 — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:27:48 +0000

So yesterday we went hiking in Sudbury. When we arrived there, there was no desert in sight. It was a forest! We began our hike, and after a few steps, I took a spill. Luckily, I am quite used to falling, so I was not hurt. So we continued walking. We came to these planks that were precariously perched over a beautiful, lush marsh. The water was a muddy blue. As we walked further and further, the signs of man began to become less prominent. We could not hear anything but the birds chirping and the soft trickling of water. Soon, we began to walk back. it was odd walking back on the path, because it was almost as if we were slowly walking back into civilization. You could see, slowly but surely, the signs of man came back. It was a chilly, but beautiful hike.

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rock on

gmertz — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:34:40 +0000

Enjoy this video of the students climbing on Fay’s indoor rock wall

Download Rock On!

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And That’s Just What They’ll Do…

gmertz — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:51:27 +0000

Enjoy this fun video of the students navigating their way through 615 acres of mixed forest!

Download And That’s Just What They’ll Do

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Desert Natural Area / Memorial Forest Reservation

gmertz — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:41:12 +0000

We took a hike on Wednesday of this week on a near by parcel of 615 acres that contained a variety of habitats. Activity by beavers has flooded some portions of the property creating swamps and marshes while other areas remain pitch and red pine forests.

Notably, the students were provided a map and a series of compass headings to follow and did not receive any guidance from the faculty. They were able to navigate the trails confidently and find their way back to the van with relative ease!

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

Click here for the original map from the Sudbury Valley Trustees or here for more information Desert Natural Area / Memorial Forest Reservation.

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pictures from the rock wall

gmertz — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:52:23 +0000

click on the thumbnail for a larger image

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ticks… not tickles

gmertz — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:36:57 +0000

Because we frequently hike in areas that are tick habitat, we have compiled a bit of information about the most common ticks in our area. Take minute to read and learn how to identify and protect yourself from these tiny parasites.

click here for information on Ticks

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Lost and Found

gmertz — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:13:20 +0000

Fun times navigating campus with a map and compass!

Download Lost and Found

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Staying Found

gmertz — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:31:00 +0000

This week focused on using a map and compass to stay found in the woods. We worked on orienting and reading a map, following a bearing, taking a heading from a map and taking declination into account. It was a pretty cerebral week with a significant amount of “class” time but the students got to put their skills into action into two orienteering courses around campus. On Friday, we headed over to Cowassock Woods and Ashland Town Forest where all of the directions were given in terms of compass headings. Folks experienced a few twists and turns but were able to find their way back to the trail head just in time!

click here to visit the Sudbury Valley Trustees site for a full map and information about this area

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maps of campus

gmertz — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:26:44 +0000

click here to see a brief document with information from Silva on how to use a compass

Above are some maps of campus to help you practice your map and compass skills. Use the checkpoints on third map to design your own course. Remember that the declination for this area is about 16 degrees west of true north.

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Orienteering

jmwoah — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:11:22 +0000

On Tuesday we started the orienteering portion of OA. We each recieved a compass and learned about how to use it. On Wednesday we put our new skills to the test where we were given bearings in either true north or magnetic north. If our bearings were given in true north we had to add 15 degrees for the declination. Starting in the center of the quad we used our first bearing and made a sighting to take us to either, the door of the Bottom Floor Boys common room, Ms. Duke’s office, the door to the theatre, the top of the hill on the quad, or two areas of the room building. At all these places there was a letter and the order of the bearings made a word. On Thursday we worked more on our orienteering skills; however, this time we worked all over campus, at each different place there was a word and once we found all of ther words the first letter of each spelled a new word.

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lashing challenge

gmertz — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:59:43 +0000

The Challenge: Create a free standing structure(s) that would allow the OA faculty advisors to safely climb up and through the 5′ hanging tire on the school’s ropes course. The students were only allowed to use staves and twine and had 40 minutes to design and build their idea. Click on the triangle below to see if they were successful!

Download Wrapping and Frapping

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Tippling Rock

gmertz — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:17:06 +0000

We went out to hike around Tippling Rock in Sudbury on Friday. The weather was clear and hot at about75 degrees! Accessing the area from Boston Post Road we traveled through the area taking note of the many new trails that have been added. In fact, we took a brief detour following one of these trails before quickly realizing that we were heading down the mountain instead of up! Once at Tippling Rock we were afforded great views… even seeing the skyscrapers of Boston to the East! It was a great hike and I think we all were happy to spend such a gorgeous afternoon in the woods!

Click on the thumbnail for the full size image

Click here for more information about hiking in this area.

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Times up!

mary — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:51:33 +0000

Today and on Tuesday, we had 40 minutes to make amazing shelters to live outside in On the first day (Tuesday) What did you think about your group’s structure? Was it rain proof? was it sturdy? Over all, was it a good shelter? And for the second day (today)- same questions!

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learning lashing

gmertz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:32:52 +0000

Download Welcome Home

Enjoy this photo montage created by one of our very own OA members by clicking on the triangle! He chronicles the construction of an A-frame shelter by the group just one day after learning the square and diagonal lashing!

Depending on the speed of your internet connection the video may take a minute to load.

Authored by gmertz. Hosted by Edublogs.

Tarp Time

mary — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:04:18 +0000

Today we learned all about how to use the tarp, and shear lashings too. but I’m going to talk about the tarps. What did you guys like the best about it? Do you remember it all? Comment please by answering those questions, and adding some other stuff that you want to say.

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Building a Shelter

sydney90 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:26:59 +0000

Last week we learned how to build a shelter using lashing and knotting techniques. It was really cool because we were able to actually take the skills we had learned and apply them to do something bigger than we could have ever imagined. The finished result absolutely amazed me. It was beautiful and could easily fit two people. What is even more amazing is that all we used was branches, leaves, sticks, and twine. The ending result was a sturdy structure. Though it took our group about an hour and a half to complete, it was worth it. I was disappointed when we had to take down our fort. I really wanted to keep it up to see how it could last through the weekend. Taking it down was a lot faster than putting it up. It was also a lot less fun. Untying lashes is NOT fun! Overall, it was a really cool experience. How many people can say that they built themselves a shelter using nothing more than sticks and twine?

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Wednesday’s hike

cpurcell — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:53:45 +0000

On Wednesday we took a hike to Cedar hill in Southborough.
it was a pretty good hike, best weather we’ve had so far, 60 and sunny, much better then the rest of our hikes where it was raining the entire time.
It was a fun hike but I personally wish that we could have more challenging hikes, instead of the types of hikes that people would tend to walk their dogs on.
I want to climb a mountain is what I’m getting at, but I guess that being in Southborough doesn’t offer to much as far a mountains go!

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better to know it and not need it than need it and not know it

gmertz — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:54:10 +0000

Download Heartsaver CPR

enjoy a brief video from our CPR Training by clicking on the triangle.

depending on your connection, the video may take a minute to load.

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CPR training

jmwoah — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:50:46 +0000

On Thursday we started out first day of CPR training, where we learned what to do if someone is choking. For example how to catch someone that has fainted, how to open up the air passageways, and the correct placement for the Heimlich maneuver. We watched a video and then practiced with our partners and the dummies. We were also given face masks to place over the person’s mouth when giving them oxygen, which makes the procedure a lot healthier. Hopefully we will never have to use these skills but it always helps to be trained in CPR.

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Heartsaver CPR

gmertz — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:49:17 +0000

We have spent most of the last week learning about how to perform CPR as part of the Heartsaver CPR in Schools program created by the American Heart Association. CPR is a truly important skill for everyone to possess and this program offered the students first hand experience with a talented instructor, the school’s own Ms. Davis, covering a variety of topics and scenarios from infant choking to AED operation.

Please take time to learn more about CPR and the potentially life saving benefits of being a trained individual. Learn more about the specific curriculum we followed here.

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another rainy hike!

gmertz — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:40:05 +0000

Download Callahan State Park

enjoy a brief video from our Friday Hike by clicking on the triangle.

depending on your connection, the video may take a minute to load.

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Callahan State Park

gmertz — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:46:44 +0000

Callahan State Park is located in Framingham and has 820 acres to offer! Despite another rainy and cold day, the intrepid group headed out with rain jackets, layers, and trail maps. The students took their first crack at navigating a trail system and keeping track of their location on the maps. We also took the opportunity to practice some Leave No Trace wilderness ethics and perform a bit of impromptu trail maintenance. After about an hour of hiking in a steady cold rain, we took a quick break for a hot drink under our tarp before the final push back to the vehicle. All in all, it was a good day! We had a chance to get outside, do some good work, and practice our developing skills!

Click on the thumbnail for the full size image

Click here to download the full map from the MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation’s website.

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Survival Bracelets

gmertz — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:16:45 +0000

Survival what? Yup, we made our own survival bracelets. Using 550 pound parachute cord, the students learned how to incorporate a side release buckle with a Portuguese Sinnet braid to create a totally functional and wearable bracelet. Though only 7 to 8 inches long (enough to fit around your wrist), each bracelet offers between eight and ten feet of rope when untied. This is a great way to make sure that you always have the cordage you need at hand for any situation!

Interested in making your own?

You will need about 10′ feet of parachute cord, scissors, lighter, ruler, and a side release buckle. You may also want to add a small compass or whistle to yours for increased functionality.

Check out some online instructions with pictures here!

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Rock Wall

afterthedeathofdavid — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon at the rock wall learning about cinching up our harness. I am so glad that I am friends with everyone in Outdoor Adventure. As some people know, I have a petrifying fear of heights. I was the last person to climb the wall and started to feel nervous as soon as I got to somewhere around the middle. I had to look down to get another foothold and suddenly saw how high up I was. There was always someone saying, “Come on, just one more move!” and that was my encouragement. I made it to the top and spent even more time trying to get myself to let go. Relief is almost as satisfying as an adrenaline rush and I am glad that everyone was there to push me to the top.
Thanks Everyone!

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The Climing Wall!!

jseigle — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:19:26 +0000

On Tuesday, we climbed on the climing wall. Although some of us were scared of heights, they conquered their phobia and made it to the top. We also learned how to put on the new harnesses. By the end of the sport day we where all proud of ourselves knowing that we had made it up the wall as high as we could or wanted to go.

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Friday hike

b0don0brad — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:35:17 +0000

Friday’s hike around Southborough was very fun. Even though we didn’t have the best weather it really showed me a lot about what outdoor adventure is about. When I first joined this activity, I was skepticle as to whether it was up to my standards in terms of exercise along with hockey and football, but I found it to be very physically demanding which made me very happy. It was a great hike and I can’t wait for next Friday!

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a beautiful world… rain and all!

gmertz — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:00:37 +0000

Download 40 degrees and blowing rain

enjoy a brief video from our Friday Hike by clicking on the triangle.

depending on your connection, the video may take a minute to load.

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Pictures from our first week

gmertz — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:50:02 +0000

click on thumbnails to view full file

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Friday’s Hike

afterthedeathofdavid — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:43:03 +0000

Friday’s hike was about two hours long. The weather was a slight drizzle, but it kept all of us from getting too overheated. I had never been on the trail before and I wish I had brought my camera. Oh well, there’s always next time. I’m glad that everyone seemed to have a good time!

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Sudbury Reservoir Trail

gmertz — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:36:25 +0000

We took our first “Friday Hike” right out our backdoor. The weather was cool at 38 degrees and there was a steadily drizzle. The students headed out after a quick check in for appropriate clothing. We hiked for about 2 hours and covered just over 4 miles. We arrived back happy, warm, and (more or less) dry!

Click on the thumbnail for the full size image

Click here to download the map from the Town of Southborough’s website.

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Spring Forward

gmertz — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:40:23 +0000

Download Introducing the Cast

enjoy this short video from our first gathering!

(just click on the triangle above to play the clip)

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Welcome!

gmertz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:52:50 +0000

Welcome to Fay’s pilot of the Outdoor Adventure program! Stay tuned for our first posts!

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