This weekend after I finished spring cleaning at home by eliminating all the non-essential items, I attended an Outdoor Skills Workshop sponsored by ADK 46-ers at the Adirondak Loj in Lake Placid.   It was an intensive weekend workshop designed to train individuals involved in leading groups (e.g. Camp counselors, Y-leaders, scout leaders, 4-H leaders, recreation personnel, teachers) on wilderness camping trips.   Topics covered included:  Pre-trip planning and safety; food planning and packaging; campsite organization and safety; meal preparation and safe use of stoves;  map and compass; group leadership;  wilderness emergencies and how to respond to them; appreciation of the Adirondack environment; geologic history of the region; evaluation of proper clothing and equipment; cooking/baking in the out-of-doors; leave no trace; camp leadership training; establishing a campsite; nature, folklore and history of the Adirondacks.

We began the weekend on Friday evening by organizing the 50+ participants into cooking groups (1-6) and performing six socialization games.

1. Walking as a group.  We had to step onto red and blue boards outfitted with ropes and then walk by alternately lifting on the ropes and picking up our left & right feet.  Once we reached our goal the organizer had us reverse every other person and return to our origin.  Alternatively he said he had done the exercise by prohibiting conversation.
2. Stump swap.  Everyone counted off (e.g. 1-6) and then mounted an equal number of stumps.  Participants had to change places on the stumps without touching the ground.  As a group we benefited by choosing large stable stumps, however we were told we could have re-aligned our stumps (side by side or in a circle).
3. Half pipe ball transfer.  Each member of the group was given a 12″ section of plastic pipe cut length-ways in half.  We were given the task of moving a ball 20′ to a deposit in a bucket.  The ball rolled along each section of 1/2 pipe and was transferred to the next member in the line.  Each person couldn’t move their feet, however, we could move our arms.
4. Cross the Amazon.  Our group of six was given 5 carpet squares and had to cross the “Amazon River” without touching water and pick up all the squares after crossing.
5. 1-30 Punch cards.  We surrounded a circle with 30 numbered index cards.  One person was allowed to stand in the center of the circle.  As a team we counted to 30 by touching each card in turn.  Our time improved each time we performed the exercise including our final time when we counted down from 30.
6. Nuclear waste removal.  A #10 can contains two tennis balls simulating nuclear waste.  The group is given a bungee cord attached to 12+ ropes.  By pulling on the ropes the bungee loop is maneuvered over the can and then by pulling on two opposing sides the bungee grasps the can such that it can be picked up and carried to a ‘disposal’ site.  By reversing the sides one of the team members can tip the can to dump the nuclear waste into the disposal buckets.

Each of these exercises emphasized  communication, group role definition and team work.

Friday evening concluded with a humorous talk from retired DEC Ranger Peter Fish who regaled with stories of rescues and reviewed the items in his day pack.  We finished at 10:30pm and retired to lean-tos and tents.

Saturday morning we met for breakfast at 7am and began our program at 8:30.

Introduction to Trip Planning and Route Finding.  Frankly this session was painful.  It was a long lecture.  It was drizzling and cold. At the end the speaker stated that lectures were the worse way to transfer information.  We broke into small groups and I participated in a Map and Compass group exercise.

We climbed nearby Mount Jo where we heard discussions of on Wilderness Emergencies, Geology of the Adirondacks, and the Adirondack Environment.  After descending Mount Jo we witnessed a base camp cooking demonstration using reflector ovens, dutch ovens and the stove top Backpackers Oven.  We cooked our own dinners and then rejoined to hear sessions on food planning and preparation, Leave No Trace, and a High Peaks Slide Show.

Sunday we again met at 7am for breakfast.  Our morning sessions included: Adirondack Flora, Folklore of the Adirondacks (Noah John Roundeau), more Map & Compass, Equipment Evaluation put on by two EMS employees, Organizing an Outing Club, and Adirondack Routes and Trip Planning.  I was able to attend the three sessions in bold text.   Finally there was a short demonstration on hanging a bear bag.

We finished at noon and completed course evaluation sheets, had lunch and then received our t-shirts and diplomas. A large group and individual cooking group pictures were taken.