Lesson Structure:   Bushcraft And Wilderness Activities BTR201

There are 10 lessons:

1. Understanding Wilderness Areas
   • Introduction
   • Living Things
   • Ecological Relationships
   • Climatic Zones
   • Climate/Soil/Vegetation Interrelationships
   • Plant Associations
   • Continental Drift
   • Understanding Impacts of Weather on Wilderness Activities – Highs and Lows, Thunderstorms, Atmospheric pressure changes in storms, guide to weather symbols.
   • Terminology
   • Participant Fitness Levels – testing current physical fitness and further tests
2. Equipment
   • Introduction
   • Equipping to survive – minimum essential items for the survival kit, additional items, individual medical kit
   • Essential Items for Wilderness Travel
   • Clothing
   • Nutrition
   • Food packaging
   • Liability and Insurance
   • Risk Assessment
3. Protection from the Elements
   • Introduction
   • First Aid Procedures
   • Hypothermia (exposure)
   • Hyperthermia (heat exhaustion)
   • Building a wilderness shelter
   • Lighting a fire
   • Mental strength
4. Natural Resources 
   • Introduction
   • Finding water – plan ahead to find water, how much water do you need?
   • Landscape vegetation and animal signs, things to avoid, making an above ground still, soakage water, water from tree roots
   • Case Study – Survival story
   • Bush tucker or Survival Food – Australian bush tucker foods.
   • Preparation of plant food.
   • Animals for food
   • Use of Bush Tucker Food
5. Navigation
   • Introduction
   • Navigation and direction finding – how to use a compass, map reading, longitude and latitude, scale, contour lines, estimating distances, pacing.
   • Navigation by the sun, moon and stars
6. Dealing with Emergencies
   • Introduction
   • Venomous creatures – snakes – symptoms of a poisonous bite, first aid, arachnids – first aid, marine creatures – jelly fish, cone shell, first aid, scorpionfish, lionfish and stonefish – first aid, other dangerous marine creatures.
   • Carnivorous mammals – bears, big cats
   • Poisonous plants
   • Bushfires  
7. Camping
   • Introduction
   • Setting up camp
   • Camping – different styles of camping
   • Successful camp programming
   • Waste disposal
8. Passive Land Based Activities
   • Introduction
   • Observing nature
   • Orienteering
   • Environmental activities for children
   • Plant collection 
9. Water Based Adventure Activities
   • Introduction
   • Some water-based activities – snorkelling, scuba, sailing, speed boating and jet skiing, canoeing, white-water rafting, water skiing. 
10. Active Land Based Adventure Activities
    • Introduction
    • Activities – abseiling, hang gliding, rock climbing, snow skiing, snowboarding
    • Motorised Vehicles – landscape impact, safety, considerations
    • Mountain Bikes
    • Horse Riding

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Learning Goals: Bushcraft And Wilderness Activities BTR201

• To appreciate the scope and implications of ecotourism opportunities in wilderness areas.
• To be able to prepare for an excursion into a wilderness area
• To determine appropriate methods of protecting against the elements.
• To determine different uses for natural resources in the wilderness.
• To be able to navigate in a wilderness area using a variety of different techniques.
• To deal with a range of emergencies in a wilderness situation, including developing contingency plans and determining appropriate first aid.
• Explain campsite establishment and management.
• Determine appropriate procedures for managing different passive wilderness activities.
• Determine appropriate procedures for managing different water based wilderness activities.
• Determine appropriate procedures for managing different active wilderness activities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
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Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
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Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?

A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.