Getting hooked on nature

Getting hooked on nature

Ben Klasky

Rating: * * * *

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArhjLa4xbNk

With the modern world being as developed as it is, we often forget what the world really is, where we’re building all these roads, trains, airports, schools, houses, you name it. It’s all on earth, and technically it’s all in the wild. But in the modern day world, there is often no reason to go outside, ever. Everything can be reached by a car, or through a wire. There is never any reason to go outside. You could be completely self sufficient living in your house without ever having to leave you chair as long as you had a computer with internet, and money in a bank account. We musn’t forget the world that we’re using, the origins and environment in which our body is designed for.

The video explains just how lost out children can be from the daily active and outdoor life that our ancestors used to live. There is never any incentive to do anything outside, and our whole school system is involved around cities. The speaker explains how children that he has personally worked didn’t flinch while hearing a gunshot just down the street, but were terrified when hearing  a stick break far off in the woods. They’ve become desensitized to the life that they live in the city, and are often captivated by the wilderness that they’ve never experienced. He also explains that is almost like a disorder that many children have today, 8 hours of screen on average every day, and only 15 minutes outside. Where the outdoors is absolutely riddled with positive side effects and good mental growth, screen and the indoors is just showered in negativity. As obesity and ADHD rates rise, the time we spend outdoors quickly plummets. It’s a loop that needs to be broken, by something else that they can appeal to, if you can’t beat techonology, join it. Use geocaching  or apps to encourage your children to go outside and learn from the environment around us (what Ben Klasky suggests in the video).

The article does really hit home for me. I work with children every summer and they often ask me questions about an animal or a tree, or something related to the outdoors, which often seems as if it should be intuitive. I find it odd that these kids have never been in a tent, or away from a road, away from the city lights and noise pollution. They don’t really understand the true definition of silence and the beauty of the night sky. I take every opportunity I can to make sure I don’t end up in these very same situations. I know there is always more to experience in the wilderness, an unlimited resource that we have just outside our doors. It’s something that I know future generations will lack, as each day progresses we lose more and more knowledge and experience with the wilderness and become more and more entrapped in the dependency of technology and civilization. I truly believe it will quickly become a problem that many might face, and is a problem that I don’t want to be involved with. A problem that I hope to fix and help others with.

Get hooked on nature: Ben Klasky at TEDxRainer, Nov 9, 2013, B. Klasky. Produced by TED conferences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArhjLa4xbNk

Ted talk : why Environmental and Outdoor Education Matters

TED TALK: Why Environmental and Outdoor Education Matters - Maggie Gaddis
                       Rating: * *                                             By: Morgan Lundin

Everyone connects with nature in different ways. Some people enjoy planting flowers, some people enjoy hiking, most kids enjoy climbing trees… the variations are limitless. Although being outside may just be a way to kill time or to enhance the look of your outdoor home decor, some people use the outdoors to connect with nature and balance out problems in their lives through the force and peace of the beautiful outdoors.

In this TED Talk, Gaddis connects with the audience by using her own experience with nature to strengthen her character throughout her life. She explains that her turbulent childhood could often become tolerable by connecting with nature by visiting gardens, going on hikes, and sitting by lakes and rivers as they were peaceful and helped her forget about her life at home. This connection eventually led her to become an extremely active volunteer. The correlation of her connection with nature and her dream to help kids allowed her to reach out to adults and children within the organization she volunteers in by teaching them that we need to give back to nature. In her talk she states that people use the earth for so many reasons and in many cases we do not return the favour back to nature.

This presentation is relatable to our outdoor ed. class because we spend so much time in nature. After watching the video I realized that we do take a lot from the earth and don’t necessarily return the favour to the environment which is something outdoor education classes could look into doing more. With this being said however the severity in which she believes the importance of having a personal connection with nature is something not everyone agrees is important. The truth of the matter is that some kids go outside because their parents force them to and some people only go hiking because their spouse or friends want to.

YouTube,. 'Why Environmental And Outdoor Education Matter | Maggie Gaddis | Tedxyouth@Crestacademy'. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 June 2015.

Medical Miracle on Everest

A Ted Talk
by Ken Kamler

Rating: ****

This is an Ted Talk which I absolutely love. It not only tells the thrilling story of a paralyzed climber somehow making it back alive to camp 3 of Mount Everest, but it also gives a very detailed insight on the medical situation and on the risk & crisis management.

Ken Kamler is a doctor who took part in several expeditions to the summit of Mount Everest. One of those expeditions in 1996 ended in the most tragic disaster of the Everest's climbing history and Kamler happened to be the only doctor on the Mountain. While his Ted Talk is actually focusing on the power of the human mind to regenerate an exhausted body, Kamler is also giving a very detailed insight on medical condition and on the risk & crisis management.
In the beginning the audience learns of the general information about Mount Everest and the expedition. He also includes the different dangers that the Everest climbers have to face during their trip, and builds up to the storm and the miraculous survivor Beth Weathers.
Kamler supports his talk with great photos that give the audience a better idea of the circumstances on Mount Everest. The intense topic of his talk is eased with a little humour in the right places, so that one is walking out of it rather fascinated than terrified.

To me this was a super interesting and thrilling talk as it ties in with two topics that we covered in class. Additionally it gives me context about the medical conditions and the Mt. Everest itself. I learned that with a powerful will anything can be made possible, even the reversing of an irreversible hypothermia. This talk made me realize how important it is to believe in myself, when facing a difficult situation.

Kenneth Kamler, (2009,10), Ken Kamler: Medical Miracle on Everest
Retrieved from: https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_kamler_medical_miracle_on_everest

Ueli Gegenschatz: Extreme wingsuit flying -Ted talk

Ueli Gegenschatz: Extreme wingsuit flying

Clayton McWilliams

****

    Wingsuit jumping is one of the extreme sports being performed today. It’s an unimaginable experience but comes with a great risk of failure, which would most likely lead to death. These thrill seekers start by jumping off cliffs and sailing through canyons at speeds which can be more than 100 mph. In this Ted Talk, Ueli Gegenschatz talks about how and why he performs the sport of wingsuit flying, he also includes some outstanding video footage of him in the air.

In this Ted talk, Ueli explains the different types of skydiving he does. He takes part in skydiving and freefalling in which you jump out of a plane and do tricks in the air, he also does sky surfing which is free falling with a type of board attached to your feet and finally he does wingsuit flying which is flying with a type of suit with ‘’wings’’ attached to your arms and between your legs. He then goes on to talk about some of the things he has accomplished, he has jumped off famous mountains in switzerland and he even skydived off the eiffel tower. Ueli is hoping to set a world record for longest wingsuit flight. Ueli also explains that you have to be in top physical shape to take part in this sport and you also have to have the right equipment, it is not a sport to take lightly.

This Ted talk has inspired me to try new sports like skydiving for example because I believe it would be an amazing experience, it also taught me to set your goals high and don’t expect them to come easy for you, you have to train and practice to reach the highest level you can accomplish. This is a great Ted talk and I recommend you watch it.     

This Guy Punched an Alligator to Save His Son

Spring of 2013, Joe Welch, a commercial photographer, and his son, Joey who was six at the time were planning on going canoeing in a in the huge swamp, a 45-minute drive from their Pompano Beach home. The swamp is famous for alligators but before Joe planned the canoe trip, he did a little bit of research on what to do when encountering an alligator nearby. He is to use his paddle and bang on the canoe to scare the alligator away. Welch put sunscreen on his son and went to the canoe rental station which was less than 20 feet from the water’s edge. Then suddenly an alligator clamped on to Joey’s arm. Joe wrapped his left arm across his son’s chest and began pulling him back toward the bank. With his right hand, Joe punched the alligator’s snout as hard as he could. According to Joe the alligator didn’t even flinch. A young man in line at the canoe rental stand ran over and helped Joe free Joey. As Joe punched the alligator, the young man kicked the alligator’s belly. After three of four kicks the alligator released Joey and went back into the water. Joey only suffered only a few cuts and scrapes from his shoulder blade to his wrist and surprisingly there were no wounds. Joe tried to locate the man who helped free Joey, but only to find out that the man was a kickboxer from Spain who had been in the country visiting family.

Just by looking at the title I knew that this article would be interesting and worth reading. It was lucky of little Joey not have gotten any serious wounds form the alligator. I found it funny that the young man who helped beat the alligator up was a kickboxer from Spain. Joe was fortunate that he was in sight of other people and that other people helped him. If this had happened somewhere isolated the outcome might have been different. This was a really interesting article and I recommend people to read it.

References

Unknown, Author. 'This Guy Punched An Alligator To Save His Son'. Reader's Digest. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.

http://www.rd.com/true-stories/survival/punch-alligator-save-son/

Rare survival tale: Autistic man survives 3 weeks in Utah desert

Excellent****

An autistic man named William LaFever was lost in a Utah desert for 3 weeks. The reason William got lost was because someone had stolen his hiking gear while he was on a desert jaunt in the boulder area with his dog. His father had told him to get a ride to page, where the father lived, and come get some money. William instead went on a little hike down Escalante River and then went on a boat ride along Lake Powell to Page where his father lived. It had been almost a month since William’s family had last heard of him. The local sheriff just happened to do a course on rescuing someone with autism and knew that those with autism are naturally drawn to water so the rescue helicopter focused on the Escalante River. That’s where they found William LaFever  weak and unable to move who had been  scavenging bits of food, capturing  frogs and drank river water while attempting to walk the 90 miles from Boulder, Utah, to Page, Ariz. He walked 40 miles over three weeks before being rescued.

                This article was very interesting. It is difficult for someone to survive three weeks in a desert alone but on top of that someone who is autistic. I think this was a miracle and if William hadn’t followed the river he probably wouldn’t have been found and most likely would have been dead. In the article it said that William was is really bad shape when they found him. He was unable to walk without support and the rescue crew had said that he wouldn’t have been able to survive another day. I learned that it is important to make things clear and plan things out thoroughly especially with somone who is autistic. 

References

Unknown, Author. 'Rare Survival Tale: Autistic Man Survives 3 Weeks In Utah Desert'. latimes. N.p., 1997. Web. 16 June 2015.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/13/nation/la-na-nn-autistic-man-utah-desert-20120713

For These Kids, Life Won`t Seem As Tough A Climb

 Excellent****

A little different form the outdoor ed program at CW, Grand Haven Junior High School's intentions are   to teach kids about self-reliance, trusting others and overcoming fear. The article is about a 13 year old girl was stuck on the ledge of a rock for over an hour because she was afraid to climb up. The instructor wanted the girl to overcome her fear therefor she didn't help the girl down. She kept telling the student that was stuck that she was “looking for effort” There really is no reason to be scared because you are being supported by the harness etc... The student eventually fell down from the rock and everything was okay.  An intriguing question to outdoor ed instructors Diane Veneklasen and Ken Larson is when to stop pushing. The objective of their class is too push students and overcome fear but it's difficult for the when to stay tough or lay back.

This article taught me the outdoor ed teachers point of view and what kind of questions and problems they face. Although the objective in outdoor ed at CW are a little different the intentions are about the same. Both schools want cooperation and team work; they want students to overcome difficult obstacles too. Although I think that being stuck on a ledge of a rock for an hour because the person was scared to climb up is a little over the top, this article was interesting to read. Reading this article has truly inspired me to keep pushing myself when there are difficult obstacles and that there is always support around.

References

author unknown. 'For These Kids, Life Won`T Seem As Tough A Climb'. tribunedigital-chicagotribune. N.p., 1988. Web. 16 June 2015.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-01-10/sports/8803210430_1_ledge-climb-outdoor-education

Get Hooked On Nature- Andrew Murphy

Get Hooked On Nature

By: Ben Klasky

Rating: *****

This Ted Talk talks about how kids do not spend enough time outside, as well it talks about how not spending enough time outside can seriously affect you. Some positive effects by spending time outside include, your body will produce Vitamin D, lower the rates of heart disease, osteoporosis, MS and some cancers, lower obesity rates, more positive moods, lower anxiety, stress and depression, and you get better focus. Some of the effects include, less Vitamin D (naturally) high obesity and more kids are on Ritalin. He also talks about different stories about how kids get "on nature." He also says that kids on average get about 7 hours of screen time a day, countering that comment Ben says that he is making an application where you are sent on missions to go outside and you can rewarded with real life prizes. Ben hopes that with this application he can take those 7 hours and make kids spend that outside and not on a screen.

I really enjoyed listening to this Ted Talk as I learned quite a bit about being outdoors, and the positive and negative effects of being and not being outside. Although I do not spend all of my time outside I do spend some time outside and I do not spend 7 hours playing games. This Ted talk was also quite interesting by listening to the stories about how a girl was not afraid of hearing a gun shot but was afraid every time she heard a stick break because she didn't want to get eaten by a bear. This is funny because it shows how much time she spends in the city and not enough time out and enjoying nature. As well the application that Ben is making would be a really cool application to have and I would totally download it, but I am unsure if the application would work here in Canada and if it is out yet and i'm unsure of the name of it. Lastly this application is a great excuse to be outside and be on your phone, or Ipod at the same time. In conclusion, this was a great Ted Talk to listen to and I learned a lot and I recommend you listen to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArhjLa4xbNk

Talked by: Ben Klasky- Get Hooked On Nature

Uploaded, January 13th, 2014

active.com

A resource I found was a website called active.com.

This resource is great for all things active. It has articles, videos, and little tips and tricks for a variety of things. It has five main tabs, and multiple subsections within them. The main tabs are: Running and Sports; Kids and Family; Fitness and Health; Training; and Shop. Another thing that this website has that is fairly useful is that there is a search bar to find activities in your area. You simply type the city (ex: Nepean), and there will be a list of different races or activities in that area. If you search under the "Kids and Family" tab, then there are more family-oriented activities then if you were to search on the main page. There are also outdoors, hiking, and camping guides to look through. With the online store, you can browse through different equipment and order things if you want to.

http://www.active.com/

Monday, June 15, 2015

Ted Talk

James O’Keefe: Run for your life! At a comfortable pace, and not too far

 

Run for your life! At a comfortable pace, and not too far
By: James O’Keefe

Rating:  ****

In this “Ted Talk”, James O’Keefe emphasises the value of running as an effective exercise to maintain a healthy heart and weight and to ensure that you are retain mobility and flexibility as you age.  Mr. O’Keefe is 56 years old and he does not appear or sound that old.  He endorses what he believes – that running keeps you fit and healthy and can actually extend your lifespan – and he practices what he believes in. However, he states that pushing yourself too far and running too much can actually reduce your lifespan due to heart related problems.  James O’Keefe is actually a heart specialist and uses heart health statistics to back up his Ted Talk.

James O’Keefe demonstrates to us that too much running can actually reduce your life span and actually make you more prone to heart-related illnesses.  He explains that runners who consistently run long distances at an elevated pace damage their heart because of the stress that is put on it. He states that if runners continually do this, scar tissue and plaque will build up on the runner’s heart that can lead to heart disease and heart failure.  For example, he explains through the use of a “U” that the couch potatoes are on one end of the “U” and the over-achieving runners are on the other end of the “U”.  He then goes on to explain that anyone on either end of these extremities have a higher risk of health problems, while people in the middle of the “U”, are the ones who run or exercise in moderation and receive the greatest health benefits in life. 

I always believed that running more would improve my overall health and I have tried to constantly push myself to run faster and longer.  However, this video, Run for your life! At a comfortable pace, and not too far has taught me that my pace may actually be ideal and that I do not need to push myself to my limits to achieve the maximum health benefit.

 I would recommend this video to any runner or anyone who does vigorous exercise. This video might provide you with some important facts while also providing an interesting Ted Talk.

 

Citation:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6U728AZnV0r
Filmed at TEDxUMKC.  Copyright November 2012

Spencer Knowles

Poisonous plants and antidotes

Poisonous Plants and Antidotes - Jesse Trail
                       Rating: * * *

The enjoyment of outdoors can be easily interrupted by the hidden dangers in the wilderness; most often being camouflaged in the appearance as a plant. A fun trip can quickly become disastrous by picking the wrong berries, stepping in the wrong bush, or rubbing up against a random tree. These mistakes are made by many people when experiencing the wilderness and often don’t end well.

In this article Trail discusses the different types of poisonous plants, explaining their symptoms and antidotes. He also provides the places in which these said plants can be found in Canada. He begins by talking about the most well-known plants: poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. He then provides insights on the stinging nettle, canadian nettle, and yellow lady’s slipper which all contain small “stingers” that cause itchiness. Reluctantly enough Trail explains that although these plants cause animals and humans inconvenience, the antidote is usually found close by. He finally concludes the article with a few extra plants that people should look out for when embarking in the wilderness.

The article Poisonous Plants and Antidotes is good for our class as we spend so much time outdoors in the woods where these plants are found. Also, after reading this article, I learned that many of these poisonous plants are found in the woods around Cairine Wilson where we go to take part in class activities almost every day. By knowing which plants to watch out for and where to be cautious when taking part in our class activities, we can avoid people being put in uncomfortable situations after being presented with these plants during daily classroom experiences.

Overall this article had valuable information that everyone in our outdoor ed. class could benefit from knowing. If I were to change anything about this article it would be to provide more details about the antidotes so that the readers can be better prepared in case they do end up coming in contact with one of these poisonous plants.

Magazine, Explore. 'Poisonous Plants And Antidotes'. Explore Magazine. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 June 2015.

How not to get swept downriver to your death

How not to get swept downriver to your death - George Gruenefeld

Rating: *   *   *   *

In the article “How not to get swept downriver to your death” by George Gruenefeld, it explains 3 ways to help save your life and it gives an example of two people who didn’t know how to escape downriver streams and ended up dead.

The first rule is: play safe which explains the fact that you should use chest waders and proper boots (cleated are great). Carry a wading stick and wear a belt tight (to prevent water from rushing into your waders, and wear a vest or a CO2-inflated PFD. The second rule is: use common sense, which explains the importance of building your strength and stamina before taking your trip, and the fact that you don’t have to wade out to the top of your chest, rather cast that far and wade to your hips. The final rule is: save your own hide which explains that help may not be able to reach you in time so you need to know how to try to save yourself for example, if your feet are swept from under you just swim and swim and keep swimming.

This article wouldn’t be overly helpful in outdoor ed unless we were to take a fishing trip. However this is helpful for me in my life because I go fishing often with my family and have seen people get taken downstream. I didn’t know how to help them so put myself in that situation and I really wouldn’t know what to do plus I would be panicking. This article is ideal to beginners or people wading for the first time who may face a difficult situation in the water

Overall, this article presents 3 good points with explanations on how to survive if you ever get caught going downriver. It also describes a scary situation that could very well end up as someone’s reality, and eventual death.

Gruenefeld, George. 'How Not To Get Swept Downriver To Your Death'. Outdoor Canada. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 May 2015.

Get hooked on nature - TED talk

In this TED talk, Ben Klasky spoke about a rising issue. These days kids are constantly in front of a screen for hours a day. This is a problem because this is cutting from their time spent in the outdoors, despite its mental and physical health benefits! 

I really enjoyed this TED talk because it actually is addressing kids just like me. People my age including me are getting less and less time outdoors and it's becoming a problem. All of this screen time creates so many problems down the road. Although you may feel connected, you really aren't. You're isolating yourself from much greater things. You're missing out on so many opportunities life offers in the great outdoors. 

I think that this message is great because it is reality for many children of all ages. It is something that I am glad people like Ben Klasky are bringing awareness. Seeing this video, I am know motivated to change my lifestyle and spend more time outdoors as should others. 

Overall, after seeing this speech about the rising crisis of our generation, I am now realizing that the outdoors has so many benefits and it comes at no cost or side affects! 

Klasky, Ben. Get Hooked on Nature. Jan 13, 2014

Ted talk

Rating:****

Title: Why bother leaving the house?

Author: Ben Saunders

This Ted talk was a truly amazing 10 minutes of my day and was a great listen. Ben Saunders is a man that has done expeditions that some thought were impossible and is the ultimate in outdoor living. He spoke of his trips in the north and south pole. Ben gave examples of expeditions like his three month trip in the south pole and his soon to be four month trip with a team of three. He talked about why is important to be outside and enjoying what life has to offer. Ben also read a few quotes that were really powerful and made you think twice about what you're doing. He also talked about what drives people to do things like climb mount Everest, he said how it had no benefit but people wanted to do it anyone. He read a quote that said “because its there”, this quote really describe the human nature behind people climbing high mountains or taking month long expeditions into the wild. They don't do it because they think it well help them, they do it because its there and because its fun.

This Ted talk has inspired me to just get out of the house more often. I'm not under the impression that I'm going to go on a 105 day expedition in the south pole, but it makes me want to be outside and experience what life has to offer. Ben Saunders is an athlete beyond what I can ever achieve but he makes you realize whats possible and whats been done. I learned that the human body can endure so much more than we put it through on a regular basis and stopping because your tired isn't an excuse, the fact is that you're not mentally strong enough. I don't think this Ted talk will change my behavior only because he was talking about such advanced trips. I think its made me change the way i think about the outdoors and what is possible if you set your heart and mind to it.

Saunders, B. (2015). Why bother leaving the house?. [online] Ted.com. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_saunders_why_bother_leaving_the_house#t-90148 [Accessed 16 Jun. 2015].

SectionHiker: Hiking and Backpacking for Beginner's and Experts

Rating: *****

SectionHiker is your one stop shop for all things outdoor education.  Whether you’ve never taken a forest stroll or you make sure to keep up with your weekly solo Everest climbs, this resource will provide all the info you might need from beginner to expert levels.

The website acts almost as a sort of forum.  It’s got tons of users always posting new articles on different places around the world, simple gear reviews, tutorials, analyses, etc.  Clicking in is a great way to learn about new places to discover - locally or otherwise - get tips on the best gear for you, and find interesting tricks you never would have thought about on your own, but now can’t live without!  It’s also a great place to just be able to forum chat to a large database of people with similar interests to you and discuss with them on the matter of outdoor sports.

There really isn’t much else to say.  I know it sounds like I’m coming off somewhat biased and a bit too promotional, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I thought this resource genuinely was extremely helpful.  Usually when getting gear or looking for places to explore or new things to discover, a lot of searching is involved to find helpful “user feedback” so you can gauge if something really is up to par or not.  This resource eliminates that need for searching.  There’s a constantly expanding stockpile of reviews, threads, and articles just sitting there on just about anything outdoor activities related you might want to know.  Best of all, just like a regular forum, if there’s something you can’t find anything out about but want to, you can just ask users or even open up your own threads to discuss it.  Extremely helpful resource; won’t need to look many places elsewhere again.  Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.

http://sectionhiker.com/

resource

self reliance outfitters

the self reliance outfitters is a school that teaches how to survive in the outdoors. the school is owned by the well known survivalist dave canterbury who has been doing self reliance for many years aswell as hosted the show dual survival. daves school teaches a primitive to modern set of skills to help somebody become self reliant and survive in a life or death scenario. dave has tutorials for almost anything and gear reviews that point you in the right direction. dave also owns the store that sells the best of  survival gear from budget to not poor man friendly items. if its on the store its the best quality for the money

http://www.selfrelianceoutfitters.com

ben saunders why bother leaving the house ted talk

5/5

ben saunders is a polar explorer that is giving the answer to the question why bother leaving the house. his answer was along the lines of it being a rush and addiction. setting challenges and goals to ben is like a crack addiction , it is what he spends all his money on has lost relationships and his moms hates that he does it , his description. he states that many people just don't understand how great seeing a moment in the wild is that nobody else will ever see.

this ted talk showed me how valuable getting out and doing something is and the endless opportunities to explore ourselves.

Saunders, Ben. "Why Bother Leaving Your House." Youtube. Youtube, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 June 2015.

poisonous plants by wilderness survival

⅘ stars

this article is an in depth look at what plants are poisonous and how to avoid them. to start it states that the easiest way to not get sick from a mushroom is to not eat one seeing that mushroom identification is incredibly hard and you must be precise when identifying because one wrong guess is dangerous. it goes on to state the common causes of rashes and how to identify and avoid such plants.

this article is helpful to people that don't know how to identify certain plants as harmful but shows basic knowledge that many already know when it comes  to what not to do.

"Wilderness Survival: Poisonous Plants." Wilderness Survival: Poisonous Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 June 2015.

your gear should be the best you can afford by Gary Benton

⅖ stars

this article is talking about the importance of survival gear in the event that an accident or disaster strikes. the gear you own should not be anything of cheap or bad quality if your life depends on it. gear that is bad quality is an unnecessary risk. the best gear you can afford may improve the likely hood for survival during a natural disaster or accident.

i think this article is good however it specifies to use tactical gear for outdoor survival, where tactical gear is good in combat its not as specialized as a bushcraft or a knife like it.

Benton, Gary. "Best Gear You Can Afford." - Simple Survival. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 June 2015.

Are we born to run? - Christopher McDougall

RATING: ****

We are born to run with our right and left foot. We are born to show some a capability of compassion and competitiveness towards goals we endure and that everything we involve each individual in is always involving. We are born to evolve and be something greater than we once we were and we still are evolving to this day!

The TED Talk “ Are we born to run?” is about a 37 year old by the name Derartu Tulu who tries and helps Paula Radcliffe, an olympic gold medalist keep up in the New York City Marathon. Derartu Tulu pushes Paula Radcliffe once she begins to fall behind, and when she says she tells Derartu Tulu to go, she races past the lead pack and wins the race.  Christopher talks about the Copper Canyons of Mexico, where there's a isolated tribe called the Tarahumara who still remain unscathed by society for 400 years and are live unchanged, where they run 100 to 150 miles, where the conquerors of North America came, but they decided to run away and hide while the Aztec and Mayans fought. The Tarahumara have not at all been affected by modern diseases and all scientists are trying to figure out one answer, why? How were we able to find food without weapons all those years ago? These questions leads to what Christopher called us humans as “a pack of hunting dogs”, that we stick together and evolve from the ideas and influence we put on others to make one another think alike. This Ted talk informs people about recent addition of running and running injuries to our era The science we have learned up until today comes from our ancestors and how they were able to do something remarkable every day with their two feet to run distances.

The TED Talk “ Are we born to run?” is the only, but most interesting Ted Talk I have seen and reflected upon. It has affected me by giving me more knowledge about different tribes that existed and what they have done to survive and exist in society long ago “Are we born to run?” has made me think that I should be more curious about how the world works and that I should ask more questions to solve the mystery to the evolutions that have occurred. I learned from this TED Talk that you can be compassionate and caring at the same time and still win the race like the tortoise and the hare which is related to real life situations like Derartu Tulu and Paula Radcliffe. This TED Talk has inspired me to take the next step further and do something remarkable with my two feet just like everyone else around me is trying and doing new things day in, day out. It will make a change in my behavior to make me be determined and not let anyone better at different skills than me change my opinion on the way I view society or how I view the world/society in my generation in which I can make it a better place!

McDougall. Christopher. Are we born to run?. Youtube. February 4th, 2011. Web. July 2010.https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&v=b-iGZPtWXzE

Ted talk- Hilary Alexander

Rating: ****

Get Hooked on Nature

I watched a Ted talk about the benefits of being outdoors and how we should be encouraging kids to be outdoors more.

This ted talk was about how the great outdoors and nature is good for ones health. It explained that studies show that on average kids are getting less than 2 hours of outdoor activity per day and up to 7 hours looking at a screen. The speaker told stories of the positive effects that the outdoors has on humans physically and mentally. Stories of how he has worked with kids from the inner city helping them get in touch with nature and better themselves.
This ted talk was very interesting and made me think myself about how important it is to be outside and enjoy nature. The stories of the lives that nature and the outdoors was able to change for the better was amazing. The speaker got his message across very effectively using statistics and real stories making you want to appreciate the outdoors.
Klasky, Ben. Get Hooked on Nature. Jan 13, 2014

dave canteburys 10 c’s of survival

5/5 stars

Dave Canterbury is a well known survivalist that has proven his tricks and technique over the years on his show dual survival and in his pathfinder school which teaches the techniques he developed.

this article glances over the idea of 10 key components to survive in the wilderness. the first five are items that you should never go in the woods without and the final five make survival easier.

item 1 is a cutting tool for this its recommended to have a fixed blade knife. this is key to clean fish to splitting kindling. item 2 is combustion. something dependable to start a fire in a pinch Dave recommends you are redundant with combustion devices. the third c is cover which is something from a tent to a tarp that will keep you sheltered from the element if it happens to rain.the next item is a container. this can be used to hold water best if it is steel so it can be boiled on a fire to purify in a pinch. the last of the first five cs is cordage. cordage can be used to catch game in traps or fishing, can be used as a tornicate and can be use to put up a survival shelter.the final five cs are candle which is any source of illumination , cotton which is a bandanna , a compass , cargo tape , there is a million uses for duct tape and finally a canvas needle which can be used to repair clothes a shelter or remove splinters

this article is precise and says the importance of every item

Canterbury, Dave. "Dave Canterbury's 10 C's of Survival - Self Reliance Outfitters Blog." Self Reliance Outfitters Blog. Pathfinder LLC, 16 July 2013. Web. 14 June 2015.

TED Talk Reflection - Aidan G.

The Hidden Beauty of Pollination

By: Louie Schwartzberg

Rating:***

          Many people take pollination for granted because they don't realize or understand the true meaning of it. People think it's natural and that we're not involved. The problem with that statement is that we are a part of nature and by choosing to believe in excluding an aspect of the natural regenerating processes, could exclude ourselves from existence.   

          This was a short Ted Talk, briefly explaining the importance and true beauty of pollination. The speaker states how many people take pollination for granted. He thinks that beauty and seduction are natures tools for survival because we will protect what we fall in love with. This is an aspect of pollination. Pollination is the regeneration of life over and over again. It requires reproduction and this is where the beauty and seduction take their place in the role of survival.  Nature invented reproduction as a mechanism to move forward with life. He also states how humans depend on pollinators for over a third of all the fruits and vegetables we consume. Many people don't recognize this fact of nature and this is what causes them to take nature's capabilities for granted. 

          After watching this Ted Talk, I have really taken into consideration our role as human's in nature and how important we are to all the other biotic and abiotic components of our universe. We depend on each other to survive. Even I have realized that this is a much more significant topic for our survival than I thought it was. This has made me think about a much larger picture than just certain insects using "pretty flowers" to pollinate. It's made me realize that we are all links in the evolution of life. 

          I will definitely change my approach on how my behaviour affects natures cycle of life because I now understand that my actions are connected to the further results that can threaten the future of mankind. Even though we may be different species in the universe, everything is related to the regeneration of life. 

"Louie Schwartzberg: The Hidden Beauty of Pollination." YouTube. N.p., 9 May 2011. Web. 14 June 2015. 

The Health Benefits of the Great Outdoors

****

I found this article really interesting. Even though I knew that the outdoors had health benefits, I didn’t know there were so many.

The outdoors is a beautiful place. With that being said it can also be deemed as helpful for recovery of human illnesses, fight against cancer and boost your mood. The article mentions research by Professor Roger Ulrich who claims open areas can boost recovery after surgery or a major illness. They found that patients with a natural view needed less pain relieving medication, were more cooperative, and went home two to three days sooner than the group given buildings to look at. This is most likely because of the mental feelings of the patient. Knowing this, Professor looked into how the outdoors decreased stress levels. He again did a test and proved that nature reduced stress and tension. For cancer it isn’t so much the green space itself, but the need for wanting to go outside for a walk. Exercise is proven to decrease the risk of cancer, so going outside can be pretty beneficial.

This article was very educational for me and I really enjoyed it. This made me think about how beneficial and healthy the outdoors really can be. I now understand why I always feel good doing work outdoors. I go outside a lot, but I feel like knowing this I’ll go out even more, especially when I feel stressed.

Reference

Mail Online,. 'The Health Benefits Of The Great Outdoors'. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 June 2015.

Wilderness Leadership—on the Job

***

I enjoyed this article. It was a good story about how leadership. I think it will help a lot for people like me who need to work on their leadership and to start leading in a proper way.

Tori Murden  McClure is an amazing athlete who goes on many expeditions. She and other people have been in crises that leadership in reacquired. McClure mentions some of her first times going on trips and not being very prepared. Not setting a certain kind of rule or not knowing your group is a big problem, which Tori has had before. Although, these crises have taught McClure how to become a great leader. She learned five key principles practice leadership, lead from everywhere, behave well, keep calm, and disconnect to connect. This should apply directly to today’s business world. This article really emphasises how to become a leader anywhere. They talk about being a manager you sometimes have to let others do the work as well and lead if they need it. This will help make more leaders, which they believe we need more of in the world.

I think this article really showed how to be a leader and really put it into detail on what to do in certain situations. They say that not everyone is able to go out and lead in the wilderness, but the article really helps people who need to in the real world and I think everyone needs to learn. Although it was very helpful I feel like it was a little too long. There were many times where they would repeat themselves excessively, but other than that it was a educational read and I would recommend.

Reference

Harvard Business Review,. 'Wilderness Leadership—On The Job'. N.p., 2012. Web. 14 June 2015

Fat bikes a big hit with cyclists feeling the pain of Edmonton’s rough terrain

****

I really enjoyed this article about fat tires on bikes because it gives my family and me and activity we can do in the winter. My family loves biking, but always has to put them away for the winter. This article teaches me that we won’t have to anymore.

A man named Chris Hubick uses a fat bike for winter biking, but he later realised that it worked well for every season. This “fat bike” isn’t like the fat tires or more known as mountain bikes. These bikes are wide all around. This helps make room for giant tires that are purposefully squishy. This helps them float over snow, tree roots and beach sand. The bikes are very safe and stable, someone has even used his bike to pull his baby carriage. These fat bikes are very useful for people who have to bike to work and have to conquer potholes and gravel patches on the road. When they first started selling them they didn’t get such sold much. Most of them weigh up to 40 pounds. The good thing is that if they break they aren’t expensive and the parts can be replaced easily. Now word got out about these bikes and they’re selling way more than they used to. Chris Hubick says with enough muscle power you could go over anything with the fat bike. This bike has been proven by many that it’s a very good on or off road bike.

I really enjoyed this article because it really educated me about this bike and how it could  be helpful for people I know. My friend lives in an area with a lot of hills, but she really likes to bike round. It’s also easier for her to travel to work. This bike could really help her, so I can definitely recommend them to her.

Reference

Edmontonjournal.com,’Fat bikes a big hit with cyclists feeling the pain of Edmonton.’. N.p., 2015. Web. 13 April 2015