Nanuq Winter Adventures

Nanuq Winter Adventures offers students an opportunity to explore winter recreation and winter ecology from the comforts of their own schoolyard.  This unique program helps to boost participants’ confidence in their outdoor skills, develop healthy exercise habits, and foster environmental stewardship.

Nanuq Class Offerings Include the Following Class Sessions

Cross-Country Skiing

Fire Quest

Orienteering

Owl Study

Snowshoeing

Winter Ecology & Climate

Winter Survival

Learning Objectives for Nanuq Winter Adventures Classes   

Cross-country Skiing

Objectives:  At the end of this program students will be able to

• Identify the different parts of a ski.

• Know the difference between several types of skiing.

• Be exposed to and enjoy a winter recreational activity.

• Develop a winter recreational skill.

FireQuest

• Identify and demonstrate proper fire safety.

• Identify the three needs of fire: heat, oxygen, and fuel.

• Identify three types of fuel: tinder, kindling, and logs.

• Be introduced to several methods of creating a spark.

• Build and light a fire using one or more fire structures and spark techniques.

• Learn about fire’s positive and negative impacts on the environment.

• Demonstrate low impact wilderness cooking fires.

Orienteering

• Identify parts of a compass.

• Identify parts of a topographic map.

• Orient a map using the appropriate magnetic declination.

• Demonstrate the ability to find and follow a bearing.

• Apply compass skills to navigate an introductory orienteering course/activity.

Owl Study

At the end of this program students will be able to

• Define adaptation.

• Identify several adaptations that help Alaskan owls survive.

• Identify the owl’s function in the food chain.

• Understand the mechanics of owls’ digestion and why owls create pellets.

• Dissect owl pellets.

Snowshoeing

• Introduce students to the use of snowshoes.

• Learn the history of snowshoes.

• See examples of several different types of snowshoe.

• Improve winter recreational skills.

Winter Ecology and Climate

• Define winter ecology.

• Identify the cause of winter.

• Have a basic understanding of how frozen precipitation is formed.

• Discuss how winter effects the physical environment (plants & animals).

• Identify several winter adaptations for animals. 

• Understand climate change and energy conservation.

• Receive the 3-2-1 pledge from AYEA.

Winter Survival

• Identify the signs, causes and prevention of hypothermia.

• Identify proper and improper Alaskan winter attire.

• Understand the Rule of Threes (the key to survival).

• Build survival shelters.