Introduction
Hiking the
Appalachian Trail
A WebQuest for Middle School Extreme Sports
Designed by
Coach Cynthia Moore
cmoore@baymeadowscharter.org
Introduction
You and your friends are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime; hiking the Appalachian Trail!
The Appalachian Trail was conceived in the minds of several men during the early 1920’s. This group of men put into action what would take over 15 years to complete. The Appalachian Trail covers 2,180 miles running from Alabama to News Brunswick Canada. It boasts a vast natural diversity, possibly one of the largest in the world.
The Appalachian Trail, or the A.T as most call it, runs through scenic woods and pastoral lands of 15 eastern states. Thousands of volunteers join forces each year to maintain the elaborate trail system, making them safe and accessible for the nearly 3,000 visitors who visit the trail each year.
Task
The Task
As the group leader, you have been tasked with planning this great adventure. When completed you will have a printed document to take to your friends which includes the following:
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Location of drop-off/pick up
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Number of total miles to travel
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Types of terrain you will encounter
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Lodging arrangements
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Proposed daily travel distance
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Passes/Fees
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Special considerations for the tail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Max Patch, North Carolina
By Matt Robinson, National Park Service
Process
The Process
To prepare for your journey you must have a trip plan. Follow these steps to create a personalized trip plan.
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Number of days of hiking
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Estimated number of miles to travel per day.
Daily miles = Total miles/number of days
Please type answers in into the chart. The box will expand as you type.
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2. Total number of miles to travel |
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3. Number of days of hiking |
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4. Camping locations |
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5. Estimated number of miles per day |
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6. Terrain |
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7. Fees & Passes |
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8. Special consideration |
After completing the chart, print it out and use the data to create a description of your trip to give to your friends. Be sure to include the names of others joining you for the journey, the time of year you will be traveling, the locations of the start and stop points, total number of miles you plan to hike, total number of days you will be gone, number of miles per day you plan to hike, where you will camp each night, the terrain you will encounter, fees and passes required and any special considerations you may have.
Evaluation
Evaluation
Describe to the learners how their performance will be evaluated. Specify whether there will be a common grade for group work vs. individual grades.
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Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
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Chart completed
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1-2 Items completed on the chart |
3-4 items completed on the chart |
5-7 Items completed on the chart |
All 8 Items completed on the chart |
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Realistic goals set for your journey |
Goals are unattainable |
Goals are extremely low or high |
Goals are moderately low or high |
Goals are achievable yet still challenging |
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Summary |
Summary is very brief with little details |
Summary has a few necessary details |
Summary has many necessary details |
Summary is complete, with all the essential details |
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Creativity |
Summary is dry and lacks excitement. |
Summary is dry and only slightly instills excitement. |
Summary is easy to read and generates some excitement. |
Summary is fun to read and excites the reader to want to join the adventure. |
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Through research, the student has a better understanding of the Appalachian Trail |
Student shows no knowledge of hiking the Appalachian Trail |
Student shows little knowledge of hiking the Appalachian Trail |
Student shows some knowledge of hiking the Appalachian Trail |
Student shows much knowledge of hiking the Appalachian Trail |
Conclusion
Conclusion
Upon completing this assignment you should have a better knowledge of what it takes to hike the Appalachian Trail. This vast trail system offers a lifetime of adventures. Check out the Appalachian Trail Guidebook , the National Parks Service, or the Appalachian Trail Homepage for more great information about this wonderful natural paradise.
Credits
Credits & References
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Thank you to my children,
Robert Benjamin and Emily
for their support
in putting this Webcast together.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Home. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home
United States. National Park Service. (2015, April 9). Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm
Appalachian Trail Home Page - Appalachian Trail. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://users.fred.net/kathy/at.html