Approximately 7 million people visit the White Mountain National Forest annually. Many of these hikers are unprepared for the terrain and weather and call 911. Visitors also impact the forest by increasing erosion and trampling off-trail flora. We conducted 11 interviews with search and rescue responders and Wilderness educators to identify both issues within the forest and effective teaching methods. Then we created lesson plans about the 10 Essentials and Leave No Trace principles that the United States Forest Service can use in the classroom or on a trail. The lesson plans include 14 interactive activities, adaptable for different ages, to help reduce hikers’ impacts on the environment and improve hiker preparedness and safety.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Poulos, Peter
• Chraplak, Camren
• Clark, Ainsley
• Beirne, Katelyn

Subject

• Well-Being
• Environment
• Project-Based Learning
• Sustainability
• Community
• Learning
• Inclusion

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 114021
• E-project-101223-170004

Keyword

• lesson plans
• hiking
• environmental stewardship
• safety
• backcountry education

Advisor

• Dehner, Corey
• Tuler, Seth

Year

• 2023

Center

• White Mountains, New Hampshire Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Michael Benson

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 4 - Quality Education

Date created

• 2023-10-12

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-101223-170004

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-12-04