Outdoor Resources

Instructor: William Houston, Jr.

Outdoor Resources instructor Bill Houston comes to the classroom with more than 20 years of guiding experience throughout North America and in Europe. He has fifteen years of teaching experience, as well as a degree from the University of Maine at Orono in Sociology and further studies in education at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Mr. Houston believes that:

• self-esteem is the greatest gift that can be given to a student
• self-esteem is earned through success, achievement and skill development
• education is the key that unlocks the door of possibilities
• learning should be enjoyable
• effective communication is the most important skill to possess and the most difficult to obtain

Mr. Houston aims to have a long-term impact on his students by teaching skills they can use when they graduate and inspiring them to pursue excellence in their lives.

WHAT IS OUTDOOR RESOURCES?
This two-year course is designed to prepare students to work in the natural resources and outdoor recreation industries. It can also prepare students for further education.

Using a “hands on” approach, students acquire practical skills ranging from rafting and canoeing to forestry and surveying. But Outdoor Resources is much more than that: students have the opportunity to acquire critical job skills in areas such as leadership, communication, problem solving and decision making.

These are skills that can be transferred to virtually any career, and they are also the skills necessary to be successful anywhere in today’s quickly changing workplace.

Outdoor Skills
• basic camping skills
• trip planning
• nutrition & ration planning
• equipment & clothing
• weather
• map & compass
• travel techniques

Whitewater Rafting and Canoeing
• guiding
• whitewater safety & rescue
• guest relations
• wilderness leadership
• river running

Wilderness Emergency Procedures
• basic first aid
• CPR
• wilderness rescue
• river rescue
• safety & risk management

Adventure Activities
• high ropes course
• low ropes course
• games & initiatives
• team builders

Leadership
• decision making & problem solving
• expedition behavior & group dynamics
• environmental ethics
• communication skills
• teaching, processing & transference
• teamwork

Other units of study include conservation, forestry, surveying, management training, canoe building, snowshoe construction and global positioning systems.

The Future is Yours

Next year when we are
Canoeing!
Rafting!
Hiking!
Learning!
Leading!
Doing!
Where will you be?
Join Us!

For more information about the Outdoor Resources Program,
please contactyour guidance counselor or,

Skowhegan Regional
Vocational Center
61 Academy Circle
Skowhegan, Maine 04976
Tel: (207) 474-2151
Fax: (207) 858-4879