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Whitewater Rafting Lesson Plans
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Online Viewing Quiz
- On what river did the Moore family go whitewater rafting?
- Where did the guide tell the family to sit in the raft?
- How did the guide tell the family to jump into the water?
- According to Dr. McKrell what are the two most important pieces of safety equipment for whitewater rafting?
- The Youghiogheny River is considered an intermediate to advanced river or a grade 3-4. What does that mean?
Answers
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- The Youghiogheny River (Lower) running through southwestern PA is the location for the Outdoor Family Adventure.
- Rafters must sit on the edge of the raft to go whitewater rafting safely.
- Because of the large number of rocks, rafters should always enter the water feet first.
- A securely buckled life jacket and a helmet are the two most important pieces of safety equipment.
- Whitewater Rivers are rated on a 1-6 scale. Grade 1 is very easy with a few bumps and ripples on the river. Grade 2 is easy with some obstacles but they are easy to paddle through. Grade 3 is medium. The rapids still have clear passages, but are not suggested for beginners. Grade 4 is difficult. The river will have long and hard rapids with many obstacles. The waves are strong and irregular. Grade 5 is very difficult. These rivers have big drops, huge waves, lots of obstacles and a violent current. Grade 6 is unnavigable (that means do not try it!) These rivers are nearly impossible to run. They are dangerous and life threatening.
History
PA Academic Standards - 8.1.3 D
Humans have been riding rivers for years, the difference between the earliest riders and rafters of today is that no one rode the rivers just for fun. Using the Internet or a white water rafting resource book, see if you can answer the following historical questions:
- The earliest rafts were made from what materials?
- Native Americans used hollow logs or "dugouts" as what?
- Early explorers were searching for a way to get across North America by boat using the rivers. They called their idea the Northwest Passage. One of the most famous trips to find the Northwest Passage was taken in 1809 by two explorers. Can you name the explorers? Unfortunately, they found out there was no Northwest Passage.
- True or False? Early American settlers used rivers as highways to get around.
- After World War II, army supply stores started selling leftover rubber life rafts. Can you guess what people did with the rafts?
Answers
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- reeds or logs tied together
- canoes
- Lewis and Clark
- true
- rode the rafts down rivers for fun
Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening
PA Academic Standards - 1.1.3 F
Every sport has it's own "language". And every time you learn about a new activity, there are usually new words that are unfamiliar to you. By learning the new words used in the activity, you will be able to better understand the activity. The following quiz uses some of the whitewater rafting terms you may not know, see if you can match the word to the correct meaning.
- A bucket used to remove water from the raft.
- A vest that floats.
- A place in the river where the water is calm.
- Trees and other obstacles on a river.
- A bend in the river.
- Wide part of a river that exposes many rocks.
- Fast moving part of a river. Waves and obstacles are present.
- eddy
- rapids
- strainers
- shallows
- life jacket
- bailing bucket
- dog leg
Answers
Show/Hide
- Eddy = 3
- Rapids = 7
- Strainers = 4
- Shallows = 6
- Life jacket = 2
- Bailing bucket = 1
- Dog leg = 5
Now, see if you can write a short story or poem about kids your age going on a wild whitewater rafting adventure using some of the new vocabulary you just learned.
Geography
PA Academic Standards - 7.1.3 A
Whitewater rafting is growing in popularity all over the world, you can choose just about any region of the globe and find a river suitable for whitewater rafting. Using the Internet, and your imagination, you can choose a river and design an adventure anywhere in the world (even if you never plan to set foot in a raft). Think about how much fun you would have riding down a river in a foreign land or maybe right here in the United States. The following web sites will allow you to choose a region (on a world map or just in North America), select a river and build your own adventure, even if it is just for fun!
www.e-raft.com
www.intraftfed.com
Environment & Ecology
PA Academic Standards - 4.1.4 A-E
After selecting a river to explore, choosing a guide to lead you and learning all of the water safety rules, there is still one important rule to learn. You must always treat nature with respect. Rivers and streams are home to many different kinds of plants, wildlife, fish and insects. You are a guest in their home. Using the Internet or your science textbook see if you can answer the following environmental questions and explain why it is important to respect nature.
- Why should you gather up all trash after picnicking or camping outdoors?
- Why should you only camp in approved locations?
- Can you name the different types of water environments?
- Can you name any of the fish or insects common to a local river?
- Explain why water moves.
- What impact could building a dam have on a rivers' habitat?
- How could you and your friends get involved in protecting an endangered environment?
Learn Even More About Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting web sites:
www.awa.org
www.bbxrafting.com
www.wildernesstrips.com
www.earthriver.com
www.rafting.com
Resources Used
White Water Rafting by Marty Nabhan, Capstone Press Inc. copyright 1991
Whitewater Rafting by Graeme Addison, New Holland Publishers copyright 2000
The Complete Whitewater Rafter by Jeff Bennett, Ragged Mountain Press copyright 1996
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