Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Recreation
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Go the Distance! 27
Self-Check 30
Wrap Up 30
Bibliography 31
Glossary 32
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GRADE 12|Physical Education and Health
UNIT 7
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Individuals who live a busy life coping with the daily routine and stress from work, school,
and personal life often wait for holidays, weekends, and long vacations to take a break
from their fast-paced lifestyle and engage in fun activities and traveling.
During a break from the regular schedule, Filipinos usually travel to the countryside to
enjoy nature and landscapes. Individuals engage in various types of ecotourism activities,
and this is why ecotourism activities have gained popularity worldwide in recent years.
The Philippines, from north to south, is a land of natural scenery that provides excitement
to individuals visiting the place and offers a wide range of outdoor activities.
Some of the most exciting and adventurous outdoor recreational activities in the
Philippines are caving adventures in Langun-Gobingob Caves, hiking in Mt. Pulag, surfing
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in Siargao, whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro and Kalinga, sandboarding in Paoay,
paragliding in Sarangani, skydiving in Bantayan Island, and shipwreck diving in Coron.
The following units will discuss the outdoor recreational activities offered in different
parts of the Philippines. This information will allow us to know and appreciate what the
country has in store.
Learning Targets
In this unit, you should be able to:
● discuss the nature of different recreational activities;
● help educate and guide recreationists in sustainable minimum impact practices
that mitigate or avoid recreation-related impacts; and
● explain how to optimize the energy systems for safe and improved performance.
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The outdoors can have two states: natural or seminatural. The interference of human
activities in natural space leads to a seminatural state, where apart from a few changes,
nature retains most of its features.
Here are some reasons why people engage in outdoor recreational activities:
● for personal pursuits: taking photographs and capturing natural beauty, hiking Mt.
Pulag, white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro, caving adventure, skydiving,
paragliding, or enhancing one’s fitness level
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Let’s Warm Up!
Students will watch a video clip on bird watching, caving or spelunking, camping, and
snorkeling. (Note: The teacher will provide the video.)
Observe the people in the video, then answer the following questions based on your own
opinion:
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Learn about It!
Free time is defined as the time an individual has after engaging in existence and
subsistence time. At this time, an individual does activities that suit his or her interests.
Some individuals like to relax, rejuvenate, or engage in outdoor recreational activities.
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Recreational activities depend on an individual's interests, and these become a source of
contentment and happiness. Recreational activities such as picnics, get-togethers, walking
pets, or jogging are usually done outdoors where open spaces are utilized.
"Green space" is now being replaced by the term "screen space” because most people
spend their time using electronic gadgets. Spending time outdoors engages a person in
different kinds and levels of physical activities that can prove to be a significant distraction
from devices. These physical activities help develop musculoskeletal structures, improve
cardiovascular fitness, and enhance the functional abilities of the body's defense system
to fight against diseases and infection. Outdoor recreational activities can have varying
levels of intensity. These allow an individual to remain active and provide a wide range of
benefits to physical health, such as preventing or reducing obesity, enhancing the
immune system, reducing the risk of developing diseases, and promoting longevity.
[1]
The following is a guideline obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) that defines general
physical activities by the level of intensity
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Moderate activity is within the Vigorous activity is Greater than 6.0
range of 3.0 to 6.0 METs* METs*
(3.5 to 7 kcal/min) (more than 7 kcal/min)
• moderate or brisk walking at speed of • race walking at a speed of 5 mph or
3–4.5mph, such as walking to class, faster such as jogging or running,
walking a pet, walking for staying active climbing briskly up a hill
• hiking across country, roller skating at a • backpacking
leisurely pace • mountain climbing, rock climbing, and
• bicycling with level terrain or few roller skating at a fast pace
hills at a speed of 5–9 mph • bicycling with steep up-hills at a
• high impact aerobic dancing and speed of more than 10 mph
aquatic aerobics • high impact aerobic dancing and water
• dancing such as modern dancing, jogging
and folk dancing • energetic folk dancing and square
• light calisthenics, yoga and home dancing
exercises • calisthenics including push-ups and
• swimming with recreational purpose pull-ups, jumping rope
• water adventures such as snorkeling, • steady paced laps while swimming
surfing(board and body), waterskiing, • water adventures such as kayaking in
kayaking on calm water bodies, whitewater rapids and canoeing or
canoeing or rowing at less than 4mph, rowing at 4mph or more speed
and sailing • horseback riding involving galloping,
• general horseback riding, saddling or jumping, or playing polo
grooming a horse
*MET: The ratio of the metabolic rate of work to rest. One MET is defined as the energy equivalent to the energy cost of
sitting quietly. An MET is also defined as oxygen uptake. An adult has 3.5 ml of oxygen uptake per kilogram of body
weight per minute (3.5ml/kg/min), which is defined as one MET. One MET is 1.2 kcal/min for a 70 kg individual. A 2-MET
activity needs twice the energy cost of sitting quietly.
[1]
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/pdf/PA_Intensity_table_2_1.pdf accessed April 6, 2018:
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Psychological and Emotional Benefits
Nature is the best cure to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress, as it distracts, calms,
and puts the mind at rest. According to Kuo and Sullivan (2001), the natural environment
and stimuli such as green plants, forest landscape, and diverse species of animals distract
and engage the mind effortlessly.
Lastly, outdoor recreational activities are vital to personal growth and spiritual well-being.
These activities put emphasis on the well-being of the mind, body, and spirit. It quiets the
mind and allows an individual to discover the inner self, develop an understanding of
one’s self, enhance the ability to hear one’s inner voice, and create new behaviors and
identities. With these activities, they identify their characters, such as who they are when
doing a certain activity—as a biker, as a diver, as a mountaineer, or who they are at work,
and a social being.
Social Advantage
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Spending time outdoors increases interaction with different kinds of people. It allows
opportunities for bonding with people sharing similar interests and passion for outdoor
recreational activities. Indulging in such activities helps develop friendship and allows
community development with a holistic approach.
Another quality that an individual can develop from participating in outdoor recreational
activities is stewardship. Participating in outdoor recreation allows individuals to develop
an understanding, knowledge, and appreciation for all the resources nature provides
humankind. This sense of familiarity and appreciation enables individuals to understand
the grave repercussions of every action against nature. This motivates individuals to take
care of the natural environment and contribute to its conservation.
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levels of skills. However, physical fitness is necessary to perform the movements. For
instance, hiking requires an individual to be in tip-top shape to be able to cover long
distances of strenuous activities.
Some students fill their time with schoolwork. This sometimes leads them to compromise
their sleep. Sleep is essential, as it provides rest to the body and mind and allows them to
work efficiently. Lack of sleep, which affects the hormonal system controlling appetite,
consequently affects eating behavior. Therefore, a sleep-deprived person develops an
increased appetite.
Fitness depends on both sleep and eating habits. A proper amount of sleep and a
balanced diet are factors that greatly affect one’s health and fitness.
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Consider the following areas of assessment when looking into your established eating
habits or how you have been eating:
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✔ Do you feel the necessity to eat food in order to enjoy
watching a movie or sports event?
Food, quantity, eating patterns, and behavior influence health and fitness and allow the
body and mind to perform activities and tasks in day-to-day life. It is essential to practice a
proper eating schedule and maintain discipline every day.
● A study done by Laksa et al. (2014) revealed that regularity in having meals such as
a timely breakfast and dinner leaders to building a healthy dietary pattern. Excess
hunger leads to overeating. This can be prevented by eating food regularly and on
time. The place where one eats also influences one’s eating habits and
consequently health and fitness. Eating in areas other than the dining table, such as
at a computer table or in front of the television, distracts an individual by fixing his
or her attention on the computer or television, which causes the individual to be
unaware of the quantity of food he or she has already consumed.
● In a study, Robinson et al. (2013) revealed that individuals who tend to be distracted
while eating tend to consume 10 percent more calories compared to those who are
not distracted while eating. At a later meal, the distracted individuals also eat 25
percent more calories.
Some individuals crave particular foods. These individuals eat for pleasure instead of
hunger. Food craving is caused by several factors, such as blood sugar level. Such kind of
cravings can be controlled by monitoring and regulating the blood sugar level. It is
recommended to avoid sugar, sweets, and processed food in one’s diet. Exercise can also
help in maintaining a proper blood sugar level. Some individuals consume food to find
comfort when they are stressed out. Food cravings and emotional eating can be avoided
by seeking refuge in other alternatives such as engaging in chitchat with family or friends
or participating in physical activities or sports.
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Apart from considering and improving eating patterns, the quality of food consumed, and
the sleeping hours to stay healthy and fit, an individual should think of ways to improve
fitness and live a healthier life. Outdoor recreational activities provide a number of health
benefits, improve fitness, relieve stress, and make individuals feel rejuvenated.
1. Outdoor recreation involves much physical activity, but it does not require
one to have an athletic level of skills to be able to participate.
2. One of the physical benefits of outdoor recreation is being able to spend
time outdoors, which allows one to meet and interact with others who share
the same passion.
3. Outdoor recreations refer to organized activities that may be participated by
individuals during their free time. Reasons for participating in such vary, but
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the most common is for individuals to have interaction with an element of
nature.
4. Trekking Mt. Pulag, white water rafting at Chico River, surfing in Siargao, or
bird watching at Candaba Marsh are examples of indoor recreation.
5. Outdoor activities do not require an individual to be physically fit.
Activity: Choosing an Appropriate Outdoor Recreational Activity for Fun and Health
Benefits
1. During a break from your routine, what outdoor recreational activity would you like
to try? Why and where would you try this activity?
2. Would you like to be with someone while trying it? If yes, whom would you like to
do the activity with?
3. List down the benefits you can get from trying this activity.
4. Perform a thorough study, research, surf on the internet, and read blogs about the
activity you would like to try. Print and paste a picture of the activity from the
internet, and write something about it below the image.
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Winning Moments
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coastline in the world. The natural environment of this country offers countless natural
resources and allows outdoor recreational activities on land, water, and air.
The land, water, and air in the Philippines offer a platform for many outdoor recreational
activities for people to engage in, some of them mentioned below:
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Mountain biking: the Whitewater rafting: using an
off-road cycling in rough inflatable raft to navigate a
terrains water body
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Exposure to the natural environment and engaging in outdoor activities promotes
wellness, encompassing the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual state
of an individual, thus improving the quality of life of an individual.
Directions: Imagine that you had a guest in their house who ate all the food, left trash on
the floor and dirty dishes in the sink, then walked on the carpet with dirty shoes. How
would that make you feel?
Connect that feeling to our responsibility to treat animals’ homes with respect when we
visit their home.
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Learn about It!
The seven principles, taken from the official website of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
Ethics (https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles accessed June 15, 2015), are as follows:
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It is recommended to check if you have the required tools and
skills to engage in the activity you desire.
Prevent the building of new campsites and trails. Instead, use the existing grounds and
routes to avoid further alteration of the natural environment. The places where the
impacts of human activities are beginning to emerge should be avoided for camping and
picnic. Concentrate on walking on the existing trail in a single line to prevent erosion.
Campsites should be small, discreet, and built 200 feet from water bodies. Camping away
from water bodies should be done to protect the water bank and water.
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Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly at Appropriate Places
People should follow the principle "pack it in, pack it out." Wastes such as leftover food,
fruit peels, or wrappers should not be left or disposed of on the site. The things you
brought and the debris generated during your activity should be brought back. Human
wastes are deposited in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches in depth during camping, which is then
covered with soil and leaves. Both dishwashing and human waste disposal should be
done at a minimum of 200 feet away from water, camp, and trails. The soap used for such
activities should be biodegradable.
The introduction of exotic species or species not belonging to that place should be
avoided. Building structures, furniture, or digging trenches should also not be done.
It is recommended to use a lightweight stove for cooking, a candle lantern for light, and
minimize fire as possible. In the places where fires are permitted, it is recommended to
use fire rings and fire pans that are already present at the site.
The sticks from the ground are used for fires and should be kept small. The wood and coal
should be burnt to ash; the fire should be put out completely, followed by the scattering
of ashes. The burning of plastics is prohibited to avoid toxic fumes.
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Principle 6: Respect Wildlife
The quality of experience of everyone visiting the place, including yours, should be taken
into consideration. Be polite to fellow travelers and respect them. Do not talk in loud
voices or make noises, and just enjoy the sound of nature.
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Check Your Understanding
1. The Principles of Leave No Trace have 7 sets of rules that guide people to
plan, prepare, and go on adventure.
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2. One of the recommendations in the principle of "pack it in, pack it out" is
that dishwashing and human waste deposition should include a minimum of
100 feet from water, camp, and trails.
3. In order to protect the water bank and water, campsites should be small,
discreet, and built 200 inches from water bodies.
4. To show respect to the wildlife, the animals should be fed.
5. It is recommended to avoid marking on trees and rocks for navigating
direction during trekking, and instead use maps and compasses that help
better judgment with directions.
Have the first group walk through the site and take inventory of what artifacts are there
and piece together a story of what their society might have been like. Once done, go to
the site and take a bunch of the artifacts away. Then send the second group to the site
and have them do the same thing as the first group.
Get the two groups together and have them share their findings and discuss the
differences between the two groups' stories.
1
https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Leave%20What%20You%20Find_Before%20and%20After.pdf
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Winning Moments
Go the Distance!
“Are you Ready?”2
2
https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Plan%20Ahead%20and%20Prepare_Are%20You%20Ready_.pdf
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Role: You are a camp facilitator
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Rubric:
Working as a group is
clearly manifested
TOTAL SCORE
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Self-Check
Check I can…
Reflect
Wrap Up
✔ The outdoors in a broad sense is a space outside an enclosed area.
✔ Outdoor recreation is organized activities done during one’s free time, where
interaction between humans and an element of nature is present.
✔ Climbing Mt. Pulag, white water rafting at Chico River, surfing at Siargao, or bird
watching at Candaba Marsh are examples of outdoor recreation.
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✔ There are many benefits of outdoor recreation: physical, social, psycho-emotional,
mental, economic and spiritual
✔ There are seven (7) Leave No Trace Principles
Bibliography
Aparato, Conrado R., et al. 2017. Physical Education and Health Volume II. Manila. Rex Book
Store, Inc.
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. “Leave What You Find: ‘Before and After.’”
Int.org
https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Leave%20What%20You%20Find_Before%20and%2
0After.pdf(Accessed April 13, 2018)
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.”Plan Ahead and Prepare: ‘Are You Ready.’”
Int.orghttps://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Plan%20Ahead%20and%20Prepare_Are%20
You%20Ready_.pdf (Accessed April 13 2018)
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Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 1: The Nature of Outdoor Recreation
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
Glossary
Ecotourism: It is the process of responsible travel of individuals to natural areas and
environment without disturbing or causing damage to it.
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