GPS+Units

One of our newest innovative uses of technology in District 16 involves the combination of technology with Phys. Ed. Students are instructed on the everyday applications of GPS technology by means of a SMART Board presentation in conjunction with [|www.geocaching.com] and hand-held GPS units. Waypoints are established, and caches hidden, along hiking trails. Students then use their units to seek out the caches.

We also took a group of Grade 8 students out on cross-country ski runs at the Miramichi Cross Country Ski Club. Rather than seek out caches (and possibly disrupt groomed trails), waypoints were established based upon landmarks on various ski trails. Students received two classes of instruction on the use of GPS units. They also received a 30 minute lesson on the fundamentals of cross-country skiing. The resulting outing was highly successful.

The Grade 8 students pictured in the accompanying photo will be creating their own "Class Cache", registering it at [|www.geocaching.com] and, ultimately, depositing it at the top of Mount Carleton at a final class hike in June. They will also be exchanging items in a cache that is already hidden at the highest peak in the Maritime Provinces.

You will find the SMART lesson used to introduce students to Geo-Caching below the picture. Speaking of the picture, you also should note the gentleman kneeling at the front left. His name is Bunny Dempsey. He was one of our instructors and he has just completed 1000 km of skiing this winter. That, by itself, is certainly commendable. However, it becomes even more impressive when one realizes that Bunny is 75 years old! Bunny will proably be accompanying us to the top of Mount Carleton later this year...his second trip to the peak in the past two years! The first time we went he was to first to reach the summit, well ahead of the rest of us!