OUTDOOR RECREATION
family to have a picnic, a great
In recent years, if one observes
the social media, more and more
Filipinos head to the countryside
and enjoy what nature offers.
Ecotourism activities in the
Philippines have been gaining
popularity as well. From the north
to south, our country can never
run out of natural scenery to visit
and outdoor activities to
participate in---bet it in water, on
land, or in air.
One can go trekking to Mt. Pulag,
whitewater rafting at Chico River,
surfing at Siargao, or bird-
watching at Candaba Marsh. All of
these are what we call outdoor
recreation.
A day can be divided into three
parts according to Clayne R.
Jensen (2006): The existence time,
subsistence time, and free time.
Existence time is spent for
biological needs like having a
meal, sleeping, and other personal
care. Subsistence time refers to
the hours spent in economic
purposes such as going to work,
chores, and for students, hours
spent in school, and schoolwork.
Free time, therefore, is all the
remaining time after.
Recreation is derived from Latin
word recreare which means to be
refreshed. Choices for recreation
vary from person to person. What
makes you happy may not be so
for others. Therefore, recreational
activities depend on one's
interests, pursuits, and needs
which may be reflective of one's
beliefs and level of gratification.
For example, a natural park may
serve as a bonding place for a
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
fitness area for a jogger, and a
place to commune with nature or
meditate for others.
 Recreation refers to the
activities that take place
during an experience
known as leisure.
 The universal need of
man
The outdoors is a space outside
an enclosed area. It includes the
natural environment and
resources which comprises the
land, water, wildlife, vegetation,
open space, and scenery. The
outdoors may be in their most
natural state or "semi-natural",
which state where it had gone
through some human
modification but has retained its
natural features.
Cloud Nine in Siargao, a teardrop-
shaped island in Siargao del
Norte, is home to the 9th Best
Surf Spot in the World, according
to a list released by the travel
website of the Cable News
Network (CNN)
Recreational Activities
•Activities that you voluntary do
during free time.
•All activities are held for
everybody’s enjoyment and
pleasure.
•Revitalize all the different aspects
of life (Physical, Mental, Social and
Emotional)
CLASSIFICATION OF
Spectator Type - People spend
their time watching the event and
derive enjoyment from it.
Participant Type - People do not
gain enjoyment merely by
watching; they do so by joining the
activity
Active and Passive Recreation
Active Recreational Activity -
People have to function effectively
in performing the action.
Passive Recreational Activity.
People have no excessive
movement in performing the task
or action.
Physical and Mental Recreation
Physical Activity - People have to
function effectively in performing
the action.
Mental Activity - The mind is
doing the functions with less body
movement
Public, Private and Commercial
Public Recreation - Involves the
general public, run by the state,
government or by non-profit
agencies. Free, necessary service
for society.
Private Recreation - Confined to
people working in a private
company. Profit making business
Commercial Recreation -
Recreation which the consumer
pays and for which the supplier
expects to make profit.

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Module 2: BENEFITS OF
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Physical HEALTH BENEFITS
- It gets the heart pumping
and their bigger muscles
at work.
- Promotes cardiovascular
and muscular fitness.
- Improve the function of
the immune system.
- Reduced obesity, reduced
risk of disease, and
increase life expectancy.
PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL
- Helps people to rest, relax
or un-wind, and feel
revitalized.
- Provide the sense of
“feeling good”
- Allows to discover inner
spirit of self, creating new
behaviors and identity.
SOCIAL
- Allows one to meet and
interact with other who
share the same passion of
outdoor recreation.
- Also promotes
stewardship
- Helps form lasting
friendship and develop a
community
Economic BENEFITS
- People who have a relaxed
body and mind tend to be
more productive at work.
Spiritual BENEFITS
- Stir up spiritual
- Brings certain calmness
within a person
- Strengthens an individual
as it heals, rejuvenates,
and soothes the body and
soul
THE LEAVE NO TRACE SEVEN
PRINCIPLE
Principle 1: Plan Ahead and
Prepare
- Before going to a place, check if
your planned activity is permitted.
Make sure to know the rules,
guidelines, and safety procedures
they have set. Some places require
certain permits or clearances.
- Make sure you have the needed
equipment for your activity and
the skills needed to undertake the
activity.
- Plan how to cope in case
emergency arises
- Check the weather forecast and
be prepared for changing weather
conditions
- Learn when areas are most
crowded and try to avoid those
times
- To minimize environmental
impact and for safety reasons,
keep ground numbers small.
- Repack food to minimize waste
- When trekking, maps and
compass must be used to avoid
markings or leaving of marks on
rocks and the like.
Principle 2: Travel and Camp on
Durable Surfaces
- Walk, run, bike, or camp on
durable surfaces like established
tracks, rocks, gravel, and dry
grasses.
- Avoid walking on soft surfaces
like soft plants. You might be
trampling on a young tree or
pasture, and this will cause
vegetation damage.
- Use existing trails or campsites,
no need to build a new campsite
that will alter the environment
- to avoid erosion, walk in single
file in the middle of the trail
- Avoid places where impacts are
beginning to show
- When camping, keep the
campsite small and discreet
- Camp at least 200 feet from lakes
and rivers to protect the waters.
Principle 3: Dispose of Waste
Properly
- "Pack it in, pack it out" means
everything you brought should be
brought back with you including
left-over food or fruit peel.
Nothing should be left.
- When camping, cat holes are dug
(6-8 inches deep) for human waste
and covered just the same with
soil and weeds or leaves on top
- Dishes should be washed 200
feet away from lakes or rivers and
use biodegradable soap. Scatter
strained dishwater.
Principle 4: Leave what you find
- Examine archeological structures,
old walls, and other heritage
artifacts but do not touch nor
leave marks on them.
- Leave nature as you found them.
Do not take any plant, rock, plants,
or marine animal with you.
- Avoid introducing non-native
plants and animals.
- Do not build structures,
furniture, or dig trenches.
Principle 5: Minimize Campfire
Impacts
- Use lightweight stove for
cooking; campfires can use lasting
impacts
- If fires are permitted, use fire
rings or mound fires that are
already set-up.
- Keep fires small and use only
sticks from the ground that can be
broken by hand
- No burning of plastic or other
substances that emit toxic fumes
- Burn all wood to ash and make
sure fires are completely out.
Scatter the cool ash.
Principle 6: Respect Wildlife
- Observe wild animals from a
distance and they should be
avoided during sensitive times
such as mating, nesting, or raising
the young.
- Do not feed wild animals or birds
as it is not their natural food. The
food might damage their health or
alter their natural behaviors and
even expose them to predators.
- Protect wildlife and protect your
food as well by storing and
securing the trash well.
- In case you decide to bring your
pets along, make sure it is allowed
and you can control them.
Otherwise, do not bring them with
you
Principle 7: Be Considerate of
Other Visitors
- Respect people who live and
work in the countryside.
- Respect other visitor and let
them have a momentous
experience as well.
- Allow the sound of nature to
prevail, not your noise or radio
- Be courteous, yield to others on
a trail
- Camp away from trails and other
visitors
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MODULE 3: Kayaking and
Canoeing
Canoeing and kayaking are the
two floating crafts that may take
anyone to places in the water
that are even difficult to access by
any other means.
Difference of Canoes and Kayaks
A canoe is generally a much larger
boat which you use a single-
bladed paddle to move through
the water. Canoes are open and
you either kneel or sit inside them.
The word “canoe” originated from
the Carib word “kenu” which
means dugout.
Canoes originally made from large
tree trunks.
The more well-known version of
the canoe was introduced by the
North American Indians where
the frame was built from wooden
ribs.
A kayak is an enclosed vessel
which you sit inside with your legs
stretched out in front and the
paddle you use while kayaking is
double-bladed.
Kayak or “qajak”, meaning “mans
boat” or hunters boat originated
from the Inuit and Aleut tribes of
Artic North America.
Interestingly, the Early kayaks
were very individualized as each
kayak was crafted by the user,
basing the measurements of the
frame of his body and not on any
standard
HISTORY
The first ever kayaks were made
thousands of years ago by Eskimos
of the northern arctic regions.
Unlike canoes, kayaks were used
for hunting and fishing. In the
mid-1800s, kayaking started
becoming popular as a sport and
the Europeans showed interest,
but it was started as a sport by
the German and French.
Canoeing as a sport probably
began as impromptu races
between individuals returning
from hunting and fishing raids and
war expeditions. As an organized
sport canoeing began in the
second half of the 19th century in
local and national competitions in
Great Britain and North America,
many of which persist.
BASIC PARTS OF CANOE
- include the bow, stern,
hull, keel, deck, gunwales,
thwarts, yoke, and if
equipped, the seats.
Each part of a canoe has its own
function and purpose, and all parts
are designed to provide stability,
speed, tracking, durability and
most of all safety and
seaworthiness.
1. Canoe Bow
• The front of a canoe is called
the bow. The bow shape is
important because it’s the part
that cuts through the water, giving
a canoe it’s speed and ease of
paddling. The front of a canoe is
typically where you’d find the seat
for the front paddler. Also, the
bow of a canoe would have a
place to tie off an anchor line.
2. Canoe Stern
Which end of a canoe is the stern,
front or rear? The stern end of a
canoe is the rear-most point and
area on a canoe. The stern of a
canoe helps reduce turbulence as
you paddle, so a canoe can more
smoothly glide through the water.
Typically, it’s where the back
paddler sits and/or where you’d
mount a trolling motor on a
squareback canoe.
3. Canoe Yoke
A canoe yoke is specifically
designed to help you portage
(carry) your canoe over your
head. The yoke is positioned on
the center line of your canoe for
balance. And by turning your
canoe upside down and lifting it
onto your shoulders with the
rounded part of the yoke
wrapping the back of your neck,
you can comfortably carry your
canoe.
4. Canoe Thwart
A canoe thwart is a strut placed
across the width of a canoe to
help brace the edges (gunwales)
of a canoe from side to side. In a
2-person canoe, you’d typically
find 2 thwarts placed roughly 1/3
and 2/3 the way from the stern
toward the bow of a canoe. Many
times, you’ll find a thwart right
behind the front paddler’s seat.as
this is a place where a lot of
weight will be put directly on the
gunwales (sides of a canoe).
5. Canoe Gunwale/Gunnel
is the wide edge at the top of the
sides of the canoe. The canoe
gunwale, also called gunnel, is
usually reinforced with vinyl,
wood, plastic or aluminum. The
gunwale runs from the bow to the
stern the entire length of the
canoe, protecting the top edge of
the canoe’s hull. Secondarily, it
provides a place to mount seats,
thwarts, the yolk and other
accessories like fishing pole
holders.
6. Canoe Seats
We’ve saved the most important
part of a canoe for the last of the
main parts of a canoe. Because
after all, you’re going to spend
most of your time in a canoe,
sitting on your butt. It better be
comfortable.
• There are many types of canoe
seats. Canoe seats are mainly
made from webbing on a wood
frame, molded aluminum in an
aluminum canoe, molded plastic
in a plastic, polyethylene canoe as
well as some specialized
aftermarket seats that attach to
existing seats to include a
backrest and added seat padding.
• You can even get canoe seats
that have an integrated cooler in
them. Now that’s a “cool” part of a

BASIC PARTS OF KAYAK
1. Bow: The front end of the
kayak, opposite the stern.
2. Cockpit: The large opening or
area where the paddler is seated.
3. Deck: The top of the kayak. For
traditional sit-inside kayaks, this
refers to the area of the boat that
covers the paddler’s legs, as well
as the portion of the kayak behind
the paddler that’s exposed to the
sky. On sit-on-top kayaks, this
generally refers to the entire flat
area on top of the boat, including
where the paddler sits.
4. Hatch: Typically refers to gear-
storage compartments below the
kayak’s deck used to stow cargo.
Often, hatches are waterproof and
are covered by bands of elastic to
keep them closed.
• Hull: The bottom or main body
of the kayak, which sits in the
water. While most kayaks have a
displacement-style hull with a “V”
shaped keel, there’s also a planing
hull, which is shaped with a flat
bottom and steep sides. This type
of hull sacrifices speeds but gains
maneuverability.
• Keel: The middle of the hull,
which usually forms a “V” shape
running underneath the length of
the kayak. The deeper the keel,
the more water the kayak
displaces.
• Stern: The rear of the kayak,
opposite the bow.
• Toggle or Grab Handle: A handle
attached by rope to the bow and
stern of the kayak designed to
make carrying, launching, towing
or transporting the kayak easier.
PADDLES
are the equipment use to
maneuver the boat
 SINGLE BLADE PADDLE –
are usually used for
canoes
 DOUBLE BLADE PADDLE-
are usually for kayak
ACTIVITIES CAN BE DONE WHEN
ONE USES THE KAYAKS OR
CANOES:
1. SEA KAYAKING - is done in
open waters such as the
ocean or the lake. Kayaks
may be sit-on-top or
decked
2. WHITEWATER KAYAKING
OR CANOEING - is paddle
down white the white
rivers
3. Flat water recreation - is a
relaxing canoeing or
kayaking where you take a
gentle paddle down a calm
river, ocean or lake to do
sightseeing.
4. Sailing - is where the
canoe or kayak is fitted
with a sail.
5. Surf kayaking - is where
the kayak is typically fitted
with the fin rather like a
surfboard.
6. Marathon racing - is a
lengthy race down a river
using the kayak or canoe.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CANOEING
AND KAYAKING
Improved Upper-Body Strength
Canoeing and kayaking are a fun
way to help increase your upper
body strength as you use the
paddle to push the vessel through
the water. If you get the chance to
get out on the water for a paddle
quite regularly, you should notice
an increase in chest, arm, shoulder
and back strength.
Improved Core Strength
Your torso muscles are all called
into action when you are paddling
a canoe or kayak due to the
rotation movements made while
moving the paddle.
Improved Leg Strength
You will find that, while in a canoe
or kayak, you will be applying a lot
of pressure through your legs
which will increase your lower
body strength over time.
Improved Cardiovascular Fitness
One of the top health benefits of
kayaking and canoeing is that it
improves your cardiovascular
fitness. Like many other exercises,
paddling increases your heart rate
which can help improve the
strength of your heart. This is very
important at every age but
especially later in life. Therefore,
canoeing and kayaking are great
for older people looking to have a
healthier heart by taking part in an
activity that is not too stressful.
Weight Loss
Both of these sports are excellent
activities that help with weight
loss. You will burn tonnes of
calories paddling on the lough, in
the sea or on a river, while also
having a great time.
Y- ield to safety and know where
to go in case of emergency
A – lways wear personal floatation
device and other safety equipment
K – eep hydrated as you will go be
under the sun.

Most people can’t say the same
about going for a tough run or
cycle – that’s what makes paddling
ideal for weight loss!
Low-impact Activity (Reduced
Injury)
Paddle sports are low-impact
activities compared to running or
contact sports where there is a lot
of pounding feet off the ground
and big hits.
•C- heck weather condition
•A – lways plan ahead. This
includes studying the river maps a
head of time
•N- ever forget to put things in a
waterproof bag.
•O- rientation given by the
facilitators or leader are important
•E – quipment should be tried and
always checked.

The relatively low impact means

there is less chance of picking up
knee and back injuries which are
particularly common in other
exercises.

Reduced Stress Levels

Exercise has been proven to

reduce stress levels as it produces
endorphins, which act as a natural
pain killer. These endorphins help
your ability to sleep which, in turn,
reduces stress levels.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

K – now first your skills in

swimming and canoeing or
kayaking

A- void padding alone, padding far

from coastline, or padding in
routes of ship