Caveat Academy course · Grades 6 to 12

Outdoor Education

A semester of outdoor skills: planning a trip and packing the Ten Essentials, reading a topographic map and following a compass bearing, outdoor weather, lightning, cold and heat, water, campsites and fire, Leave No Trace and wildlife, and first aid and group leadership. Six modules at your own pace, with skills to practice on day hikes with an adult and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
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Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Middle school course library, $79 for 28 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: Planning and preparing

    Plan a day trip with a shared trip plan and turnaround time, pack the Ten Essentials and choose clothing layers for the conditions.

    • Planning a trip
    • The Ten Essentials
    • Clothing and layering
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Map and compass

    Read distance and elevation from a topographic map, follow a compass bearing adjusted for declination, and respond correctly when lost.

    • Reading a topographic map
    • Using a compass
    • Staying found, and what to do if lost
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Weather and outdoor hazards

    Anticipate mountain weather and lightning, and recognize and respond to hypothermia, frostbite, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

    • Reading the sky and planning for weather
    • Cold: hypothermia and frostbite
    • Heat and sun
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Water, camp and fire skills

    Treat backcountry water, choose a safe and low-impact campsite, and manage fire and stoves safely within the rules.

    • Water
    • Choosing a campsite and setting up
    • Fire and camp cooking
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Leave No Trace and wildlife

    Apply the seven Leave No Trace principles, store food and keep safe distances from wildlife, and handle ticks and poison ivy.

    • The seven principles of Leave No Trace
    • Waste: pack it in, pack it out
    • Respecting wildlife
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: First aid and group leadership

    Give basic first aid, decide when and how to get help, and lead a group with clear roles, decisions and debriefs.

    • First aid principles outdoors
    • Common trail injuries
    • Leading a group
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 3 · Reading the sky and planning for weather

Worked example: how cold will the summit be?

  1. The forecast for the trailhead at 1,500 m is 20 °C. The summit is at 2,700 m.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Middle SchoolAlso for Enrichment · Passion Projects$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished semester of outdoor education: you can write a trip plan with a turnaround time, pack the Ten Essentials and dress in layers, measure distance and climb on a topographic map and follow a bearing adjusted for declination, use STOP if lost, plan around mountain weather and lightning, recognize and respond to hypothermia and heat illness, treat water and pick a safe campsite, follow the seven Leave No Trace principles, store food in bear country, give basic first aid and lead a group well. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 6 to 12 who hike, camp or want to start, who are preparing for a scouting, outdoor club or school outdoor program, or who want to be the person a group can count on outside; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. It does not replace a certified first aid course or adult supervision; outdoor practice is designed for day trips with a responsible adult.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Middle school course library ($79) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Middle School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment (the same course serves the Outdoor Education title for independent and project learners).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

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Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the seven principles: lnt.org
  2. National Park Service, hike smart, wildlife viewing and bear safety: nps.gov
  3. National Weather Service, lightning safety: weather.gov/safety/lightning
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making water safe in an emergency, hypothermia and heat-related illness, and tick removal: cdc.gov
  5. U.S. Geological Survey, topographic map symbols and reading topographic maps: usgs.gov
  6. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, magnetic declination calculator: ngdc.noaa.gov

Outdoor Education is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester outdoor education course but does not replace a guided program, a certified first aid or wilderness first aid course, or adult supervision, and it does not award credit. Rules for fires, camping and wildlife differ by park and land manager; always check them before a trip. In an emergency, call 911. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.