Threatened and Endangered Species In Canada

Written by: Nature Canada

               

 I give this article 4/5 stars because of the explanation it gives on endangered species in Canada. It emphasizes the importance of trying to save different wildlife in Canada, and the programs that are trying to help.  It even shows the reality of Canada and how we are failing at saving important species, and how we can be doing better. 

          

 At the beginning of the article it goes into detail the most recent endangered species. For example the Eastern Wood Pewee, Wood Thrush, the American Badger, and Striped Bass. It includes information of each species, where they are mostly located, their original population, and why their species is declining. Further on in the article it explains how the threats are growing, such as habitation loss, loss of diversity, pollution, logging, etc.  Finally, the end of the article explains Canada’s Endangered Species Program and how we need to start saving species and take better care of our environment.

            In my opinion, I believe this article was well written and informative. It can give people a reality check of what our actions do to the environment, and how we need to take better care of it. It also gives specific examples of the species that we are hurting. The article would get 5/5 stars if the author had given tips for people to try and help save these endangered species.

 http://www.naturecanada.ca/endangered.asp

-Amy Jarvis

Encountering Wildlife When Enjoying the Outdoors

 Encountering Wildlife while enjoying the Outdoors

 

      When people or other animals enter the habitat of a wild animal, the animal may feel threatened and become aggressive, especially if you surprise it or if its offspring are near by. Wild animals are smart, powerful and potentially dangerous. when in the outdoors it is important to stay aware of your surroundings. This article states several ways of  ensuring your safety ion the outdoors if you encounter a wild animal.  their tips include watching  for signs of animal activity such as tracks, claw marks and scat , making noise as you travel through the woods – talk, sing, carry a radio, avoiding areas frequently visited by animals, such as berry patches ,traveling in groups. If  you are hiking alone, tell someone where you plan to go and what time you expect to return and keeping dogs leashed so they don't provoke attacks by wild animals. When an animals in threatening you you want to do everything that you can to protect yourself and get yourself out of the situation. Some tips for this stated in the article  are staying calm, not turning your back on or running from the wild animal(Slowly back away from the animal while keeping your eye on it),standing tall, waving your hands and making lots of noise,and giving the animal space and a route to escape. This article closely relates to our trip to Algonquin Park . There was lots of potential to run into wild life when we camped there. As well as many other class mates I plan to camp again in the future. this set of guidelines will surely;y come in handy in protecting yourself in the wild.

Encountering Wildlife When Outdoors - Policy Division, Ministry of Natural Resources - Government of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministère des Richesses naturelles. Retrieved June 18, 2013, from http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_082572.html

 Author-The Ministry of Natural Resources

Rating-*** Good

               

How to save the Environment 

rating- *** Good

  The article read highlights several ways that us humans can conserve energy and make our world a better place to live upon. Tt emphasizes the use of reusable items to shorten down on our waste, using bikes and other sorts of transportation that do not create gaseous waste that is released into our air, to eat natural foods and buy and support local farmers so they can continue their business, and finally to conserve energy by turning lights off when they are not needed. You can also make our environment more appealing and healthy looking by planting your own plants in on your property to benefit the many creatures and plants around you.
After reading this article I have a better understanding of how our every move makes a difference to the world we live on. I will now be more conscious about the resources i am using, and do my best to promote healthy living and a healthy environment to others. This article would benefit our class because we spend so much of our time outside, but  never really think of what life would be like without the outdoors. Being an Outdoor ed class I feel we should be leaders in saving our environment, and appreciating it for everything that it is and provides for us.

How To Save The Environment – Saving The Environment. (n.d.). Lifestyle Lounge - Online Lifestyle Magazine - Lifestyle Management Tips. Retrieved May 1, 2013, from http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/how-to-save-the-environment-

Author- unknown
Rating-3/5 ***Good

Record Time Climbers

New Tool for Mountain Climbers: A Stopwatch

By SEAN PATRICK FARRELL

Published: October 15, 2011

I would rate this article 3/5 because it is more about the general idea of the men who climb at record speeds. I believe this article would have more value if it were to expand on one person on more of a personal level, so you can get the real feel of what these men go through in order to complete these impressive times.

This article displays challenges and goals these men face during their long climbs up enormous mountains. It goes through the different men who reached the peaks of mountains at record time, most with nothing but the bare essentials. Chad Kellogg is a 40-year-old contractor from Seattle who is focused on in this article. This man had lost his wife in a climbing accident; concurred colon cancer is back out climbing mountains. He does this for himself, he runs up the hills just puts a vision block on and goes until he cannot go anymore. He has set many climbing records although soon after others came and beat those he set, Although he does not let that get to him because he climbs for his love the sport. He lives out of his car and works hard just to get the money he needs to complete his climbs. His whole life is built around his climbing, not only for himself but in memory of his wife. This article displays the courage; strength and determination that all these men have to just do the one thing they love. This goes to show how much passion can really get you to where you want to be. These men complete days of climbing in under a few hours and that is absolutely incredible, as I hike up mountains and stat to think I am tired I will think of how these men must feel as they are ascending on their huge climbs and think of all the pain they go through just to do something they love. Also before ever giving up on something my mind will bring me back to think about Chad and all the experience that he went through and if you just keep your head up and keep going anything is possible.

Katrina Greenfield

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/sports/a-new-rush-for-mountain-climbers-to-the-top.html?ref=mounteverest&_r=0

'MAIDENTRIP'

'MAIDENTRIP'

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

By: KATIE ARNOLD

I would rate this article 4/5 because it really goes into detail about this girl and you feel a real connect to what the journalist is saying. The experience that this young girl faced makes you really think about how your life relates to hers and so i feel that this was a strong article that does a very good job of relying the information about this girl who traveled the world.

A journey across the world alone is an experience that will open your eyes. 14-year-old Laura Dekker’s trip around the world changed her from a girl into a woman. She had to fight hard in order for her to be able to go on this adventure although, she won after 10 months of court issues and set off when she was only 14 years of age. She traveled for 512 days, and faced many challenges over those 17 months, but that was what she wanted. This trip shaped this girl in a way no one can imagine. Although along the way she ran into difficulties, that was exactly what she wanted to do, she wanted to face these things so she could get past them and overall it would make her stronger as an individual. This article has made me think about myself as a sailor, I only started sailing when I was 12 but I hope to go on an adventure like Laura did, to see what it is like to be out in the open waters just doing something you love. The determination and passion that she has towards sailing is absolutely astonishing. I hope one day I too will have a story that will have this effect on other people as Laura’s story had on me. Throughout this article she talks about all the obstacles that she had to over come and the reason why she did everything she did, she had a positive attitude towards everything, even if she would go through a huge storm and she felt as the waves just kept getting larger, she never gave up and just fought through it all. This was an eye opening experience to see that even though someone can go through a lot of work that the feeling of accomplishment is what makes everything, all the pain worth the fight.

 Katrina Greenfield

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/raising-rippers/Behind-the-Scenes-of-Maidentrip-17-Year-Old-Laura-Dekkers-Solo-Sail-Around-the-World.html?page=all

Tips to Kayaking

I would rate this article 2 out of 4 because its content is important to know when kayaking, but I found it was very brief, and missed important facts. Kayaking can be a dangerous sport, and it is important that you know the important information to keep yourself safe while you are out there. This article brings up many tips. The first tip it gives you is to fix the frayed ends of your deck lines, which is something that can easily be fixed. Although I agree this can be important, it is not worthy of an entire paragraph of the article, and seems like common knowledge. The next tip they give is to have a deck line with a larger diameter so that the line can be used as a handle that you may need to quickly grab the kayak, or use it to lift it on shore.

One of the better tips the writer gave was to put reflective tape on your boat and paddles so that you can find them in the dark, or so that other people can see you in lower visibility conditions. He also suggests to have a whistle on you for safety so that you don't need to waste your voice. Bringing a dry bag was also a good tip because it is nice to have extra clothes later when you've gotten wet. He then suggests useless information like don't put wet items in your wet bag because they will stay wet. There are a few other tips that he gives, but I found that most of them were common knowledge or things that weren't that important.

The last tips that he gives are things about what you can do while you kayaking such as kayak fishing. One thing he says is to have a break-away line so that if you catch anything really big, then the line breaks before it tips your kayak. He also suggests to bring larger binoculars so that you can see things easier in your bobbing kayak, but I think this is a bad idea because any extra weight is inconvenient when you are kayaking, especially if you portage.

Overall, I found that this article was helpful for a beginner, and also gave some good tips for people kayaking in the ocean or larger lakes. For your average lake kayaking and portaging though, these tips were not very useful, and most of the time very obvious.

Reference: http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?227

A Salute to Southpaws

The Lefty Legacy

By: Mike Dojc

Rating - 3/4 Stars

For decades, buying golf clubs was simple. Most manufacturers used to only make equipment one way, the right (handed) way.

In this article Mike analyzes 4 different PGA Tour players from different eras in the golfing world. The earliest being Jim Nelford who swung right handed from the tee to the green, but once on the green he putted the same way he played hockey, as a lefty. Next was Mike Weir. He was the first Canadian to win a major but was more importantly the first lefty to win the masters. Phil Mickelson dominated the PGA Tour like any american should, with 3 masters wins the golfing world was taken back when they saw "lefty" with all of his PGA Tour wins under his belt. Now Bubba Watson. The long hitting left hander also known as the 2012 masters champion has been known for his untaught talent and his long drives that make him famous on the PGA Tour. All together these 4 players show that not only are left handed golfers as good as right handers but can even be considered better.

This is an article that I enjoyed very much as it features 3 out of my 4 favorite golfers. This proves that no matter if you are a lefty or righty. Canadian, American or even European. The odds are not against you but can even be in your favor. 

-Tyler Hale

Picking Up The Pace

By: Scott Simmons

Rating - 4/4 Stars

At the 2013 masters 14 year old Guan Tinlang was assessed a slow play penalty after taking to long a shot in the bunker.

In this article Scott tells us the importance in having the specific rules of the pace of play. Not only does this concern the modern day pro but also the recreational golfer and amateurs. The importance of learning to play ready golf, continuous putting and moving quickly from greens to tee and tee to green is the key that Mr.Simmons was trying to touch base on. He goes on to tell of some tips that can help move the game along much faster while not only playing in a tournament but also playing on a sunny Sunday with some friends.

This has somewhat of an affect on me as I witness slow play a lot during tournaments and while playing with friends. I have been known to be a very fast paced player and when I get up to the tee or up to my second shot and I am forced to wait for 5 to even 20 minutes for the group in front of me to finish that throws off my concentration and focus in my game. This article would be great if everyone in the golfing world were to read so everyone would learn to play ready golf and at more of a fast place.

Written by: Tyler Hale

Know before you go camping

I give this article a 4/5 stars because of how well it explains what you will need to bring and what to do if you encounter something, which could harm you.   It also gives you examples of what you could bring to help yourself before you go camping and hints as to what to do to prevent getting hurt.  This article is great for people who are going camping for their very first time.

At the beginning of this article it gives you a statistic of how many people like to go camping not only because they like it but because it also an amazing stress reliever.  After that, they do a sub-heading of what you need to know.   They then give you a basic action plan as to what you will need to bring to be successful and safe in the outdoors.  In this action plan they include everything; food, clothes, first-aid, animals you can encounter.  Some of the things that they ask you too pack aren't things that you would forget to bring when going camping but it gives you a type of clothing and types of food that you can actually eat and wear in the wild.  This article also gives you ideas of where you could go if you wanted to camping.


In my opinion, this article was written very well.  It is like a whole camping checklist made for people who have never gone camping.  I think the author did very well in gathering the information and making this article.  It is also good for experienced campers so that they go back to the basics and make sure they are not forgetting anything.  Criticism wise I think that the author did not have to talk about the basic stuff like bring clothes and food too much.  She should not have to go in depth with things that are common sense.

Citation

1)  http://greatist.com/fitness/know-you-go-camping

2)SCHWECHERL, LAURA . "Know Before You Go: Camping | Greatist." Greatist | Health and Fitness News, Tips, Recipes, and Exercises. © 2013 Greatist, 28 June 2012. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://greatist.com/fitness/know-you-go-
camping>

A Safe Campsite

Written by Michael D.Faw

I give the article 3/5 stars because of the in depth explanations of how to ensure safety while picking a campsite. It does a good job of targeting its audience, by making it interesting to read.

            At the beginning of the article it explains the importance of a safety kit, and to go through the contents prior to your trip so you know where the different items are and how to use them. It then goes into detail on how to pick a site for your tent, and to look around for any dead trees limbs to make sure you’re safe. It describes how you should keep your tent in a higher area, to avoid rain rushing into your tent, but not too high because you will be exposed to the elements. Although some of the tips seem like common sense things, I believe it is important to remind people and people who are new to camping. Finally the author mentions tips to survive lightning storms and communication with others for safety.

            In my opinion I believe the article was well written, and gives good tips for new campers or a refresher on things you should know before heading out in the wilderness. It gave me things to think about, such as dead trees around a tent that could potentially fall during an expected storm. If any criticism, the author should have explained about the other dangerous situations he mentioned in his introduction such as venom bites, wounds, etc.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&&mode=article&objectID=34022&cat=Camping&subcatID=64&objectType=howto&cmid=HOWTO_34022_TITLE

-Amy Jarvis

2012 Polaris RZR XP 900 Review: Long Term Test

The Polaris Razor

     This article gives a general review for the 2012 Polaris Razor. I would rate the article a 7 out of 10 because I think it was entertaining to read and was written well for the audience that it was aimed at. The author explains all of the positive and negative characteristics about the Razor, but there are many more positive things than there are negative. The article provides you with a strong understanding of the vehicle and would greatly persuade you to buy one for yourself. The Razor is a powerful off-road vehicle that will keep you having endless amounts of fun. 

    One of the biggest factors that make the razor such a great vehicle is it's engine. The ProStar 900 engine in the razor is described here in being able to "give a seat of the pants feeling like no other". If that does't intrigue you to buy one than nothing will. The writer of the article also said that the amount of abuse that the engine took without breaking down or needing anything replaced was incredible. The engine in the Razor is one of the best on the market, and apparently performs better at higher speeds than slower. The writer of this article did a great job of describing the power and strength in the engine.

  Besides the speed and power associated with the engine, the article also goes on to describe the off road capabilities of the Razor. As long as the trail is wide enough, this vehicle is said to be a great cruiser through any trails or mountains that you can find. The author says "whether you want to go for a relaxing cruise, or raise some hell, the Polaris Razor will serve you well". The only thing that can be a  downfall for the Razors comfortability is the fact that there is no power steering on some of them. Power steering is an optional addition, and with it, the ride just becomes that much more comfortable.

http://www.atv.com/manufacturers/polaris/2012-polaris-rzr-xp-900-review-long-term-test-2148.html

TAKE A WALK, RIDE A BUS, GO GREEN !!

TAKE A WALK, RIDE A BUS, GO GREEN

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/23/ottawa_is_the_missing_link_in_transit_action_plan_for_cities.html

Article by Olivia Chow, Toronto Star

* * *

Do you walk to school or to work? Do you take the bus or the train? Do you car pool. If you partake in any of these exercise activities, then you are an eco-friendly individual and the world thanks you.

The article presented above is a motivational and inspiring speech about the economy and how more people should be involved in public transit. It explains how frustrated people are with morning traffic commutes and elaborates on the fact that it wouldn’t cost that much extra money to ensure every city, province and territory has accessible public transit. In some cases though, as explained in the article, many people cannot get to their destination without the use of their vehicles. In this situation those individuals can always be eco-friendly afterwards, or be physically active to keep a healthy lifestyle for themselves. In my opinion, taking transit or walking to school or to work or even taking the train is a more healthier and productive lifestyle. While keeping a regular routine everyday, people at the same time can exercise and be healthy, which is surely an accomplishment everybody wants to fulfill at some point in their life. This article has made me think of how much better it would be to be more eco-friendly. Being more green will not only help yourself in gaining a healthier lifestyle, but it will promote a healthier world to live in. Take a walk, ride the bus, hop on a train and go green!!

The Kayak Roll

Basic Principles Behind a Kayak Roll by Dan Seaman from Explore Magazine

***
I give this article 3 stars because it teaches a valuable, possibly life saving lesson. It could be improved by giving a more in-detail description of the steps of how to carry out the procedure.

This article could potentially save my life! As a kayaker myself I was very interested to learn a self-rescue technique that I might someday be in the situation to use. The article gives a diagram on how to execute the kayak roll, which is a technique you use when your kayak or canoe has flipped over. It then goes on to give tips on how to do it most effectively. It encourages people to use their hips to roll the kayak over, where most people would be inclined to use their upper body strength. It also persuades people to go against their natural reaction to pull their head up above water first and keep it down, that way your centre of balance is lower which makes it easier to roll yourself over. Then it encourages people to practice the technique over and over, and to practice it rolling both ways.

I found this article incredibly helpful and it made me realize how unprepared I would be if I were in the situation that my kayak flipped over. I have been kayaking for years and I have grown confident in my ability to keep it upright, as i`ve never even once flipped over before. I`ve also never worn a lifejacket in my kayak because of this reason. I am always with my dad when I go kayaking too, so that gives me a level of security about my safety aswell. The article made me realize that I should put more consideration into my safety and practice emergency procedures such as the kayak roll in case that I go kayaking alone, or I get into a dangerous situation in my kayak. I have been inspired to learn more about kayaking and safety procedures so that I can keep myself safe, and I plan to hopefully try the kayak roll when I get the opportunity.

Article Source: http://explore-mag.com/1316/fitness-and-nutrition/basic-principles-behind-a-kayak-roll

Longbeards: A Different Approach

Longbeards: A Different Approach

Jace Bauserman

3/5

          The article I read reflects bow hunter Jace Bauserman's personal encounter with an un-aware turkey hunter.

          Bauserman wrote this article to inform other bow hunters of how to experience longbeard (turkey) solitude while staying on public land. Bauserman was hunting for longbeards, and as he prepared to take the shot with his bow, a loud shot rang out, and Bauserman saw his turkey on the ground dead. Another hunter stepped out of the brush and hoisted the turkey by the legs triumphantly. Bauserman did not know if that hunter had seen him, but regardless, he learned that taking the time to find an isolated, yet turkey-dense location truly paid off. This article affected me in several ways, since I am starting to take archery myself (I won't be killing animals or anything). This article made me think about the risks that come with hunting or shooting on public land, such as other hunters. Although I'm not a hunter, I realize that these risks are present even walking through trails.

Bauserman, Jace. "Longbeards: A Different Approach." Bow Hunting World. Sunday April 7th: Pg 27-28

 5 Mistakes Novice Hikers Make 

The article I read was about 5 mistakes that novice hikers often make. This article extremely well written and had enough pictures to prolong interest. The article explained how the writer them self had made these same mistakes by being over confident on a hiking trip. I found these tips to be extremely useful as i myself am a novice hiker and would not like to make similar mistakes. I found that i had as well often made the mistake of over packing and improper clothing and supplies. This showed me just how much it can effect your hike and really made me reconsider what i should bring. This along with other mistakes such as poor choice of trail, failure to prepare, setting the wrong pace and refusing to turn back are outlined in a clear manor.

 

With the trips and tips outlined in this article i believe that anyone could go from a novice hiker to a pro in a matter of weeks. As long as everyone keeps these simple things in mind I believe that hiking accidents will soon become far and few between.