The Backcountry Home Page

BY: Tobi Elmore, Arsenal Tech High School; Indianapolis, IN 

Site address: http://io.datasys.swri.edu/

Theme: Back country back packing

Grade Level(s): Middle / High School

Annotation of Site:

This web site contains information that may be used to plan a backpacking field experience. It has maps, current weather data, gear requirements, terrain/topography, and other related information vital to a backpackers preparation. Students may access this site to gather information about "why" backpacking, or about "how" to backpack, or "where" to backpack for certain personal and environmental experiences. A classroom small group activity may place a team into the field at a particular site (national park, historic landmark); the team researches the site and backpacking needs; the team then reports to their colleagues (fellow students) about the site utilizing graphs, maps, photographs, pictures of equipment, food supplies, monies,...

Geography Standards addressed:

Physical Systems

8. The Charecteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface