WACE Outdoor Education cheat sheet

Risk = likelihood × consequence; the risk matrix scores each hazard on both axes, and controls are applied to reduce likelihood first, then consequence.

The hierarchy of control ranks elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment as least effective.

Trip planning sequence: define objectives, assess participant competence, select route, check weather and fire bans, file an itinerary, then confirm emergency contacts and escape routes.

A day walk emergency kit includes navigation aids, insulation layer, whistle, torch, first aid, water, high-energy food, and a means of signalling; hypothermia risk rises with wind and wet clothing.

Hypothermia signs progress from shivering and clumsiness to slurred speech and confusion; treatment is shelter, insulation, and slow rewarming, never rapid external heat on a casualty with altered consciousness.

Heat exhaustion presents with heavy sweating, pale clammy skin, and dizziness; heat stroke presents with hot dry skin, confusion, and temperature above 40 °C and is a medical emergency.

For a snakebite, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, immobilise the limb, keep the casualty still, and record the bite time; do not cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.

Rope and anchor systems use the SERENE acronym: strong, efficient, redundant, equalised, no extension; the anchor is the critical failure point in any belay or abseil setup.

Navigation checks use three sources: map and compass bearing, terrain features, and GPS or phone; battery failure means the non-electronic methods must suffice.

Leadership styles span autocratic (fast, safety-critical), democratic (shared ownership, slower), and laissez-faire (high skill, low direction); the style should match urgency and group competence.

Tuckman's stages of group development are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning; conflict peaks in storming and is normal rather than a sign of failure.

Situational leadership matches direction and support to follower readiness: high direction for low competence, low direction and high support for capable but variable performers.

Decision-making models: the leader decides, consultative decision, consensus, and delegation; consensus is unsuitable when time is short or the hazard is immediate.

Communication feedback uses 'I' statements describing behaviour, impact, and request, which reduces defensiveness compared with blaming language.

Conflict resolution steps: separate people from the problem, identify shared interests, generate options, then agree and record the outcome.

A debrief follows a structured cycle such as what happened, so what it meant, and now what changes; open questions generate more reflection than yes/no prompts.

Group roles identified in teamwork research include coordinator, implementer, shaper, and finisher; unbalanced role distribution produces friction and uneven workload.

Judgement is degraded by groupthink, summit fever, and the risky shift, where group discussion pushes decisions toward greater risk than individuals would choose alone.

Ecosystem components are producers, consumers, and decomposers; energy flows one way through trophic levels while nutrients cycle, so disturbance to decomposers affects the whole system.

Biodiversity has three levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem; resilience to disturbance generally rises with diversity.

Minimal-impact principles: travel and camp on durable surfaces, pack out all rubbish, bury human waste 15–20 cm deep and at least 100 m from water, and camp at least 100 m from streams and lakes.

Fire impacts include sterilised soil, loss of organic litter, and long recovery times; fuel-stove use avoids these and is preferred where fires are permitted at all.

Succession describes change over time from bare substrate through pioneer species to a climax community; trampled sites recover through a similar sequence but often far more slowly.

Weeds spread by seeds in mud on boots, tyres, and gear; cleaning footwear and equipment between sites limits introduction and is a legal requirement in many parks.

Protected-area categories from the IUCN range from strict nature reserve (I) to protected landscape (V) and managed resource area (VI), with recreation permitted at differing levels.

Carrying capacity is the visitor load an area can absorb before unacceptable ecological or experiential change occurs; indicators and standards translate this into management limits.

Threats to ecosystems include habitat fragmentation, altered fire regimes, feral animals, nutrient runoff, and climate change, which interact rather than act alone.

Expedition planning stages: aim and outcomes, participant skills audit, route and resupply, permits and access, risk assessment, equipment list, food and water plan, and emergency contacts.

A route plan records daily distance, elevation gain, expected walking time, water sources, campsites, escape points, and bail-out options for each day.

Naismith's rule estimates walking time as 1 hour per 5 km plus 1 hour per 600 m of ascent, adjusted upward for rough terrain, heavy packs, and poor weather.

Food planning for multi-day trips targets roughly 2500–3500 kcal per person per day for active walking, with carbohydrate-dense snacks for immediate energy.

Water needs vary with heat and exertion; a working rule is 400–800 mL per hour of moderate activity, with treatment by filter, boil, or chemical where sources are unsafe.

Pack weight is managed by the big three - shelter, sleep system, and pack - which typically account for the majority of base weight.

Journey documentation includes a trip intention form left with a responsible person, a check-in schedule, and an overdue-action trigger for emergency services.

Reflection after a journey uses evidence such as logs, maps, photos, and weather records to compare the plan with what actually happened and identify transferable lessons.

Weather windows and turn-around times are set in advance; a fixed turn-around removes summit fever from the decision at the point of pressure.

Indigenous Australians hold connection to Country as an ongoing relationship of care, obligation, and identity rather than a resource to be used.

Cultural burning is a low-intensity, seasonally timed practice used to reduce fuel loads, promote regeneration, and protect cultural values; it differs from hazard-reduction burning in purpose and timing.

The concept of wilderness as empty land is a colonial framing; many landscapes described as wild were actively managed by Indigenous peoples for tens of thousands of years.

Recreation history moved from utilitarian use, through the romantic appreciation of scenery, to organised bushwalking and conservation movements that lobbied for national parks.

Place attachment describes emotional bonds to a setting; it predicts both stewardship behaviour and resistance to change in that setting.

Recreation opportunity spectrum classes settings from primitive to urban, linking the experience sought to the level of development and access provided.

Cultural sites such as rock art, middens, and scarred trees are protected by heritage legislation; visitors should not touch art, disturb deposits, or disclose locations.

Access to Country for recreation can require consultation with Traditional Owners and permits, reflecting native title and joint-management arrangements.

Aerobic fitness is improved by training at 60–80% of maximum heart rate for 20–60 minutes, three or more times per week; maximum heart rate is estimated as 220 minus age.

The FITT principle organises training by frequency, intensity, time, and type; progressive overload must be gradual to avoid injury.

Carbohydrate is the primary fuel for moderate-to-high intensity activity; glycogen stores deplete after roughly 90–120 minutes of hard effort without intake.

Dehydration of around 2% of body mass impairs performance; weighing before and after activity estimates fluid loss per hour.

Hygiene on expedition: wash hands before food handling, use separate water for drinking and cleaning, and keep raw food away from cooked food to limit gastroenteritis.

UV exposure is highest between 10 am and 4 pm; sun protection includes broad-spectrum sunscreen reapplied every two hours, hat, and covering clothing.

Wind chill accelerates heat loss, so the effective temperature is lower than the measured air temperature; wet clothing plus wind is the highest-risk combination.

Altitude illness ranges from acute mountain sickness to high-altitude pulmonary or cerebral oedema; the key response is descent rather than waiting for improvement.

Sleep, nutrition, and recovery are training variables; overtraining presents as persistent fatigue, poor sleep, and declining performance.

Land tenure in Australia includes public land such as national parks and state forest, and private land; access rights differ, and entry to private land requires permission.

National parks are managed under state legislation with a management plan that zones visitor use, protects values, and sets regulations such as fire, pets, and camping restrictions.

The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Limits of Acceptable Change are planning frameworks that set standards for visitor impacts rather than banning use outright.

User-pays approaches include park entry fees, camping fees, and licences; revenue supports management and can be regressive for low-income users.

Equity barriers to outdoor participation include cost of equipment, transport distance, cultural safety, disability access, and time availability.

Outdoor recreation industries include guiding, outdoor education, adventure tourism, equipment retail, land management, and conservation work; many roles require certificates in first aid and activity-specific instruction.

Risk and liability are managed through duty of care, documented risk assessments, staff qualifications, and informed consent from participants or guardians.

Leave No Trace and minimal-impact codes are often incorporated into park regulations and commercial tour operator licensing conditions.

Consultation with Traditional Owners is embedded in joint management arrangements for many parks and affects access, interpretation, and commercial operations.

Ecosystem components are producers, consumers, and decomposers; energy flows one way through trophic levels while nutrients cycle, so disturbance to decomposers affects the whole system.

Biodiversity has three levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem; resilience to disturbance generally rises with diversity.

Minimal-impact principles: travel and camp on durable surfaces, pack out all rubbish, bury human waste 15–20 cm deep and at least 100 m from water, and camp at least 100 m from streams and lakes.

Fire impacts include sterilised soil, loss of organic litter, and long recovery times; fuel-stove use avoids these and is preferred where fires are permitted at all.

Succession describes change over time from bare substrate through pioneer species to a climax community; trampled sites recover through a similar sequence but often far more slowly.

Weeds spread by seeds in mud on boots, tyres, and gear; cleaning footwear and equipment between sites limits introduction and is a legal requirement in many parks.

Protected-area categories from the IUCN range from strict nature reserve (I) to protected landscape (V) and managed resource area (VI), with recreation permitted at differing levels.

Carrying capacity is the visitor load an area can absorb before unacceptable ecological or experiential change occurs; indicators and standards translate this into management limits.

Threats to ecosystems include habitat fragmentation, altered fire regimes, feral animals, nutrient runoff, and climate change, which interact rather than act alone.