Course Descriptions and Fees for Recreation (PRLS) PASP Courses

See also:

• Listing of ALL PASP courses
• Course descriptions and fees for PASP Physical Education (PHED) courses

PRLS 110: Exploring Outdoor Adventure (2 credits)
Fee: $75
This course provides students with an introduction to outdoor adventure activities and the leadership theory involved to properly plan the activities. This class aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice as it pertains to outdoor adventure activities. This class focuses on developing introductory skills in a variety of outdoor recreation activities including rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering, and high ropes. Traditional classroom and "in-the-field" instruction will be used during the various activities. Prior to each trip, the class will discuss essential trip information including equipment, route planning, safety, and foundations of outdoor leadership theory.

PRLS 115: Introduction to Fly Fishing (1 credit)
Fee: $12 – Virginia fishing licence
A practical course designed for students with little or no knowledge of fly-fishing. The course will involve activities to teach students the basics of fly-fishing to include terms and equipment, casting, knot tying, aquatic entomology, fly selection, reading water, wading techniques and safety, and fly fishing tactics. Besides the one-hour classes required during the week, a full day on a stream, will be included.

PRLS 116: Introduction to Indoor Rock Climbing (1 credit)
Fee: $100
This course introduces equipment, techniques, safety, and planning related to basic rock climbing.

PRLS 117: Rock Climbing (2 credits)
Fee: $50-100 – Equipment usage and upkeep
A practical course designed for students with little or no knowledge of rock climbing. The course will involve activities to teach students basic climbing terms, techniques, equipment, and safety practices for top rope belay climbing and rappelling.

PRLS 118: Intermediate Rock Climbing (2 credits)
Fee: $100 – Equipment usage and upkeep
This intermediate course is for individuals who have some prior skills in rock climbing looking to further increase their skill level. The course will involve teaching students climbing terms, advanced knots, equipment, safety practices for redirect belay and top rope belay, as well as setting up techniques using rope and webbing. Special emphasis on anchor building will also be included. Ability to climb and rappel at least at the beginner’s level will be required. This is NOT a certification course.

PRLS 119: Trap and Skeet Shooting (2 credits)
Fee: $237 – Equipment usage, shells, targets. If students have their own guns and they are acceptable for class, then price may be reduced by $30.
This course is designed to educate the student on gun and range safety. The course will include hands on learning of the games trap and skeet, where competitors fire at clay targets (approximately 4¼ inches in diameter and 1⅛ inches in height) launched from a trap at varying angles.

PRLS 120: Introduction to Backpacking (2 credits)
Fee: $100-150 – Cost of food, transportation, equipment, permits and miscellaneous
A practical course designed for students with little or no knowledge of backpacking. The course will involve discussions and activities to teach students backpacking terms, equipment, techniques, and safety considerations for back country wilderness travel. Topics will include trip planning, equipment/clothing selection and use, map and compass skills, route finding, back country cooking, basic first aid and emergency procedures, environmental considerations and hazards, negotiating variable terrain, and back country ethics and low impact camping, culminating in an overnight (or multi-night) backpacking trip.

PRLS 121: Intermediate Trap and Skeet Shooting (2 credits)
Fee: $280
This course is designed to educate the student on gun and range safety. The course will include hands on learning the different trap games, where competitors fire at clay targets approximately 4¼ inches in diameter and 1 1/8 inch height launched from a trap at varying angles.

PRLS 122: Introduction to Horsemanship (1 credit)
Fee: $200
Introduces the basics of horseback riding and horsemanship. Emphasis will be on learning how to care for a horse, tack a horse, and basic riding skills. Students will learn how to walk, trot, and jump small obstacles.

PRLS 123: Intermediate Indoor Rock Climbing (1 credit)
Fee: $100
This course introduces the practices designed to move into the intermediate indoor climbing realmwith a focus on efficient and creative body positions including specific, more advanced techniques and strength training.

PRLS 170: Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking (1 credit)
Fee: $125 – Equipment usage and upkeep
This course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate class III water and to plan and execute trips in up to class II water. This course will include instruction in, but not limited to, boat handling, basic terminology, kayak design, trip planning, river safety, water reading, river etiquette, and environmental ethics.

PRLS 173: Introduction to Coastal Kayaking (2 credits)
Fee: $200 – Equipment usage and upkeep
This course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to safely paddle sea/coastal kayaks and execute trips on rivers and coastal environments. This course will include instruction in, but not limited to, boat handling, terminology, kayak design, trip planning, marine hazards and safety, rules of the Nautical Road, weather and tides and environmental ethics.

PRLS 174: Open Water Coastal Kayaking (2 credits)
Fee: $200 – Equipment usage and upkeep
This course is designed to provide experienced Coastal Kayaking students with an introduction to advanced strokes and maneuvers, open water rescues, on-water navigation and safety concerns related to open water.

PRLS 175: Introduction to Rowing (1 credit)
Fee: $25 – Equipment usage and upkeep
This course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to row successfully in an eight-oared rowing shell. This course will include instruction in, but not limited to, proper handling of rowing equipment, basic terminology, the proper execution of the rowing stroke, water safety and team building.

PRLS 180: Whitewater Canoeing (2 credits)
Fee: $25 – Equipment usage and upkeep
A practical course designed for students with little or no knowledge/skills in moving water and white water canoeing. The course will involve activities to teach basic terms, rules, techniques for river safety, paddle strokes, boat control and maneuvering, reading river currents and conditions, self-rescue techniques, ethics and river etiquette, and running rivers up to Class II+ in difficulty. There will be one classroom and 4 all-day paddling sessions on regional rivers.

PRLS 181: Whitewater Canoeing - Level II (2 credits)
Fee: $25-50 – Equipment usage and upkeep
A practical methods course to advance and refine the student's whitewater canoeing technique and skills with regard to paddle strokes, turns, maneuvers, boat control, and river safety/rescue skills.

PRLS 190: Downhill Skiing (1 credit)
Fee: $150 – Includes rental of skis, boots, poles, instruction, and lift tickets. For those who own their own equipment, then it would be the cost of instruction / lift tickets.
Teaches and refines basic skills of downhill skiing. Teaches and review selection and use of equipment, terminology and safety rules. Includes lecture and field experience.

PRLS 191: Snowboarding (1 credit)
Fee: $150 – Includes rental of skis, boots, poles, instruction, and lift tickets. For those who own their own equipment, then it would be the cost of instruction / lift tickets.
Develop and refine basic skills of snowboarding. Besides skills, course will cover selection and use of equipment, terminology and safety rules.

PRLS 195: Introduction to Hot Air Ballooning (2 credits)
Fee: $300 – Equipment usage and upkeep
The course will include history, FAA regulations, equipment, weather, instruments, flight planning, balloon operations, and medical factors. Laboratory includes skill development as a crew member and pilot, using an AX-8 hot air balloon. FAA student pilot certificates will be offered to all students. Although this is an introductory course, those completing it with a B or better grade will be eligible to sit for the FAA written examination for Lighter-than-air, free balloon, a requirement for the private pilot certificate.

PRLS 250: Wilderness Travel and Sustainability (2 credits)
Fee: $300 – Cost of food, transportation, equipment, and permits
This experiential course is designed for students with prior backpacking experience. The course will involve discussions, demonstrations, and activities that teach students wilderness skills, safety and judgment, leadership and teamwork, and environmental ethics.

PRLS 253: Florida Everglades Canoe Expedition (3 credits)
Fee: $480
This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, manage, and participate in a wilderness canoe expedition, while exploring the regions natural history. Students will be engaged in classroom preparation; training in canoeing and wilderness travel/living skills; group leadership; and environmental education in the Everglades National Park ecosystem. Offered during the winter intersession.