Procedure
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Outdoor group
activity
1. Introduce
bear bells to the class. Ask students if they have used them, and if they think bear
bells are a good idea. Why or Why
not?
2. Move the group out into the schoolyard or
other large outdoor area. Place the pack with the bell attached at the far
end of the yard.
- a) Select one student to go to the pack and put
it on. With the pack on, this student begins to walk slowly toward the
group.
3. The remainder of the class stays still and
listens carefully. As soon as students hear the bell they raise their
hands.
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a) When all students have their hands up, the
person with the pack stops and remains still to mark the spot. The group
measures the distance between them and the bell in paces. This distance
represents how far a lone hiker wearing a bear bell might be from a bear
before the bear hears him. How safe does this make you
feel?
4. Next, position the group near a wall or
building to represent a cliff in the natural environment. Assign a new
person to wear the pack.
- a) The student with the pack counts his paces as
he walks away from the group, moving out of sight behind the wall. The
student should take the same number of paces as were counted between the
bell and the group in step #3, plus an additional 20 paces.
b) The
student walks towards the group while the rest of the class listens
carefully. As before, students should raise their hands when they hear
the bell. How close is the bell when it is first heard?
c) Once all
students have their hands up, count the paces between the bell and the
group. Is the distance greater or smaller than it was in the first
exercise? Why?
5. Try this activity again, this time in a
noisy area such as next to a street. The noise simulates a noisy river or
a strong wind.
- a) How many paces are taken before all the class
members hear the bell?
6. Return to the classroom to discuss the
results of these experiments how geography affects our (and bears!)
ability to hear.
- a) Plot the environmental features of your
schoolyard, such as buildings, roads, and playgrounds on a map.
Which are the noisiest areas?
b) Now, imagine a natural area,
with mountains, rivers, and streams, as well as highways. Where might it
be hard for a bear to hear you coming?
c) Do you think a bear’s
feeding activity might affect its hearing?
7. Do bear bells keep you safe? Has your
opinion changed since the beginning of this lesson?
- a) Bear bells are not loud enough for bears to
hear over any significant distance. Worse, they provide the wearer with
a false sense of security.
b) What can you do that will work? Given
choices, most wild animals will avoid contact with humans. Here’s what
you can do:
-Plan ahead, stay calm.
-Avoid crowding bears; respect
their personal space
-Avoid attracting bears through improper
handling of food or garbage
-Make noise by clapping, singing or
shouting to avoid surprising bears at close range
-Look for signs of
bears in the area, and be prepared to alter your route if the signs are
fresh.
8. Bears are very intelligent and complex
animals. Each bear and each encounter is unique; there is no single
strategy that will work in all situations. Hikers in bear country must
stay calm, be brave, look for signs, and be aware of their surroundings at
all times.
- a) The 48 minute video, Staying Safe in Bear
Country by WildEye Productions is an excellent resource outlining
various options for dealing with bear encounters.
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