You and your group are looking at your map and getting very excited about your journey.  You have begun your travel journal and now you call your team and determine you must first measure the distance and direction you will have to travel for each challenge. The weather conditions and Ultraviolet Index (UV Index) should tell you what type of clothing to bring. Knowing the latitude and longitude would be important safety information in case we have an emergency when crossing the streams. You decide to take a laptop computer so that you can access real time data on these important facts.

Again your team makes an important decision to make a journal record of the required daily data. This will be written in your journal at the beginning of every challenge. Each day that you work on this project, the group will record data on an ongoing graph of temperature, precipitation, and UV Index. These graphs will be kept in the graphing section of your journal. This data will be analyzed at the end of the journey.
 

Distance & Direction

Record your responses to the following questions in your journal.

1. Decide how to measure the distance and direction that you will be traveling during each challenge by using the class map. A ruler and piece of string will be helpful for the distance.
2. What other features are on the map in the section you just measured? (Ex. Mountains, parks, ski areas, etc)
3. How long will it take you to walk this portion of your journey? With your teacher, go outside and time yourselves walking one mile. This will give you a true feeling of walking a long distance. Figure out the average miles that your group will be able to cover in one day. Remember that you are going to have to stop to eat and sleep and the weather may slow you down.

Record your responses to the following questions in your journal.

1. Consider the different weather conditions you may encounter. Make a list of the types of clothing and accessories you may need to bring (ie. Sunglasses, umbrella). Remember you can only bring as much as you can carry.
2. What types of material should your clothes be made of if the air is very hot and humid? (Cotton, wool or fabric made for specific hiking seasons).

These are some questions to consider about UV index. In order to answer them, you must view real-time data. Click here Record the responses in your journal.

1. What is the highest UV Index reading on the US map today? What is the lowest UV reading? What is the difference between the two?
2. Where are the highest and lowest UV Index readings? What explanation can you give as to why the UV Index would be higher in one place and lower in another? Click here to find information about the Ozone layer in the Upper Atmosphere.
3. Can UV radiation be detected without a scientific instrument?
4. Can you get sunburned on a cloudy, misty or foggy day? Can you get sunburned in the winter? What about in the shade? Explain your answers.
5. Is it true that when you are young your skin is more resistant to sunburn and cancer? Explain your answer.
6. What types of material should your clothes be made of if the UV Index is at an 8 to 12 (Cotton, wool or fabric made for specific hiking seasons)?

Record your responses to the following questions in your journal.

1. What is the purpose of the longitudinal and latitudinal lines on a map?
2. How might they be used in an emergency situation?