Outdoor EdSM The Outdoor Education Professional's Resource

 

"The Backpackers Field Manual is a must read for anyone who spends time in the backcountry."

- Charley Shimanski
Education Director; Mountain Rescue Association

News Groups

GOOGLE provides fully searchable UseNet News Groups. Many of these News Groups have been active for years. The searchable archives are a great source of information and the current groups are great places to post questions.

We've selected some of the major outdoor related groups. GOOGLE also now offers you the ability to subscribe to groups or create your own group. See GOOGLE Groups.

General

• rec.backcountry
  Group description: Activities in the Great Outdoors.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.outdoors.camping
  Group description: General camping, any camping you could do by auto.
  Category: Recreation>Outdoors
  Usenet, public

• rec.sport.orienteering
  Group description: All matters related to the sport of orienteering.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.outdoors
  Category: Recreation>Outdoors
  Usenet, public

• rec.outdoors.marketplace
  Group description: All business related to the outdoors.
  Category: Recreation>Outdoors
  Usenet, public

Biking

• rec.bicycles
  Category: Recreation>Sports>Cycling
  Usenet, public

• rec.bicycles.tech
  Group description: Cycling product design, construction, maintenance, etc.
  Category: Recreation>Sports>Cycling
  Usenet, public

• rec.bicycles.rides
  Group description: Discussions of tours and training or commuting routes.
  Category: Recreation>Sports>Cycling
  Usenet, public

• rec.bicycles.soc
  Group description: Societal issues of bicycling.
  Category: Recreation>Sports>Cycling
  Usenet, public

• rec.bicycles.off-road
  Group description: Moderated off-road cyclist topics. (Moderated)
  Category: Recreation>Sports>Cycling
  Usenet, public

Climbing

• rec.climbing
  Group description: Climbing techniques, competition announcements, etc.
  Category: Recreation>Climbing
  Usenet, public

Paddling

• rec.boats.paddle
  Group description: Talk about any boats with oars, paddles, etc.
  Category: Recreation>Boating
  Usenet, public

• rec.boats.paddle.touring
  Group description: Flatwater paddling and touring.
  Category: Recreation>Boating
  Usenet, public

• rec.boats.paddle.whitewater
  Group description: Whitewater paddling.
  Category: Recreation>Boating
  Usenet, public

Nature

• rec.birds
  Group description: Hobbyists interested in bird watching.
  Category: Recreation>Birding
  Usenet, public

• rec.animals.wildlife
  Group description: Wildlife related discussions/information.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.photo.technique.nature
  Group description: Wildlife, landscapes, travel tips etc.
  Category: Recreation>Photography
  Usenet, public

Organizations

• rec.scouting.usa
  Group description: USA specific scouting and guiding topics.
  Category: Recreation>Scouting
  Usenet, public

• rec.scouting.guide+girl
  Group description: Guiding and girl scout organizations.
  Category: Recreation>Scouting
  Usenet, public

• rec.scouting.misc
  Group description: General and international guiding and scouting topics.
  Category: Recreation>Scouting
  Usenet, public

Places to Go

• rec.outdoors.national-parks
  Group description: Activities and politics in national parks.
  Category: Recreation>Outdoors
  Usenet, public

Winter

• rec.skiing.alpine
  Group description: Downhill skiing technique, equipment, etc.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.snowboard
  Group description: Snowboarding technique, equipment, etc.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.nordic
  Group description: Cross-country skiing technique, equipment, etc.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.backcountry
  Group description: Backcountry skiing.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.resorts.north-america
  Group description: Skiing in North America.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.resorts.misc
  Group description: Skiing in other than Europe and North America.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.marketplace
  Group description: Items for sale/wanted.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public

• rec.skiing.resorts.europe
  Group description: Skiing in Europe.
  Category: Recreation
  Usenet, public