When teaching survival skills to our campers, I like to ask
them if they have ever been in a situation where they’ve been lost or required
to stay overnight in the wild. Fortunately, we haven’t had any campers stuck in
serious survival situations, but how can we provide them with the basic skills
if they were? These are several activities and ideas that teach basic survival
skills that could prove to be useful.
1. S.T.O.P.
If you find yourself in a situation where you become lost,
injured, or face rapidly changing weather, it’s a good idea to use the STOP
acronym. This stands for stop, think, observe, and plan. Maintaining a positive
mental attitude and not panicking is essential when it comes to a survival
situation. You can survive three minutes without oxygen, three days without
water, and three weeks without food. However, panicking in a survival situation
can quickly lead to disaster.
2.
Shelter Building
If you find yourself in a survival situation where you know
you’ll be spending the night in the wild, a shelter can make a huge difference.
A shelter can be as simple as a dry spot beneath the overhanding branches of a
pine tree, or as elaborate as a log shelter that is protected from the wind and
cold. Depending on the environment you live in will also determine the type of
shelter you can make. Start out simple with tarps or trash bags and work your
way up to more advanced shelters made from downed logs. Take into account other
factors when it comes to shelter building such as the proximity to water, dead
trees, and the likelihood of rescuers finding you.
3.
Fire
It’s always a good idea to carry some type of fire starter,
whether it’s waterproof matches, a lighter, or magnesium stick. I like to teach
kids how to start a fire with a magnesium stick, a pocketknife, and some type
of tinder. Twine and dryer lint are easy to light and hold a flame for a short
time. Showing kids how to build different types of fires for warmth and cooking
are also important. I like to have kids gather tinder, kindling, and fuel and
build different types of fires such as log cabin, teepee, or lean-to.
4.
Food/Water
Finding water and food is also essential in survival
situations. If water is available from a stream, it is still necessary to
filter and boil for at least five minutes. A filter can be made with cloth,
rocks, and sand. The water collected after running it through your filter
should be clear. If you are in an area with snow, melt the snow instead of eating
it. Eating snow can lead to hypothermia. When it comes to food, learning the
types of edible plants in the area is best. Hunting and trapping skills are
also beneficial, but can be difficult without the right equipment.
5.
First Aid
Keeping a first aid kit in your pack is also essential.
Your first aid kit should contain items such as bandages, gauze, tape, and pain
medication. Knowing how to treat different types of cuts, wounds, or other
injuries can make a huge difference when you’re in a survival situation.
Carrying a good knife is also important and can be a handy tool in a variety of
different ways.
Teaching kids these skills at a young age can help them
practice and develop them over time. Although the likelihood of finding
yourself in a survival situation might be rare, it’s a good idea to have basic
knowledge and skills of what to do in case it does happen.
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