Survival Skills

Survival Skills

This activity is designed for children in grades 8 - 12 who have had some camping experience and are eager to set out on their own.

The objectives are: to be prepared for the unexpected, to be creative with ordinary items.

Background:	This exercise is designed to prepare kids to think through situations and be able to utilize the resources around them in an unexpected situation.
Skills:	The children should have some camping experience and problem-solving skills.
Age:	Grades 8-12
Materials:	A gear sheet - one for each group, pencils, and the situation sheet divided into four situations.
Activity:	Place the children in four groups with at least 2 in each group. Give each group one gear sheet. Explain that each group is going on a different type of trip. The trip is listed at the top of the gear sheet. Since there are no specifics about the trip, each group should decide what they would take with them, making each item as an essential - won't leave home without it; items that would be taken if the trip warranted it - once they had more information; and items that they would consider non-essential for this trip. Give the groups about 10 minutes to mark the gear sheet. If I'm at a camp, I take the children on a 20 minute walk and discuss the three elements necessary for survival (shelter, food, water). I ask them to point out places of shelter (fallen trees that can be made into lean-to's), food (raspberry, grapes, strawberries are usually safe to eat. Never eat anything you're not sure of), and water supply (how can you be sure the water is safe to drink). If I'm not at camp, we have a similar discussion inside. Hand each group the situation slip that corresponds with the activity at the top of their gear list. Now, without changing anything on their gear sheet, what would they do in their situation. Give the groups about 15 minutes, then have one person from each group explain their activity, situation and resolution.
Discussion:	Let the groups comment on each situation. Try to come up with creative ways to use the supplies on hand. Safety pins and string can be used to fish for food. The canoe can be turned over for shelter.
Adaptations:	Have enough supplies on hand so the children can try their survival techniques.
Cadette/Senior Badge:	Outdoor Survival #8

Resources:

The Basic Essentials of Survival
Learn essential skills needed to survive for 2 to 3 days in the event
of a wilderness misadventure. Are you prepared when your canoe upsets leaving you stranded without a tent or food. Can you make trailside shelters? Distill water in the desert? Build fires without using matches? Or signal for help using a bundle of sleeping bags, a common mirror, or an approved signal device?

Outdoor Survival Skills is a classic manual that includes basic and little-known information on existing in the wilds--emphasizing camping skills, hunting and fishing, emergencies, tracking, and more. .

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