Outdoor Survival Info?

[Lives_to_fish]

:shocked: I just found out that I get the privilege of teaching a class of 5th and 6th graders about outdoor survival. Does anyone know of any web sites that gives good, free info? I have spend a good deal of time in the woods…, so I am not too worried, but more info would be helpful. I have all weekend to get ready.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

LTF

[RiverMan]

I would suggest a book by Ellsworth Jaegar entitled "Wildwood Wisdom". It's an old book but full of some great info. You might check it out from the local public libraray.

RM

[bob thomas]

Get yourself a copy of a Boy Scout merit badge book for Wildnerness Survial. These books are geared for kids between 11 and 18 yrs. Great source of info. Boy Scout hand book also a good source for minor first aid, knots, other good stuff. Good Luck.

[Tinned Fish]

When I was in 6th grade, my mom handed me "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival". It was great for the basics and more important, it stressed the right attitudes to have when experiencing a wilderness situation.

As a lad I also enjoyed "Kid Camping from Aaaaiii! to Zip" by Pat McManus. Pat is a very satirical author, so it's fun to read to the scrubs. The Stationary Panic is a tremendously funny passage, but it's basic message (freak out in one place when yer lost so you don't get more lost) came back to me right when I needed it out in the woods.

TinnedFish

[spooner]

I grew up in south east alaska, (Ketchikan) when I was in middel school the hole school had to take a servival class.
this was a fishing comunity and there is a very real chance you can end up on the beach, or in the woods in a servival situation. we learned how to build a fire and a shelter how to make distress signals, how what food you can eat off the beach make simple snares,first aid,how to recenise hypothermia,and how to treat it, how you can go a long time without food but you need water. then in the spring the hole scholl broke up in about five groups and they took us out on a boat and droped us off on a beach for three days all we bought was a sleeping bag and what ever we can fit in a coffie can we made our shelter colected food made a distress signal [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] made snares (never caught any thing in them tomany kid runing around)we wern't alone of course ther were teachers and shaperones and the coast gauard was notifide where we were and when we will be back. what a great learning experience some thing I will never forget. good luck hope this gave you some idias

[Lives_to_fish]

Spooner,
That sounds like what I am trying to do only not as in depth. I only have a few hours with them. I plan on having mostly discussion, some demo stuff then given a pratical test.
Here is my outline that I have thrown together, I would like it people would look it over and give me feedback and ideas about what I have missed or should not be included.

****************************************

Intent:
This is intended to be a short course to give you basic skills for staying alive if you become lost in the Northwest forest for a night or two. With this information, and minimal materials, anyone should be able to come out of a situation intact.

Survival
What do you think of when I say Survival?

Preparations
Make and communicate your plans
Think about where you are going before you get there, know the area. If someone wants you to go into the woods with them, as some questions to find out if they really know the area and ask them to show you before you go.
Take the basics, proper clothing is #1, be aware that weather changes very quickly, epically near mountain areas.
Be prepared to spend the night (survival kit)
Take a cell phone & or Radio.


Psychology of Survival
Fear is the key, it warns us, but we must control it.
Take action, become a leader
Determine that you will survive
Assess the situation (determine the true threats)
How cold is it going to get
Is there any chance of rain?

Real Dangers
Cold is number one, must stay as warm as possible, everything else is secondary.
Dehydration

Building a survival kit. (Prepare for the real dangers)
Garbage bags
String or twine
Small supply of food
Matches or lighter (need to be kept dry)
Fire starting material
Aluminum foil
Whistle

Shelter and insulation. (This is why you need to think ahead, before it gets dark)
Try to locate a spot near a clearing and a trail.
The best place may be in the shelter of a large tree
Try to get out of the wind, wind steals heat
Stay off the ground, build a nest.
Cover yourself up with dry branches and leaves.
If you have the time and can find the right material, build a small structure (lean-to).



Fire (does not always make sense to build a fire)
Determine if there are materials available to build a fire.
Locate a safe place to build a fire
Near the clearing
Don’t catch your shelter on fire
If conditions are dry, make sure ground around fire is clear
Don’t build a fire under a tree that has snow on it

Collect materials to build the fire
Check under large trees
Use conifer materials if they are available
Collect enough material to keep the fire going for a while

Constructing the fire
Make a teepee
Start with the smallest, driest materials
Put on larger and larger materials as you build
Make it larger than you think you need
Keep it as dry as possible before it is lit!

Getting Found (This is why you left word with someone)
Signal fire
Reflector (mirror, aluminum foil..)
Whistle
Bright clothes
Yelling
Cell phone (may have to get near a mountain top to work)

[sinker]

I would second Tom Brown's book mentioned above.
Pretty good reading. Think I got mine at REI, umm, I can't remember how many years ago.

[spooner]

Lets see if I can remember the order of servival its been allmost twenty years

1) first thing you need to do it realise you are in a servival situation befor its to late.lots of peaple die becaus they dont take ther situation seriously.

2) take inventory of what you have and what is around you that you can use for servival.

3) water (food not nessasary right away)

4) shelter; in a holow tree, fined a cave build a lean too under a fallen tree

5) make a permenent distress signal in groups of three. international distress is groups of three

6)play, stay busy improve your shelter and your signal

fire is not nessasary but it is a good for mental securety.wood is better used for a better shelter.

I think that is the order of servival you can call the Ketchikan middel school (schoenbar jr high)and ask for an out line of there course.

schoenbar jr high 907-225-5138

[ 04-06-2002, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: spooner ]

[roundbelly]

i don't remember seeing a map and compass on your list. the batteries go dead in cell phones and gps at the wrong time. also i think building a fire is a good thing it keeps you company and most importand keeps you in one spot. there was a progam called hug a tree for younger people, and the next step is to stay in one spot. if you went where you left the note saying you are going to be then you will be found.
also strange as it seems, mention that if someone is calling them by name they have found a friend, and should answer or blow their whistle. many young people have been taught all their life to not talk to stangers, and that old training might kick in at the wrong time.
also keep harping on the fact that no one should go hunting or in the woods alone. or at the very least leave a note with a trustworthy person.

[Lives_to_fish]

Thanks for all the help, you guys came up with some great stuff, I knew you would. I am very grateful for the help and will be including many of the suggestions.

LTF

[Lives_to_fish]

I just wanted all who contributed to know that the survival class went very well and the kids had a great time. While I would have liked to spend even more time with them, they did learn a great deal and hopefully are better equipped to deal with a night or two alone in the woods.
Thanks for all the input and information. I used a lot of the information you guys suggested.

Thanks again,

LTF