Outdoor Skills

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Introduction to Survival: 

Participants will not only learn but also practice the seven priorities of survival, what supplies are needed for a basic survival kit, various fire-starting methods and techniques, proper shelter construction with basic and limited supplies, how to effectively signal for help, vital precautions to avoid getting lost and group mindset/dynamics.

Lost Person Prevention:

Learn simple techniques to avoid getting lost in the wilderness and how to keep track of your family members (including young family members) when venturing into the great outdoors. We will touch on basic lost person mentality and understanding so that you can access the situation and determine the most likely outcome of where a lost person may gravitate.  

Look What I Found:

Have you wondered what should be packed into a backpack and how to fit it inside for comfort and convenience? We will cover essential items to pack for backpacking (as well as what is not necessary), techniques to limit the weight and distribute the bulk of your pack for comfort without jeopardizing safety, how to minimize risk within a group backpacking trip, discuss leave no trace principles, how to dispose of waste properly and discuss factors in choosing an appropriate campsite. This is a hands-on session and participants will have the opportunity to go on a short hike. Feel free to bring your own pack, but you are not required to bring a backpack for this class. 

More coming

Do you live by the motto, "If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot?" Don't let knot tying scare you! This class will teach a few of the most useful knots out there. We'll review history of knots and cordage, basic vocabulary and functions of knots. You'll get plenty of hands-on time to practice these knots in class. 

Map and compass Orienteering

The skill of using a map and compass can easily be overlooked as GPS units have become available, but it is unwise to venture in the rugged wilderness without knowledge of how to understand a map with a compass, especially when technology fails. Participants learn how to read and understand map features and markings as they become familiar with using a compass and understand the vital skills of how to navigate through terrain using simply a map and compass.

GPS and Geocaching

Learn the basics of GPS and then discover the fun of geocaching. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS–enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Participants will learn to use a GPS as a navigation tool, how to input coordinates and follow those coordinates to a set location and find hidden geocaches. 

More coming soon