Orienteering
Abilities: Wayfinding, interpreting maps, understanding compass usage.
Have you ever heard of Orienteering? It is a sport where you run through the woods with a map and a compass. The goal is to get to all the points on the map in the shortest period of time.
In addition to providing entertainment, it offers an opportunity to acquire important navigation abilities amid the beauty of nature.
By visiting the Orienteering website, you can determine the location of the closest club near you.
Buy a Plant Field Guide
Ability: Identifying plants
Count the number of plants you can recognize in your surroundings.
Chances are, like the majority of individuals, you can likely only identify around twelve. Additionally, are you aware of whether the ones you can identify are safe to eat or possess any medicinal properties?
It is astonishing to learn that numerous ordinary plants can prove to be valuable in survival circumstances such as these urban edible plants.
Purchase a quality handbook showcasing the vegetation found in your vicinity. Afterwards, stroll with your family and attempt to recognize the plants you encounter. It’s not possible to commit the complete guide to memory all at once, and it’s also inconvenient to browse through the pages while walking.
There are two methods to begin with identifying plants:
- Choose a few plants from the guidebook and look for them while on your walk OR
- Go for a walk and gather samples of some plants. Take them home and then locate them in your guidebook.
There is also valuable information in this article about initiating plant recognition.
Build a Fort
Proficiency: Constructing a shelter for survival.
During my childhood, I was fortunate to reside in close proximity to a small forest. My peers and I had a blast crafting our own shelters using branches. On one occasion, we created an intricate cabin-style fort. Unbeknownst to me at the time, these play activities were equipping me with skills for encountering and surviving in the wilderness.
If there is a forest in your vicinity, construct a fort. Even if you do not have children and undertake this activity, others may view you as peculiar – but it is of no significance!
In case there is no forest in your vicinity but you possess a yard, procure some leftover timber and experiment with creating something. The initial trials may not look appealing or be sturdy enough, nevertheless, you will enhance your skills through practice.
If you do not possess a yard, you may construct imitation survival shelters utilizing twigs (refer to these uncomplicated survival shelter blueprints).
Participating in a project such as Habitat for Humanity can not only benefit the community, but also provide the opportunity to learn valuable construction skills.
Host a BBQ
Off-grid cooking is a skill.
It’s true, organizing a BBQ event can serve as preparation for surviving in the wild. But let’s not refer to the kind of BBQs where expensive gas grills are used. Instead, construct a traditional BBQ pit and cook various types of food over an open flame. Additionally, test your skills in off-the-grid cooking techniques.
Play Paintball or Laser Tag
Abilities: Pursuing game, shooting accuracy, protection of oneself.
Acquiring outdoor survival skills may be challenging for urban dwellers. However, it is likely that a laser tag entertainment facility is accessible within your nearby shopping center. Perhaps there is also a nearby paintball arena.
Playing games may require a considerable expenditure, but believe me, they are of great value! Besides providing entertainment to everyone and helping to maintain good physical health, you will gain expertise in hunting and self-protection. Additionally, you will acquire the skill to elude attackers and maintain composure in challenging situations.
Take a First Aid Course
Proficiencies: Providing immediate medical assistance in emergency situations, saving lives.
It is highly recommended to invest in gaining knowledge on first aid basics, as it is a crucial skill that everyone should possess.
- How to stop heavy bleeding
- How to dress a wound
- Heimlich maneuver
- CPR
- How to treat shock
- How to treat hypothermia
The Red Cross offers a first aid course that you can locate here. Additionally, there could be several costless first aid courses available in your nearby vicinity.
Camping
Abilities include starting a fire, resting in the open air, preparing meals outside, and many other tasks!
To best prepare for surviving outdoors, the most effective approach is to actually venture outdoors.
Camping can teach you numerous survival skills while also enhancing children’s self-assurance. The most crucial aspect of surviving is becoming accustomed to the outdoors and feeling at ease in natural surroundings.
Regrettably, camping is becoming a more infrequent leisure activity. According to Orion Magazine, the number of National Park visits in the USA has decreased by 25% since 1987.
According to The Colorado Independent, a majority of children in Denver (80%) have not visited the nearby mountains, despite residing in close proximity.
In 2013, statistics revealed that camping was indulged in by only approximately 13% of the American population.
It’s advisable to take it easy if you’re new to camping. Avoid heading out to the most secluded mountain you can locate and attempting to endure.
These suggestions will guide you in commencing your camping adventure:
- Don’t have time to go camping? Camp in your yard. It isn’t exactly the wilderness, but you will still have to put up a tent and it will get you used to sleeping outdoors.
- Start with campground camping. This is the easiest because you can bring lots of gear in your car. After a few times with campground camping, you will better know how much gear you need to bring.
- Go camping with someone who already has experience. Learn from those who know!
- Buy the best gear you can afford. You don’t need anything really fancy, but that $20 tent isn’t going to cut it if it starts raining. If budget is an issue, borrow gear from people.
- Always check the rules and facilities before going to a campsite. Campsites can be very different, such as some have luxury facilities whereas others may have just an outhouse.
Survival Shelters: Best Designs and How to Build Them
1. Round Lodge
The round lodge is a fusion of various cultures, combining elements of the tipi, wicki-up and other architectural styles. It has the ability to protect against elements such as wind, rain, cold and sun. The structure of the round lodge follows that of a tipi, but with an additional solid doorway. Typically, it has a smoke hole on the roof and a small fire for warmth and light. It can be thatched with grass or mats, or even buried with leaf litter. Historical and prehistoric western America was abundant with this type of architecture, which was also utilized in damp climates, including pre-Roman Britain.
2. Ramada
In order to remain protected in sunny and warm surroundings, a shelter that has the ability to offer shade is necessary. Though the ramada’s flat roof cannot provide lasting rain protection, it does serve its purpose in shielding individuals from the intense sun rays. There are numerous versions of the ramada, but the majority usually include four supporting posts, some lightweight beams, and a fitting cover. Materials such as tarps, mats, or even natural brush work effectively as a roof covering for the ramada to act as a sun blocker. With the addition of detachable walls to block cool evening breezes, the ramada becomes an incredibly adaptable desert shelter.
3. Quinzhee
The quinzhee is a dome shaped snow shelter, similar in shape to an igloo, but much easier to construct. Snow must be just right to build an igloo, while most types of snowfall can be packed together for the quinzhee. To build one, start by piling up some moveable gear under a tarp. Backpacks are commonly used for this. Then pile snow over the tarp and gear. Pack the snow down, estimating when it is two feet thick all the way around. Next, insert 12 inch long sticks around the dome. Use 3 or 4 dozen of these guide sticks. Burrow into the side of the quinzhee, and retrieve the tarp and gear. Excavate snow inside the mound until you reach the base of every stick. This will ensure uniform thickness of the dome. Make a fist sized ventilation hole in the roof of the quinzhee.
4. Snow Cave
In areas with deep snow, a snow cave may be the only option for shelter. However, creating a snow cave is typically very dangerous, as the inhabitants could suffer from low oxygen or be buried alive if the ceiling collapses. It is crucial to carefully select the right type of snow when building a snow cave. Look for a deep, solid snow bank or drift and dig into the side of it to form a tunnel leading to a low spot, which is known as the “cold well.” This area allows colder air to collect. Create a shelf or platform to sleep on by digging up and over, making sure it is the highest part of the shelter. For ventilation, dig a small hole about 6 inches in diameter in the roof, especially if you plan on blocking the entrance with a doorway made of a backpack or large snow chunk.
5. Wedge Tarp
Ideal for gusty weather with a constant wind direction, the tarp shelter is designed with a wedge shape that effectively resists severe winds and rainfall. With at least 5 tether points, it is sturdier than most tarps and features two corners that double as rain collectors. Building the wedge tarp shelter requires securing two corners of the tarp in the direction of the wind (not the opposite corners), attaching a line to the center of the opposite side, and securing the remaining two corners close to the ground. For better circulation, use a less steep angle and longer cords for open wings. Tighten the last corners firmly for optimal weatherproofing. To collect water underneath the tarp, place rocks or wood under the initial tether points to form shallow basins. Not only does this shelter offer protection, but it also serves as a habitat and a water trap.
6. Tarp Wing
When you have a sizable tarp, this unique tarp configuration can effectively shield a vast region from rain; alternatively, it can offer protection to a smaller region if you have smaller tarps. During my instructional sessions, I usually utilize a tarp measuring 20 by 40 feet positioned in this style over my campfire spot. Nevertheless, I also spent a night under an 8 by 10 feet tarp in the same configuration. The design involves tying the wings of a tarp on opposing corners, two of them being high up, and the other two situated in lower positions. The tarp might flutter about resembling a loose sail during strong winds, but it’s incredibly practical for shielding against both the sun and rain.
7. Tarp Burrito
The tarp burrito is a simple shelter that can be set up in under 30 seconds without any unnecessary features. To set up, lay the tarp in a suitable location and fold one side over a third of the way before folding it in the same direction again to create a rolled seam, with one end tucked under to close it off and your sleeping bag placed inside. The seams will be underneath you, except for the door, which can be left closed or open depending on the weather. It’s important to note that while the tarp burrito is an affordable option, the lack of ventilation can result in moisture inside the shelter, making the sleeping bag damp in all but the driest conditions.
8. Tarp Tipi
Using just a bit of rope, poles, and a tarp, you can construct a versatile and mobile shelter known as the tipi, which has been utilized by Native Americans for centuries. Traditional tipis were initially covered in large hides but later switched to canvas. Nevertheless, any large fabric, ranging from parachute materials to sails or a tarp, can work for a quick field shelter. While many traditions go into the process of building a tipi, for a simple construction, it is advisable to use a straightforward approach. This involves bundling a few straight poles using a rope or linking several forked poles to secure the first three or four poles. Afterwards, encircle this central support with other poles, ensuring you cover the entire framework with your tarp and then tying it down firmly.
A useful suggestion is to create a door flap by bringing the tarp together, allowing it to be shut during inclement weather or left open for air circulation and exit.
