Applied Outdoor Survival Skills Weekend part 1 - Beginner

This is long overdue. Many members have requested an outdoor camping trip that incorporates the skills learned in our meetups. There are several seasoned members that are willing to volunteer their time and skills to help those that need practical experience.

More details will follow soon. Here is the basic outline.

1. Members and their kids ( of an age and mindset able to focus ) will meet at a preset location and will caravan to the site. These folks will have all of their own camping gear, water and food for a weekend. Anyone under the age of 18 must be under the constant supervision of their parent or guardian, no exceptions. Also while we are all respectful of individuality we do ask that no alcohol be a part this trip.

We will leave at 5:30pm. We will arrive to our preselected campsites (in PA) before 7:30pm. There will be toilets available. If you don't have the needed camping gear try borrowing from a friend or talk to Fernando and we can work something out. There will be site fees at a minimum of $5.00 per head to be collected at the initial meeting on Friday at 5:30pm.

2. We will set up our individual camps before 8pm. Those who need help pitching tents and getting oriented will receive that assistance from those of us with many trail miles to our history.

3. On Friday night a communal camp fire will be lit and we can acclimate to our surrounds before retiring for the night. Marshmallows will be provided free to all! :)

4. Saturday will be full of fun and engaging workshops.
   Preset mealtimes will be set aside for you to eat and relax.

Workshops will include :
a. Water gathering
b. Native fishing and frogging techniques
c. Effective simple shelter building
( natural materials, 550 para cord, duct tape and 3mil plastic sheeting will be used )
d. Making and setting snares and deadfalls
e. Firewood and tinder gathering ( for use in your fire later)
f. Fire starting and fire control
( Bowdrilling, magnesium sparking , different fire formations for different needs, extinguishing )

5. After breakfast on Sunday some will take a brief hike or you can take your time packing up camp.
   We will be on the road home by 12 noon.
   Back before 2pm , with the rest of your day to unload and unwind.

This is designed for beginners and is a prerequisite for participation in
Applied Outdoor Survival Skills Weekend part Part 2 - Advanced which will focus on far more difficult skill sets . Part 2 will put all of Part 1 to use but will not include the luxuries of tents, toilets and sleepingbags. Rather Part 2 will rely exclusively on the contents of our recommended Survival Kit with minimal food packed in.

Here is a list of what you may want to bring :
tent / sleepingbag with mat / water ( 1-2 gal. per person) / spare clothes / food ( 3 meals for Sat & 1 for Sun) / flashlight / knife or leatherman / bug repellent / folding chair / boots / toilet paper

Here is the Survival Kit list, you will not need a complete kit for Part 1 but it is to your advantage to have most of it. This kit is lightweight and very compact. Easily kept in your car or backpack
a. Leatherman Wave / Gerber Multitool
b. 8" zip ties - 30 ea
c. 3 mil. 55 gal Contractor bags - 2 to 3 ea
d. 3 mil. clear plastic sheet - 8ft x 10ft
e. 550 parachord - 50 ft
f. Duct tape - 20 to 30 ft on a flat roll
g. Signal mirror
h. LED flashlight with a switch
i. Unlubricated , unribbed condoms - 3 ea ( the thicker the better )
j. Compass - button compass ( with moving face) is preferred to the needle compass
k. Whistle - it is better have a whistle without a ball inside
l. Latex surgical tubing - 6 to 10 ft
m. Clear medium or tall trash bags - 2 to 4 ea
n. Butane Bic lighter 1 ea
o. Strike anywhere matches dipped in wax ( not too thick)
p. Firestarters - fuelsticks or cotton/petrojelly balls in foil - 8 or more ea
q. Magnesium spark stick
r. Gatoraid / electrolyte powder
s. Medium sized fishing hooks 10 ea
t. Small bottle of chlorine bleach
u. Bandana, large - 1 ea
v. hoop needle, large - 1 ea
w. Travel sized baby wipes - 1 pack
x. Gauze pads - 2 ea
y. Powerbars - 3 to 6 ea
z. Triple antibiotic salve / Neosporin

If you have any questions or ideas for this trip, please contact Fernando ASAP. This will be a solid survival basics course but we will approach it at a relaxed pace. There are good memories to be formed and valuable life lessons to be kept. Information that can never be taken away from you.