Additional Topics

There are a number of topics that can be covered during a 1 Day or Weekend Survival Class.  Here is a listing of what topics are available with a short description and time required below.

Workshop Descriptions (and approx. time requirements)Boy_Sc4

Survival Skills Overview and “Lost Proofing”  (45 minutes) – This is an interactive discussion on what it means to be lost, a persons reaction to that situation and outlines a course of action to take in you find yourself “lost”.  A detailed overview of Shelter, Fire, Water and Food as well as the “Rules of 3” will be discussed.

Workshop Descriptions (and approx. time requirements)

Survival Skills Overview and “Lost Proofing”  (45 minutes) – This is an interactive discussion on what it means to be lost, a persons reaction to that situation and outlines a course of action to take in you find yourself “lost”.  A detailed overview of Shelter, Fire, Water and Food as well as the “Rules of 3” will be discussed.

Fire Making Foundations (2 hrs.)  This is our most popular course choice.  It covers tinder, fire-lays how to correctly construct a Tee-Pee fire-lay, 1-match fires, spark-based fires, making char cloth and traditional flint and steel fires.  Scouts will construct their own Tee-Pee fire-lays as  well as make char cloth.  They will also make fire with flint and steel.

Bow Drill Fire Making (2 hrs.)  Let your scouts learn the  traditional “age old” Bow Drill fire making method.  the participants can elect to learn with our sets or we will teach them how to carve their own and have it to take home with them.

40+ Ways to Make Fire (1 hrs.)  Advanced fire making techniques covers other primitive fire making techniques like the, hand drill, fire pistons and fire saw as well as more modern ways like flashlights, soda cans and even ICE!

Water (1.5 hrs.)  During this class, scouts discuss our need for water.  The scouts will have an opportunity to build several water collection methods (i.e. solar stills, rain water collection systems and Indian wells.)  Filter vs. purifiers will also be reviewed with a focus on the uses of each.

Edible and Medicinal Plants (2.5 hrs. / April – October) Edible and medicinal plants is designed to show your troop how to look at common weeds in a new way.  This class includes a slide Boy_Sc3show, plant walk and then the opportunity to try their hands at one of a variety of projects.  This may be a medicinal salve, making acorn flour or cooking up a batch of Queen Anne’s Lace jelly.

Making Beef Jerky (1 hr)  We need to construct a tri-pod using both the tri-pod and square lash as everyone participates in slicing and marinating the meat before its placed on the drying rack.

Fish Filleting (1 Hr.) Learn the various ways to prepare a fish for the dinner table including making a “survival stew”, gutting and roasting, and actually filet your own fish that you will then cook in a foil frying pan you make over the fire.

Traps (2 hrs.) Here we cover primitive traps such as Dead Falls, Snares, Ojibwa Bird Trap, Fish traps and various primitive triggers.

Knots (1 hrs.) It seems every scout knows knots but he reality is many can not reproduce them or use them in a practical application.  This class is full of hands on work and gets your scouts involved in making a drying rack to smoke meat.  Knots covered are the Clove Hitch, Sheet Bend, Constrictor, Taut-line, Prussic, Tripod Lash, Square Lash and the Bottle knot.Erie Class Shelter

Shelters (2.5 hrs.)  In this class your scouts will talk about types of shelters, how to select the best location based on weather and available materials, how to use a poncho as a shelter and then actually construct a lean-to or debris hut shelter that they can sleep in overnight if they elect to..

Cordage (45 min.) Learn how to make unbreakable rope using common weeds found in fields.

Camouflage (1 Hr.) Learn the principals of Camouflage, how to make the clothing your wearing work for you, and how to use natural materials to make yourself “invisible” in the woods.

Knife Sharpening (1 hr.) Ask any outdoor skills expert what one item they can’t do without and most will reply “a sharp knife.”  Most scouts have knives but few know how to properly care for them or get that “razor sharp” edge.  This is a skill your scouts will use for a lifetime.

Survival Kits (45 Minutes) Learn the essentials of putting together an effective  “Survival Kit”.  We will also lay out a plan for your troop to continue evolving each persons “survival Kit” during your future meetings.Compass

Navigation (2.0 hrs.) This class takes the mystery out of navigation techniques.  With our 4-step program an eight year old can understand and deal with declination.  Your scouts will work with compasses, learn to read natural navigation markers, pace for distance, and take and walk bearings.  They will also learn to read and interpret topographical maps.

Constellations and Night-time Navigation (45 min) Learn how to use star charts, navigate using the starts, identify and see satellites and Iridium flares and identify the circumpolar as well as seasonal constellations.  Learn the tricks to locate Milky Way, see where the “center” of our galaxy is, and discover why the North Star appears not to  move and what star will be the new North Star in the future.

Night Vision and Infrared Demonstration (45 min) We will discuss how the current military issue Gen # Night Vision goggles work and we will have an opportunity to see the night “light up” when looking through our Gen 3 Night Vision Goggles as well as our Infrared monocular

Outdoor Cooking (3 hrs.) This class looks at some unconventional ways to cook a meal. Scouts will construct a keyhole fire pit, boil water with rocks, and make foil ovens.  They will cook fish in clay, Cornish hens using hot rocks, make ash cakes and stick bread and top it all off with an apple pie that they’ll bake themselves.

Awareness (1 hr.) This is an opportunity for your scouts to slow down and e-experience their surroundings.  Scouts will learn to fox walk and use wide angle vision.  They’ll participate in an exercise we call “the slows”.  They’ll try matching the speed of nature and they’ll stalk up to the fire.  This activity is mandatory if the “Blind Drum Stalk” exercise is done.

Hide Tanning (Demonstration only) – 1 hr., Hands-on 3 hrs.) Learn how to easily tan an animal hide using household products.  We’ll discuss brain tanning, hair removable, drying, scraping and breaking hides.

Primitive Weapons (2 hrs.) This class gives your troop the chance to try their hands at using throwing sticks, atlatls and blow guns.  They’ll find a new appreciation for primitive man’s hunting techniques and have fun at the same time.  This activity can focus on a single weapon like the throwing stick or atlatl and the participants can make their own, learn how to become proficient with it and take it home.  The throwing Sticks and Atlatl are a very popular topic with Scouts.

Boomerang Throwing (1 Hr.)  Learn the techniques to successfully throw a boomerang and have it return to you.  This topic can be expanded to have the participants finish a boomerang kit so that it can be taken home.  Our boomerangs are patterned after the Australian Outback Boomerangs and should not be confused with many of the store bought ones that may look similar but

Knife Sharpening (1 hr.) Ask any outdoor skills expert what one item they can’t do without and most will reply “a sharp knife.”  Most scouts have knives but few know how to properly care for them or get that “razor sharp” edge.  This is a skill your scouts will use for a lifetime.

Survival Kits (45 Minutes) Learn the essentials of putting together an effective  “Survival Kit”.  We will also lay out a plan for your troop to continue evolving each persons “survival Kit” during your future meetings.

Outdoor Cooking (3 hrs.) This class looks at some unconventional ways to cook a meal. Scouts will construct a keyhole fire pit, boil water with rocks, and make foil ovens.  They will cook fish in clay, Cornish hens using hot rocks, make ash cakes and stick bread and top it all off with an apple pie that they’ll bake themselves.

“Blind Drum Stalk” Exercise – This is an activity that many of the Native Americans had their young people participate in to enhance their awareness skills and develop an awareness of their “sixth sense” abilities.  After dark a fire is made and each participant is led a good distance away from the fire and is then blindfolded.  When everyone is positioned at their starting spot the leader of the activity returns to the campfire and begins to beat a drum at a rate of about 1 beat every 20 seconds.  The blindfolded participants then begin to walk to the fie/sound of the drum using their feet (Fox Walk) and expanding their awareness (Wide Angle vision) to successfully negotiate the unfamiliar terrain while blindfolded. Note: Non-focused participants under the age of 10 typically view this activity as a “race” and do not reap the full benefits from the activity

Primitive Weapons (2 hrs.) This class gives your troop the chance to try their hands at using throwing sticks, atlatls and blow guns.  They’ll find a new appreciation for primitive man’s hunting techniques and have fun at the same time.  This activity can focus on a single weapon like the throwing stick or atlatl and the participants can make their own, learn how to become proficient with it and take it home.  The throwing Sticks and Atlatl are a very popular topic with Scouts.

Mountain Man Breakfast (90 min.) Make your very own mountain man breakfast on red hot coals from the fire with flour, water, baking powder to make Ash Cakes and Stick Bread.  Compliment the meal with some “salt cured” bacon or sausage.

Camp Crafts (see individuals activities below)
Eating Utensils (2 hrs.) Scouts will burn out a soup bowl and make eating utensils.
Candle Lanterns (1 hr.) Individuals participate in making pop can lanterns and hand dipped candles.
Camp Furniture (1 hr.) Learn how to make tripods, chairs and tables.