Wilderness Survival 2005

We have less than 2 weeks left before our famous Troop 149 Wilderness Survival trip. We have had a good response to the trip and will probably have six survival teams. I hope each of you has been giving some thought to surviving in the wilderness and what you will do to prepare for the trip. Remember, you will need to survive for 2 days and nights in the woods without tents, sleeping bags, or plentiful food. The keys to successfully completing the trip are teamwork, training, preparation, and, most importantly, a positive mental attitude.

We have been working on survival skills over the past three Tuesday meetings. On our past trips, Scouts who have done some extra research of survival skills have done better on the trip. Many web sites on the internet offer resources for learning wilderness survival skills. Here are two that I think will be helpful as you prepare:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/

This is an excellent, comprehensive site based on the U.S. Army Survival Field Manual 21-76.

Sections on Firecraft and Shelter are particularly good (with plenty of illustrations). I would encourage everyone to explore this site and learn as much as you can.

http://www.usscouts.org/mb/wkbks/mb117.pdf

The requirements for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge.

We will be having our last full training meeting this Tuesday night (April 12th). It is very important that everyone going on the trip be there. We will be concentrating on:
1. Shelter construction
2. Food preparation and cooking

Important Note: Everyone going on the trip as survivors will have to attend the Troop meeting the week of the trip (Tuesday April 19th). If you are not at the meeting to participate in planning, you will not be placed on a team and allowed to go on the trip. Also, this is one of the few trips where you do not have to wear your Class A uniforms for travel. Survival participants will travel in their survival clothing.

We will see you Tuesday night!

YIS,
Shawn "Tumbleweed" Turk
Philmont 2004 - Crew 616-A4
Appalachian Trail Georgia Throughhiker 2004
Sore and Tired Dad Club 2004