WIlderness Survival Merit Badge

[finallyME]

Can you believe it, it has already been 2 years since the last time I did this. In fact, I found this forum because I was looking for more information for the first time I took scouts out in the woods to teach the the Wilderness Survival merit badge. This is my 4th time doing this now. I had 1 year between the first and second time, 2 years between the 2nd and 3rd time, and 2 years between the 3rd and 4th time. I am starting to feel old. Anyways......

This is the 3rd time we have gone to this location. It is just a great location, so we keep coming back. If I am still a leader in 2 years, we will return again.

The activities were basically centered around giving the boys enough time to build their shelters. They almost had all day. While they were building, I interspersed teachings that including all the merit badge requirements. For dinner, we bought 3 live, domestic rabbits, and butchered them. This isn't part of the merit badge, but I like to add it. They aren't required to participate, and sometimes I get boys that decline. I let them go off where they can't see what is going on. I also talk with their parents about the rabbits before we go. I have never had a parent that didn't want their son to experience it.

Here are some shelters
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ljd1TE-5SBM/U-gS-jRgQuI/AAAAAAAAAis/jrWx1FWEnS4/w742-h557-no/IMG_5112.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1Yan0xXxazo/U-gTBN8GeJI/AAAAAAAAAiw/MrltTsy1izw/w742-h557-no/IMG_5113.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Afi07_szCQE/U-gTDmAVq5I/AAAAAAAAAjE/MmIdqolgg80/w742-h557-no/IMG_5115.JPG

My Assistant Scout Master built this one. He is kinda green when it comes to camping and wilderness stuff, but he is learning quickly
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xnAJAvRNy5Q/U-gS0_RcVkI/AAAAAAAAAh4/N6LVaJPIGKs/w990-h557-no/20140809_075831.jpg

Here are pictures of the rabbit fun.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1go4MGlUcQ/U-gTE8KI25I/AAAAAAAAAjI/iNRNZ0EUoWg/w720-h557-no/group%2Bpic.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WZyuRKL5X1HOxqFx3w3wSQCb2duKOL4AHkECOcxYtFQ=w742-h557-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JrNlQ6T667M/U-gS2oxjKVI/AAAAAAAAAiI/b2wP8qJmyN8/w742-h557-no/IMG_5101.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-udmKk-OaLvw/U-gS7umPJgI/AAAAAAAAAig/ydxekKiPvXQ/w742-h557-no/IMG_5108.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4QJhz1MzJqg/U-gTETmpZ5I/AAAAAAAAAi8/podyT4KKYEs/w720-h557-no/campire.jpg

I have never cooked rabbit (or anything really) in this manner, and thought it would be a good learning experience for me. It turned out to be pretty easy (as long as I had cotton string). The rabbits turned out very tasty, especially with the BBQ sauce.

Here is some of the fire making activities.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lj4Fu8pm6Y8/U-gS1AUdQ4I/AAAAAAAAAiA/sWAl_esjBig/w990-h557-no/20140809_093926.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AgWKbwiZUmo/U-gS0xuga2I/AAAAAAAAAh8/MpCXQ4D66ec/w990-h557-no/20140809_094237.jpg

I am still surprised how hard it is for people to get used to a ferro rod. But, with practice (at the expense of my ferro rod) they eventually get it.

Here is a video I made of the activity.

http://youtu.be/PTCl7pVlDq4

[Highhawk1948]

Great adventure. It does now and will mean a lot to them in the future.

[Logarius]

Outstanding. I have been a scout and scouter for the better part of 30 years. Nothing beats experience. Glad to see others passing on field craft. There are too many people that will starve surrounded by food that they do not know is there.

[pgvoutdoors]

Good job, I remember when you first started the survival training for Scouts. I'm glad your still at it, the Scouts are lucky to receive your experience.