Skills/Preparedness Challenge

[crashdive123]

Wasn't sure where to put this because I didn't want to limit it to something like primitive skills, so here we are.

Here's how I'd like this to work....

People should make a post in this thread for skills or preparedness "challenges". After it looks like we've got a fair amount of ideas, I'll put up a poll. Members can then vote on the challenge they want to see themselves and others perform. Depending on the winning item, a time limit will be set for the challenge to be completed.

Make the challenges serious.

Make the challenges realistic.

Be as specific as you can on your challenge. If you want to see (and do) bow drill fires with materials only found in the wild, then say so. If you just want to see (and do) a bow drill fire regardless of where the materials came from - that's OK too. Another challenge could be preparing a threat assessment for where you live, or a family disaster plan. You are only limited by your imagination.

If a challenge cannot be completed in all geographies (building an igloo) we'll address that as it rises.

Document your successes or failures in the thread that picks the challenge. Pictures or videos when possible. Let others know what went right and what went wrong.

I would hope that everybody that suggests a challenge participate in the winning challenge, even if it was not their suggestion. Everybody that votes should also participate. Naturally, all are welcome.

So - with that being said - let the suggestions of challenges begin.

[pgvoutdoors]

Outstanding guidelines Crash!

[DOGMAN]

I think we should do a progression in importance of Wilderness Survival protocol....so maybe do a Feather stick and a twig bundle fire started with a striker or something along those lines. Then build a shelter: lean-to or wikkiup, or Mors Kochanski super shelter or something....just thinkin....

[Sourdough]

Here is my challenge: Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE. I request you NOT take a phone or any communications devise (but this is just a request). You can take as long as you want to build the shelter, even days if you want, but you must do it alone. You can take a flashlight, food, knives, axe, whatever, even 550 cord. But you must build it alone and you must sleep alone at least one night.

[intothenew]

.............Another challenge could be preparing a threat assessment for where you live, or a family disaster plan. You are only limited by your imagination...........

I like that you left it that open.


..............I think we should do a progression in importance of Wilderness Survival protocol....

That is my thinking. Start with a personal first aid kit, would be my suggestion.

[pgvoutdoors]

We need to remember that the base idea is "Boots in the Field" so what ever the topic, it should require us to get outdoors.

[crashdive123]

We need to remember that the base idea is "Boots in the Field" so what ever the topic, it should require us to get outdoors.

We're still going to do the quarterly boots in the field thingy. The "challenges" we do can encompass all aspects of stuff we talk about. It's all about learning, teaching and having a little fun along the way.

[crashdive123]

So far we've got...

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit

Dogman - I like your progression idea - do you want to throw out something specific for the first event?

[Winter]

I have a challenge I'd like to add. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.

[pgvoutdoors]

We're still going to do the quarterly boots in the field thingy. The "challenges" we do can encompass all aspects of stuff we talk about. It's all about learning, teaching and having a little fun along the way.

My mistake, I misunderstood. Running in and out of the forum like I do, I sometimes don't see the whole picture. I count on Crash and Rick to keep me straight, thanks.

[Sourdough]

I count on Crash and Rick to keep me straight, thanks.

That explains a lot.............:no: Never trust a man in a Hong.

[pgvoutdoors]

Sourdough - Is that Hong made in Hong Thong?

[crashdive123]

We have to have pictures, right?

I like the shelter idea, I used to have to do that yearly in sub zero weather to stay current on Cold Weather Indoctrination (CWI) and sleep in it with just the clothes on my back. I do loathe debris shelters as they seem kinda lazy. It takes about the same time to build something better crafted.

Can we change it from debris shelter to simply "shelter".?



I have a challenge I'd like to add. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength. (thats just enough to hang yourself with)

Pictures or videos are helpful, but not are requirement. Some that want to participate may not have a camera, and the whole idea is to get more people doing/participating/teaching/learning. They'll just need to paint a detailed picture with their words.

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.

[Sourdough]

I do loathe debris shelters as they seem kinda lazy. It takes about the same time to build something better crafted.

Can we change it from debris shelter to simply "shelter".?

Works for me, as that is what I plan to do as part of my caching program.

[rebel]

For priority, I would go with first aid.

[roar-k]

Any way we could do plant identifying? I think it's pretty important if you can identify both poisonous non-poisonous plants. I would emphasize doing this in a safe manner as just looking/taking pictures and no touching for the sake of safety and liability. Mostly because I know how some on the forum, Rick, like to taste anything they can put in their mouth.

Let's request 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use. This will not only get you to go on a hike, but you will know of poisonous plants in your area and to avoid them. On top of this you may learn about others as well.

[tjwilhelm]

Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE:

I did do this (past tense emphasized), before my "truck incident," last year. I know that probably doesn't count for meeting a current challenge; but, just to show I CAN do it, here are a few pics and a video. This was in the Wayne National Forest in Ohio, with a small group of guys with the Midwest Native Skills Institute. It was part of a "Survival Applications" course. We were "required" (one guy wimped out and went home) to go off into the forest, alone, out of sight and sound of anyone else's campsite. We each built a debris hut that we slept in for 5 nights. We gathered during the day, at a common area, and we got to tour each other's individual sites to share ideas and critiques. FUN stuff!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8006387603_1caa5159bd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006387603/)
DebbrisHut01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006387603/) by tjwilhelm148149 (http://www.flickr.com/people/tjflickr/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8006391172_371a36b1de.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006391172/)
DebrisHut02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006391172/) by tjwilhelm148149 (http://www.flickr.com/people/tjflickr/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8006387453_5702f52366.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006387453/)
DebrisHut03 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006387453/) by tjwilhelm148149 (http://www.flickr.com/people/tjflickr/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8041/8006391048_47dc2b739b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006391048/)
DebrisHut04 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflickr/8006391048/) by tjwilhelm148149 (http://www.flickr.com/people/tjflickr/), on Flickr


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp4exxGhWgY

[crashdive123]

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use

[crashdive123]

TJ - I remember when you originally did that. Good stuff.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

This is GREAT! My thoughts:

1. One should not venture far from "society" without a basic 1st Aid kit. I don't.

2. The pics show a GREAT shelter, though I hesitate to call it a "debris shelter". (This is a purely personal choice of words. As always, ywmv.)

3. Another challenge is to start a fire without matches, cigarette lighter or other 'modern' fire-starting implement. To moderate this just a bit, we should probably allow the modern-day version of flint-and-steel. I'm thinking a "firesteel" by whatever name, and a non-stainless knife or other striker.

-- Nighteyes

[Sarge47]

Here's a thought, why should the Boy Scouts be the only one to work on getting the "Survival Skills" Merit Badge? Maybe a challenge could be learning all of the requirements, one at a time, hmmm? :confused1:

[Winter]

............

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Here's a thought, why should the Boy Scouts be the only one to work on getting the "Survival Skills" Merit Badge? Maybe a challenge could be learning all of the requirements, one at a time, hmmm? :confused1:

Before moving to SoCal I was the Wilderness Survival merit badge counselor for about a dozen troops in south Alabama. One of my students failed his water purification test [which explains how I achieved a close, personal encounter with Giardiasis...]

[Sourdough]

We are getting bogged down with details. My objective was to get young people to realize they will be fine (Maybe a bit fearfull, but fine) if they are alone in the outdoors. I am going to build some good shelters near my wilderness caches. I don't plan to build overnight shelters, I am going to take a small chainsaw, 8" spikes, and lots of 6 mill visqueen, as I want then useable ten years from now.

Lets not get bogged down, lets remember the goal, learn & get people outdoors so as they can be comfortable in the wilderness, alone or otherwise.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

We are getting bogged down with details.

[<SNIP!>]

Lets not get bogged down, lets remember the goal, learn & get people outdoors so as they can be comfortable in the wilderness, alone or otherwise.

Not so sure we're getting bogged down here, but it IS your thread. Recall that if you lock any three of us in a room, there's gonna be at least five opinions in there with us...

Here is my own priority system, one that significantly predates the Rule of Threes:

1. Immediate Life Safety (Minutes)

2. Adequate Body Temperature (Hours)

3. Adequate Hydration (Days)

4. Adequate Nutrition (Weeks)

If we can teach young people how to meet the first three priorities in many different circumstances, we will have met 80% of their needs -- at least long enough for the SAR folks to do their jobs. Yes there's a big assumption there, but I'm trying very hard NOT to write an encyclopedia.

This is just my opinion which, with the addition of about a buck, can get you a cuppa coffee in most McDonalds restaurants.

[tjwilhelm]

This is GREAT! My thoughts:

1. One should not venture far from "society" without a basic 1st Aid kit. I don't.

2. The pics show a GREAT shelter, though I hesitate to call it a "debris shelter". (This is a purely personal choice of words. As always, ywmv.)

3. Another challenge is to start a fire without matches, cigarette lighter or other 'modern' fire-starting implement. To moderate this just a bit, we should probably allow the modern-day version of flint-and-steel. I'm thinking a "firesteel" by whatever name, and a non-stainless knife or other striker.

-- Nighteyes

I hear ya, Nighteyes, regarding the use of the phrase "debris shelter;" BUT, in spite of the obviously chain-sawed limbs, I really did only use local "debris." Just a month before we were there, a tornado skimmed over the forest and took down a number of good-sized trees. The Forest Service had come through and sawed down broken trees, and cut up large limbs that were across walking paths. When we arrived, the part of the forest I chose for my campsite was heavily "littered" with tons of sawed limbs and broken branches. Because it was natural, dead, and just laying there on the forest floor, I called it "convenient debris." LOL!

[crashdive123]

Guys - this is not a debate about what this should be. Go back and read the OP. If you want a challenge added to the poll then put it out there.

[crashdive123]

On the shelter issue again. One of my most basic wilderness rules is that I do not go out by myself. It's a safety issue.

I also wouldn't want my son missing out on this.

The challenge that Sourdough put out there is but one that is yet to be voted on. Rather than modify what somebody else wants to see, put up one that you want to see that will be added to the poll.

[Crabapple Plum]

Cooking an egg on a stick.

[Winter]

The challenge that Sourdough put out there is but one that is yet to be voted on. Rather than modify what somebody else wants to see, put up one that you want to see that will be added to the poll.

Point taken, will comply.

[crashdive123]

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use
5. Cooking an egg on a stick.

[tjwilhelm]

Oops! Sorry if I jumped the gun! I thought we'd being doing ALL the challenges! I didn't realize we'd be voting to select one (or more). I just thought I'd prime the pump on one of them already listed...

[crashdive123]

No worries. Hopefully we will eventually do them all. Figured we'd crawl a bit before we walk. As we progress with this I would hope to see something like (depending on difficulty) that we do 3, 4, 5, or more.

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use
5. Cooking an egg on a stick.

[pgvoutdoors]

Here's a thought, why should the Boy Scouts be the only one to work on getting the "Survival Skills" Merit Badge? Maybe a challenge could be learning all of the requirements, one at a time, hmmm? :confused1:

"Even a blind Sarge finds an idea now and then"

I like it! Complete the requirements for the BSA Wilderness Survival merit badge. Put'er on the list Crash.

Requirements: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/images/0/0a/Wilderness_Survival.pdf

[crashdive123]

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use
5. Cooking an egg on a stick.
6. Complete the requirements for the BSA Wilderness Survival merit badge.

[tjwilhelm]

Don't forget Nighteyes suggestion to make fire without matches...might want to make it more technique-specific so as to not be too easy.

[BENESSE]

How about a Bic lighter?

[wtrfwlr]

The challenge- Build a survival bow and shoot it.

You have 48 hours to build and shoot a survival bow. You can use any material and any type tools to build this bow. You can make an arrow or shoot a ready made arrow. You can use any type of cordage for a bowstring. The purpose of this challenge is to learn that you can build a bow that can be used to take small game for food if needed. Use your imagination for materials. There is no poundage limit or anything like that just try and imagine if you could shoot a rabbit or squirrel with your bow.

If you have a camera we would enjoy seeing some photos of the bow.

[Wildthang]

Start a fire on a rainy day using a fire steel only and with natural materials available in the woods, pictures or videos nust prove the challenge worked or failed!

[crashdive123]

When we get to 10 challenges I'll close this thread and put up the poll.

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use
5. Cooking an egg on a stick.
6. Complete the requirements for the BSA Wilderness Survival merit badge.
7. The challenge- Build a survival bow and shoot it.
8. Start a fire on a rainy day using a fire steel only and with natural materials available in the woods

[crashdive123]

Start a fire on a rainy day using a fire steel only and with natural materials available in the woods, pictures or videos nust prove the challenge worked or failed!

I added your challenge to the list. As stated previously in the thread - pictures are nice, but not a requirement. Also - some areas don't get much rain so your challenge - if selected will need to be modified.

[crashdive123]

Don't forget Nighteyes suggestion to make fire without matches...might want to make it more technique-specific so as to not be too easy.

I took his post to be some random thoughts on the topic, not a specific challenge.

[intothenew]

Bump. Two more out of literally thousands that I could think of.

[crashdive123]

I guess I'll add one and then we'll put up the poll.

The list of challenges so far

1. Build a debris shelter alone with no one else around to help, and then spend one night inside the shelter ALONE.
2. Start with a personal first aid kit
3. Make a 6ft piece of rope with natural materials, by hand, with at least 20 pounds of strength.
4. 3-5 IDs of poisonous plants and 3-5 non-poisonous plants that have a specific use
5. Cooking an egg on a stick.
6. Complete the requirements for the BSA Wilderness Survival merit badge.
7. The challenge- Build a survival bow and shoot it.
8. Start a fire on a rainy day using a fire steel only and with natural materials available in the woods
9. Go on a hike and prepare your meal on the trail.

[wtrfwlr]

Compass Navigation.
This is a team challenge where two people participate. Each will chart a short course in an area. One person lays out a course with at least 5 points, excluding a start and a finish. At each waypoint/checkpoint there is a tag to be placed and then collected by the partner. The course will be written down giving heading directions and distances to each point. Each person lays out a course and then exchanges it with the other to follow and complete.

This doesn't have to be a long drawn out hike and can be done in an area such as a park. The purpose is to become familiar with compass readings and directions as well as distances.

[crashdive123]

Sorry Duck Man - I already put the poll up (I'll add this challenge)