So, you've been roped into taking a pack of curious, high energy kids on an outing into or near a wilderness area. This is an area for concern but not panic!
Preparation is the key. All the kids should have a small pack with survival essentials onboard. High energy food bars, water, first aid and communication devices of some kind. Everyone in the party should have a shrill whistle made for signaling in an emergency. This includes the adults. I'll tell you why.
Educate the kids before you get in the vehicle for the trip. They should know what you expect of them. Also, they should know that as soon as they feel they have lost their direction, STOP, BLOW THAT WHISTLE AND STAY PUT! When a leader of the group hears the whistle they should respond with their whistle. This reassures the child but should be stressed that it is not a call for them to follow. The whistles of the child are the ones to be followed to their location. The kids should be instructed not to blow their whistle in response but only to use their whistle if they are lost or in danger. The other children SHOULD NOT try to find their missing buddy without close supervision. I'll tell you why!
This technique at the same time should be used to signal injury or dangerous situations. If one of your party has fallen into a revene, you don't want everyone running toward the same danger. If the kids are mature enough you could make a system of signals. Say 1 whistle for lost, 2 for danger or injury. That's your call. And there should always be someone that stays at the campsite with their whistle to signal you back in if needed. 3 whistles could be the signal for base camp.
Let the kids know you mean business. You like to have fun and are a fun person, BUT, you will be taken seriously about the rules you lay down. So, educate them well, be a strong leader, follow these suggestions and use common sense and all should be fine. If a child gets hurt or lost because of the unavoidable, these techniques will increase the odds of a good outcome tremendously!
There is nothing like a GPS. Set it to locate your base camp location as soon as you arrive and never be without it. I LOVE THE GPS!
Thanks for stopping by!
About Me
- Eric Reighard
- United States
- As a youth growing up on the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas I became enthralled with the outdoors. I loved fishing, hunting, camping, backpacking and all things away from civilization. So much so that I didn't do all that well in my schooling. I didn't go to college then and decided on enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces. My decision to go into the Air Force changed my way of thinking in a lot of ways. I learned discipline and leadership skills needed in my survival training that followed. My primary AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) was Nuclear Weapon System Technician. Minute Man missiles at that time were spread out over the northern tier of states in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Missouri. Some of this area was very remote and dangerous especially in the winter months. We were trained in mountain as well as cold weather survival. -30 degerees F. was common with winds up to 60 mph steady. Life can be short in these conditions. My secondary AFSC was Air Force Search And Recovery. Our team could be called to do searches for downed aircraft and survivors anywhere in the world. I still love the outdoors and sharing about surviving natural and man made disasters.
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