Homeschool Unit Study - Wilderness Survival

I thought this article "Be a Grown Up Boy Scout, The Wilderness Survival Skills Everyone Should Know," was a great starting point for an excellent homeschooling unit.  Not only would be it be invaluable for your child to know, understand and master some of these skills, it would be a learning experience for most adults as well.

With some preparation you could do one of the below sections with your child or entire family each weekend or on a schedule that works for your family.

After you conquer these skills you will have enough knowledge to continue your education in this area and seek out articles, videos, books and local training groups for more advanced wilderness survival.

First Aid
Build a small first aid kit and pretend to treat a couple of types of medical emergencies.

Some Ideas about WHAT should be in your First Aid Kits.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/firstaid_kit.html
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit/anatomy
http://offgridsurvival.com/30-things-you-should-have-in-your-medical-kits/

Online Training Videos
Basic First Aid Training Video 33 min - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI9qRMjFutM
First Aid Training Video - How To Perform ABC's of CPR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI9qRMjFutM


Shelter
Discuss importance of shelter, build a sheltering kit, go out in woods and build a quick shelter

http://www.theprepperjournal.com/2014/02/18/make-shelter-woods/
http://scoutingmagazine.org/2013/08/how-to-build-an-emergency-shelter-if-youre-lost-in-the-woods/

Online Training Videos
Shelter Basic Tarp Setups 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YoS6ywMkwM
How To Make A Shelter In The Woods - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJmYAUk5guY
Walking in the Woods-Episode One-Shelter and Fire Building - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpmz0Bxng
Kids Building a Shelter in the Woods - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY8DF9wjJQM
Kids Build a Wilderness Shelter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlKVBSoo6p0

Fire Starting
Pack fire starting tools, practice starting fires with and without these tools

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fire-Without-Matches-or-a-Lighter
http://www.peakprosperity.com/wsidblog/79894/9-ways-make-fire-without-matches
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/04/29/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/

Online Training Videos
Walking in the Woods-Episode One-Shelter and Fire Building - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpmz0Bxng
How to start a fire by friction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuRsZghPFYQ

Finding Water/Food
Pack emergency water/filter/food, go into woods and find something to eat and drink

http://simplehomeschool.net/forage-for-wild-edibles/
http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Wild-Edible-Plants
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/8-weeds-you-can-eat
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/10/06/surviving-in-the-wild-19-common-edible-plants/

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/purifying-the-water-while-camping.html
http://news.discovery.com/adventure/survival/top-ways-to-purify-water-in-the-wilderness.htm

Online Training Videos
Wild Food Foraging (Spring) - Wild Food School #1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQclbM-9pnI
Edible Weeds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ern6vW1F5Lg
Basic Wilderness Survival Skills : Wilderness Survival: Water Purification Tablets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQE0V3wvIiI



Basic Hygiene
Pack hygiene kit, discuss importance of hygiene, address particular dangers of uncleanliness, go into woods and dig a trench or hole latrine, practice the safe hygiene methods available

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?1442-Wilderness-Hygiene-and-Sanitation
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-and-Use-a-Slit-Trench-Latrine
http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-information-184.html


Online Training Videos
Hygiene Skills For the Outdoors - http://on.aol.com/video/hygiene-skills-for-the-outdoors---wilderness-survival-skills-517661482

Navigation Skills
Discuss navigational terms, methods and tools, read and pack a local map, compass, go for a short drive in the area and hike back.

http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/finding-direction.html
http://blog.outdoorherbivore.com/wilderness/directional-navigation/#.UyCxqHZX-uY
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/improvising-navigation-in-the-wilderness.html
http://survivalist101.com/tutorials/outdoor-skills-101/wilderness-navigation/
http://nhtramper.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/wilderness-compass-navigation-primer/

Online Training Videos
Teaching : How to Teach Young Children to Use the Compass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEAk_qurSY4
Wilderness Navigation Basics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF2UOADNg3Q

Here's to hoping your family has an AMAZING experience learning these skills together!

Need Supplies, Here are some GREAT Online Stores

http://beprepared.com/
http://www.amazon.com/outdoor-gear/b/ref=sa_menu_outrec?ie=UTF8&node=706814011


Other GREAT Articles, and Videos Along These Lines.....

http://www.endtimesreport.com/
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/01/modern-homesteading-skills.html
http://thehomesteadsurvival.com/huge-list-homesteading-skills-learn/
http://beforeitsnews.com/self-sufficiency/2012/12/101-basic-homesteading-skills-2450792.html
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basic%20wilderness%20survival%20skills&sm=3


Additional Resources for this unit study
http://blog.lasonador.com/2016/01/homeschool-unit-study-wilderness.html

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