DESCRIPTION:  Students will participate in role playing survival situations requiring them to build shelters, and choose which survival supplies they would utilize to help them survive in the wilderness. Students will also investigate how animals adapt to their environment to survive and see what can be learned from them.

OBJECTIVES: Students will

• Explain three ways animals adapt to their environment (migrate, hibernate, acclimate).
• Build a shelter using sticks and logs available in the forest.
• Identify the four basic elements animals & people need for survival (food, water, shelter, & air).
• Make observations on the design and function of animal and plant adaptations and recognize how they allow the organism to survive

AREA OF ACTIVITY:  Beech/oak forest behind camp fire site

MATERIALS PROVIDED:

• Pens and notebooks (one set per group)
• Logs and sticks in the forest
• Dry eraser markers and one eraser
• Survival Challenge sheets
• Survival equipment pack

PROCEDURES:    INTRODUCTION (20 minutes)

Wilderness survival is meant to give students a thorough understanding of what to do in the event that they should become lost in the wilderness. This is an opportunity for them to be creative when using items from “the list” to help them survive (first activity.) This lesson fosters teamwork skills, as students will work in groups trying to obtain their objectives. While walking with students to the activity area, discuss the following:

 How do students feel about being out in the forest?

What do they think their most important survival skills will be?

What should be their first priority – food, shelter or water?

Warm-up Activity

Begin by discussing the three ways in which animals adapt to their environment (hibernate, migrate, and acclimate), discuss examples of each. Bears adapt by naturally storing more fat in their bodies. During hibernation, a bear’s heart-rate will drop as well as their metabolism (rate at which they use food for energy).

Many birds fly south to warmer temperatures (migration), and many other animals store food in their newly created burrows (a form of acclimation).  How do we as humans adapt to our environment (acclimation)?  What are examples of how humans become acclimated to their environment (clothing, shelters, storing food, water)?

CENTERED ACTIVITY        (30-40 minutes)

If I were lost in the woods …

Begin this activity by telling students about the four basic things that animals need for survival (food, shelter, water, and air). Next, explain to them that we as humans (and all animals) need all of these things for our survival, and ask them which ones are most important (answers may vary).

Now explain to the students that they are going to pretend that they’re lost in the woods. There is plenty of air to breathe, however, they are hungry, thirsty, and it is quite chilly and temperatures will drop as night falls. Ask the students which elements are most important to them in this situation. Would they find water first, would they look for food, or would they try to find shelter? In this situation, finding shelter would be most important since it is going to get cold soon, and being exposed to the cold is very dangerous. Here’s why: Hypothermia occurs when your body loses more heat then it generates. Since we do not have a shelter available, overexposure to the cold could result in death. The second most important thing to do is find water. Humans can generally survive a week without water, and go without food for up to three or four weeks. Therefore, finding food should be the least important element.

Survival Wish List

First divide the students into groups (3-5 per group). Explain that they have been separated from their hiking group and are now stranded. The group was hiking in a remote wilderness area with a creek that runs into a lake that appears to be far removed from civilization. Soon it will be dark so the groups must now make preparations to stay overnight. Explain that there is a box of supplies found in their various backpacks. Hand out the sheets entitled “survival supplies“. They will then decide how to use 10 of the 15 items on the list. Have the groups use their notebooks to write down their items and how they plan on using them.

The teacher may assign more or less than 10 items on the list and pretend that the remaining items have been forgotten and are no longer in the backpacks. Remember that they may have to spend many days in the wilderness, and should prepare accordingly. Groups should utilize their items in terms of survival and signaling (smoke from fire perhaps.)

The last thing the students will do is prioritize their items and number them 1-10 in terms of importance. After the groups are done, ask each group to tell the rest of the group their strategy for survival. Which items had the most priority? Which ones had the least? Why?

(Option) The teacher may want to assign specific weather conditions for each group individually, or one weather condition for all groups (specific weather conditions require specific strategies). If not, we will assume the weather is relative to current conditions.

Here are some suggestions for the items and their uses:

• 20ft rope- tie between two trees and use the tarp like a tent by laying it over the rope
• 10x10ft tarp- use as a shelter, or as a means to collect water
• matches- starting fire, fire used for warmth and signalling
• hand saw- good for cutting branches, branches can be used for shelter and fire wood (do not actually allow students to use a saw)
• mirror- signalling device
• gallon of water- good for drinking, empty container used for collecting rain run-off
• one day supply of food- good for rationing, used as bait
• pocket knife- skinning fish and animals
• compass- good for knowing direction (shelter opening should face south, since sun from south is the warmest
• kite string- for reinforcing branches of shelter, used as fishing line and animal snares
• fishing hooks- used with kite string and strong branch for fishing pole
• flashlight- used for seeing at night as well as signalling
• candle- used for transporting fire without wasting matches, light at night and for signalling
• blanket- used for staying warm
• shovel- used for digging up roots (food), insects and worms (bait or food).

Home Sweet Home 

Take the students to the forest and divide them into groups of 3-6. Next, explain that they are going to make a small one or two-person shelter using sticks and logs. Important – (Only use items that have naturally fallen off the trees. They may not break off branches from any of the trees under any circumstances.)

The easiest type of shelter to make is the lean-to. The lean-to is made by placing a sturdy log on branches between two trees. Several other long sticks will lean against this one to create a shelter much like a tent half. Logs and sticks could be placed on both sides to complete the shelter if time permits. Upon completion of the lesson, please have students return their materials to the areas where they found them. (If students are disappointed, explain to them that this represents a bad storm or tornado). Many animals lose their homes when a storm passes through.

Optional Activities

The Survival Challenge

If there is extra time or if the weather does not cooperate the Survival Challenge exercise provides questions that can spark discussion and bring out additional survival topics. Have the students divide into groups of 3-5. Tell the students that they will be asked a series of questions that will challenge their knowledge of wilderness survival. Read the questions and have them decide in groups which answers are correct. The teacher may want to pose the question with multiple choice answers. When everyone is done, discuss correct answers.

CONCLUSION

Discuss the three ways animals adapt to their environment and have students give examples of each. Hibernation: When an animal such as a bear goes into a deep sleep over the course of the winter. During this time, the rate of his heart, as well as the rate at which the animal uses fat for energy declines considerably. Migration: When an animal travels from one region or climate to another (i.e. birds) Acclimation: When an animal adapts to new temperatures, altitudes, climate, or environment (some animals grow a thick coat of fur in preparation for winter).

Lastly, discuss the most effective ways that humans adapt to their environment. (They build homes, wear clothes, and store food and water). What are the most important ways humans could survive if they were lost in the wilderness? (Build a shelter, stay warm, find water and food). Is there anything that we can learn from animals about surviving in nature?

SOME SURVIVAL TRICKS AND TIPS

Survival is serious business. We leave the recreational exercises and the stalking of the wild hickory nut to those who address it in the scores of popular books available now. We can distil our philosophy of survival down into two words. “Staying Alive.” Therefore, we must have some basic rules for survival.

Rules for Survival

1. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. If you change your general area, tell someone of that change.
2. Never go into a wilderness area by yourself. Unavoidable accidents do happen.
3. Wear proper clothing and take proper equipment. The weather can and will change.
4. If you do get lost or stranded. Stay Put. They will find you if you have followed rule No. 1.
5. Learn how to use a compass, take a map of the area and orient yourself before leaving camp.
6. Always carry a survival kit and know how to use it. A survival kit in the hands of someone who does not know how to use it can kill.

DON’T PANIC If you become lost in the wilderness, the worst thing to do is panic. When you panic, you lose your wits and you will no longer be able to think logically. If you feel fear, then take a few deep breaths to calm down, and then focus on how you can better your position. Doing something positive will increase your confidence, which is important for survival.

Fatigue is another factor that you must take into consideration. When fatigue sets in, your judgment becomes cloudy, and you will begin to make careless mistakes. Extreme fatigue may destroy your desire for survival, and it will lead to feeling hopeless. The cause of fatigue is overexertion, as exertion burns up calories and causes perspiration that wastes body fluids. Therefore, to help reduce the risk of fatigue, your movements should be slow and deliberate.

Fire is one of the most important requirements for survival. It provides warmth, dries your clothes, and acts as a signal. For any outdoor excursion (i.e. camping, hiking, berry picking, etc.), you should carry matches in a waterproof container. Fires can also be started by using glass, lighters, and flint and steel.

DON’T BECOME HOPELESSLY LOST! In cases of low visibility, or when you are without compass and map, and you can’t backtrack easily, sit down and think. Have a bite to eat. Think about where the trail should be or was and figure out which direction you came from. Then go back if you’re 100% sure. If uncertain, tie a flag visible from all directions to a tree or some high point, and walk a circle around the flag, moving as far away as you can while still keeping the flag in sight as you look for the trail. If you don’t find the trail, seriously consider making camp; don’t rush off haphazardly. If you have to, find shelter. Mark your path with piles of rocks, tied bunches of grass, or twigs – something you will easily see if you cross your path again.

After you find shelter, start exploring the area carefully being mindful not to lose sight of your camp, as you look for familiar territory or roads. Look for roads in the distance, on the sides of hills, or across meadows. They are generally straighter than any natural phenomenon. Climb a tree! Look for lights at night. If you find some, mark the direction on the ground, and look for rooftops or other signs of habitation in the morning. Sniff the air! You may be able to detect smoke from a camp or habitation. Note the wind direction and mark your trail so you can find your way back if you lose the scent. Don’t try moving cross-country at night. Even a full moon can throw tricky shadows and make footing difficult, hiding pitfalls, etc.

SHELTER. When choosing shelter for the night, look for a spot that won’t be flooded and is protected from the wind on as many sides as possible. Wind direction commonly shifts during the course of a night. Always put twice as much insulation under you as over you. With a little padding, a shallow hip and shoulder hole will increase comfort. On cold nights, don’t pick valley bottoms or hollows; cold air will collect there. In some areas a lean-to with a fire in front is one of the easiest shelters to construct from natural materials. (See: Lean-to illustration.)

CLOTHING: Extra clothes can be lifesaving. Your head, hands, and feet are the “radiators” of your body. If they are warm, you’ll be warm, so extra dry socks, gloves, and a wool stocking cap can be valuable for their light weight. A light wool sweater is also useful. Wool is the only fabric that insulates when wet. When dry, it is one of the best insulating fabrics since it (unlike nylon) breathes and allows perspiration to escape.  Cotton easily draws heat away from the body when it gets damp – that is why search and rescue personnel say ― “cotton kills” in the wrong weather conditions.