Winter Camp: Survival Skills

We started 2019 off with a weekend of winter camp at Camp Teka in Paris, Ontario. This year, we were joined by the 1st Tillsonburg Pathfinders which meant we had almost equal numbers of Guides and Pathfinders! Our theme was Survival Skills and Winter Outdoors, with the majority of our program  based on two activities from the Girls First Platform - "Emergency Strikes-Trapped Indoors" and "Emergency Strikes-Lost Outdoors".

On Friday, we started out by dividing everyone up into mixed-age Patrols and did some getting-to-know you activities to get everyone talking. Our first program activity was making personal first aid kits. We used small square containers and filled them with gauze pads, bandages, tape and gloves. 

We then began "Emergency Strikes - Trapped Indoors" using the scripts and instructions on the platform. To start out, each Patrol had a list of supplies to divide up into those that should definitely be in an emergency preparedness kit and those that might be in one. They then had to choose 5 items from the maybe list to leave out of their kit. Each Patrol was then provided with an emergency kit, less any of the items they had decided to leave out. We did not provide every item on the list, just those that would be used during the scenarios. (Bottle of water, can opener, first aid kit, tea lights in cans, matches, toilet paper, knife, garbage bags, food for snack). Interestingly, 3 out of 4 Patrols decided that they didn't need a can opener in their kit...

The scenario uses an extreme weather emergency and all activities were done by flashlight (simulated power outage) as we worked through the following activities:

• Preparing the Shelter - Learn how to set up a safe space to weather the storm.
• Staying Calm - Practice techniques for staying calm during an emergency.
• Food Preparation - Girls had to prepare and eat a snack of cheese, crackers and canned fruit salad using only the supplies they had in their kit. (Those Patrols without can openers were allowed to sing a song as a group to receive this important item!)
• First Aid Skills - Find out how to bandage a cut and how to put on an arm sling and then practice on each other.
• Contacting EMS - Find out ways to alert EMS that you need help when phone lines and cell reception is not available.
• Relieving Boredom - Come up with, and practice, activities you can do in a small space with no equipment to keep your group positive and entertained.

After finishing the scenario, we cleaned up and then set up the mattresses for bed. Some time for quiet activities was planned, followed by lights out and sleep - for most of us!

Saturday morning started a bit later than expected, but we still enjoyed a breakfast of waffles, fruit, bacon and tater tots. After cleaning up and putting the mattresses and sleeping gear away, we headed outside for our second scenario - "Emergency Strikes - Lost Outdoors". Each Patrol was provided with a survival kit and a set of activity cards to work through. Their survival kits contained a bottle of water, duct tape, matches, fire starters, garbage bags, toilet paper, whistle, twine, tarp, rope, newspaper, compass, snack (granola bars), first aid kit, tin can and a magnifying glass.

• Survival Kit List - Rank a list of items in order of importance in a first aid kit - Patrol members needed to agree on rankings.
• Shelter Building - Build a shelter using tarp, rope and natural materials that your entire Patrol can fit inside.
• Preparing for a Storm - Review survival priorities and what you can do to prepare.
• Fire Building - Light a fire and boil water in a can.
• Staying Calm - Practice techniques for staying calm during an emergency.
• First Aid Skills - Find out how to treat a burn and how to bandage and splint a wrist and then practice on each other.
• Breaking Camp - Pack up all of your supplies and return natural items to the bush.

After finishing these activities, we used some outdoor cooking skills to make lunch - grilled cheese on buddy burners, soup in large can on the fire, and box oven cupcakes. We ran into some challenges getting the burners lit, but everyone eventually was fed. After cleaning up, we went inside for some free time. Later, the Pathfinders set up tents and did a first aid scavenger hunt. 
For dinner we had taco salad made with doritoes, along with veggies and dip. Desert was the cupcakes from lunch, with frosting and sprinkles. 

Our evening program included make a hat craft - a girl in a sleeping bag, followed by a campfire. We then made and sampled the contents of an MRE - Cheese Tortellini in Marinara Sauce, with lemonade, oatmeal cookies, crackers, trail mix and candy. After cleaning up, we set up the mattresses for bed and the girls sleeping out in tents got ready to head outside. 

Sunday morning breakfast was left overs and toast, and nearly everything was eaten! After packing, cleaning up and doing a short camp evaluation, it was time to go home. 

Links:

• Emergency Strikes - Trapped Indoors (Girls First Platform)
• Emergency Strikes - Lost Outdoors (Girls First Platform)