-Rivendell Academy-
Survival Summer
Survival Challenges
Students head out onto the Cross Rivendell Trail for this portion of their summer program. Students will divide into tribes to conquer the wilderness.
Intro to Survival
The following activities were taken and adapted from The University of Wisconsin Extension's "Backpacking and Hiking Survival Skills"
1. Gilligan's Island- Students brainstorm which items they would take from a plane crash if they were stranded in the Vermont woods.
2. Students create a list of possible survival situations focusing on those situations that are more probable here in the Vermont/New Hampshire area.
3. Seven Basic Needs- Students examine the seven basic needs for human survival and discover the length of time a person can go without each.
4. Survival Kit- Students look at a list of the top ten survival items and create a digital kit with prices for their own survival kit. Kits are posted on student survival blogs.
5. Survivorman- Students view the "Deep Woods" episode of Survivorman. Available on Netflix
Tribes leaders are appointed by teachers. Leaders conduct a secret draft to select tribe members. The new tribes meet to choose a camp location and choose a research strategy.
Research- Tribes research online for a variety of survival needs with a particular focus on types of survival shelters.
Shelter- Tribes are provided with the following items to be used or traded in constructing their shelters. Sheet of plastic (12x20'), twine, wooden poles, scissors (to replace a knife). They may use any fallen branches or vines found at their campsite. Shelters should be large enough to house the entire tribe and should withstand the elements.
Survival Shelters
Tribes compete to see who can collect the most fresh water over a three day period. Thanks to the heavy rains in the area, great progress is made quickly.
Water Catchment
Edible Plants
Students research and collect edible plants native to the New Hampshire and Vermont woods. Samples are pressed, labeled, and added to student made sample books.
Native plants collected by students include:
-
Clover
-
Raspberry
-
Blackberry
-
Strawberry
-
Sweet Fern
-
Dandelion
-
Wild Cucumber
-
and more!
Scavenger Hunt
Tribes work together with a compass to locate flags hidden in the forest.
Flag 1
10 paces due west
30 paces at 160 degrees south
16 paces at 220 degrees southwest
Flag 2
45 paces at 120 degrees southeast
5 paces at 80 degrees northeast
20 paces at 140 degrees southeast
5 paces at 45 degrees northeast
Flag 3
10 paces due west
55 paces at 340 degrees northwest
20 paces at 50 degrees northeast
10 paces at 120 degrees southeast
Solar Ovens
Students assemble solar ovens in various geometric shapes from cardboard, tape, and mylar. Initial tests of the ovens are performed on marshmallows for smores. Final competitive cook off is focused on cooking a hot dog.
Shelter Commercials
Students write and produce commercials for their survival sites. The commercials, prepared for an audience of the peers, highlight the strengths of their sites. Students gain valuable teamwork and problem solving experience with every take.
Firestarting Competition
Students researched a varitety of firemaking techniques that may be useful in a survival situation. A competition was set up to see which tribe could build a fire the fastest. Techniques used included:
-
Bow Drill
-
Flint and Steel
-
Steel Wool and 9 volt Battery
While the steel wool an battery did create sparks, flint and steel was the only method to create a fire large enough to build up.
© 2013 Tracy Nathan