Whether you plan to have a week-long hike or just a day adventure in the wilderness, you need to be prepared for an emergency. You will not know when you might slip on the rocks, or be attacked by wild animals. Preparing a wilderness survival kit is the best idea to start from.

Your personal wilderness survival kit must be small and compact enough so that it does not become a burden and can easily be carried on your body.  Pack only essential items that can help you survive an unexpected situation. Here are some of my suggested items:

1.Spark-Lite. This device is capable of starting a fire. It’s not complicated to use and very small and light. With a size of 58×7x7 mm and a weight of 5 grams; it’s not bigger than bundled small wooden matches that can be contained into a standard match container. Despite the size, it has the ability of producing a lot of sparks; approximately a hundred sparks.  

2.Matches. There are windproof and waterproof types. Waterproof matches are commonly used which are wooden kitchen matches that are dipped in paraffin. There are also matches that cannot be extinguished even in the strongest rain and winds. These matches are mainly useful since fire is a very important aspect of survival. Fire has many uses from giving warmth and heat to signaling.

3.Fire Sticks. These sticks are also useful for fireplaces and campfires and on emergency situations when you need a flare, light and heat. They leave no odor, they are non-toxic and still ignites even when submerged in water.

4.Compass. This will keep you move in a straight line when your searching for food, shelter, water and warmth. There can be instances that you’ll get lost in the wilderness and your compass can be useful in looking for a distant object, reach it and look for other directions.

5.Mirror and Whistle. Mirrors are useful to reflect sunrays and draw attention to yourself. You can blow the whistle as a signal also. These two items can make yourself visible to your rescuers.

Other items that can include the survival kit are flashlights, batteries, knives, gloves, safety goggles, first aid kit and supplies. Your personal survival kit need not to be fully packed; it can contain just few but very functional items. Remember that this kit will not be the only key to survival in the wilderness but your mindset that you can survive even the slightest danger ahead.

You can either choose to put together your own emergency kit, or better still, you can buy a pre assembled kit from one of the many suppliers online. A pre-assembled survival kit can offer you a variety of emergency supplies that are designed to meet special needs. Here’s what to look for when you’re shopping for a survival kit.

A Comprehensive Kit

Your survival kit should contain enough items to meet the requirements of the emergency situation. For instance, no matter what the size of your survival kit, it should make adequate provisions for your most important necessity in a crisis – water. Thirst increases doing an emergency situation, leaving you at risk for dehydration. You would be surprised at the number of emergency kits out there that contain very little provision for water.

A High Quality Kit

Sure, you could buy a cheaper, lower quality kit, but do you really want to be caught in an emergency with flashlights that don’t work or a lighter that’s gone damp? Some people believe that having a low quality kit is better than having no kit at all. However, there’s really no point in having an emergency kilt that doesn’t do what it’s meant to do – keep you safe, warm, and comfortable till help arrives.

A Complete Kit

Imagine opening your kit, and finding four Band-aids for first aid. You need a kit that’s stocked with enough items to last you through an emergency. For instance, a wilderness kit will need enough items to last for at least 36 hours, which is how long it could take before rescue teams do arrive. Your survival kit order form will have a picture of the kit and its contents. Count the number of items to make sure you’re not paying for stuff that isn’t in the bag

An Expensive Kit

This doesn’t mean that you go out and buy the most top dollar product you can find without looking into whether it meets your needs. However, be wary of buying something that’s priced way too low. Remember, broken GPS systems, flimsy knives, and cardboard film sunglasses do not a good survival kit make.

An Easy to Open Kit

You don’t want to be caught scrambling to unzip your kit during an emergency. The kit must come in a durable, waterproof, easy-to-open bag that has easy-to-find compartments to hold items separately. Avoid kits with complicated locks and clasps.

An Easy to Use Kit

Your survival kit needs to be designed with your skills and handling skills in mind. For instance, a well traveled trekker will find it easy to handle a sophisticated, cutting edge survival kit that includes all modern gizmos. If you’re not too comfortable with tools, on the other hand, you might want to look for an easy to use basic kit that doesn’t requite too many high tech skills to use.

A Fresh kit

Remember, even though items like food bars and water will come with a shelf life of many years, warehouse storage and bad transport conditions can decrease the life span of the items in your kit. While this doesn’t mean that these items will be spoilt and fit to discard, it does mean that checking the expiration dates of the items in the kit is something you need to do seriously.

A Versatile Kit

Look for a kit that has at least a few tools that can be used for a number of purposes. For instance, duct tape is one those things that can be used in a dozen different ways, and so are large plastic garbage bags. More high tech versions would be a compass that doubles as a torchlight that doubles as a whistle that doubles as a …you get the point.

A Kit for Every occasion

While everybody needs at least one basic survival kit, certain people might need more than one kit to meet all their emergency needs. For instance, if you’re an avid hiker, you’ll need a wilderness survival kit that contains air horns, body warmers and shelter gear, and supplements your basic survival kit. It’s also a good idea to have more than one kit, and stash them at home, in the car, at office etc.

Many people are avid outdoor fanatic. If you belong to this type of people then you are aware of the thrill and excitement of wilderness trekking. Whether you participate in hiking, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, or some other activity, though, you need to make sure you bring the right equipment along. Going in the wilderness without wilderness survival gear may turn out to be more of a forgettable adventure than a fun adventure.

No matter what activity you are engaged in, there are a few important tools which you should not overlook. Firstly, you should not forget to bring a quality first aid kit with you. You never know what injuries you or a companion could sustain miles away from medical assistance. So include in your baggage bandages, antiseptics, braces and other important first aid materials. Secondly, bringing a quality knife in your wilderness adventure is a priority. A knife can serve several key purposes. Among other things, it can cut firewood, remove clothing from an injury, and help clear a path through the woods. For wilderness survival gear, one good option is a knife and hatchet combo. These tools are very handy, with the knife fitting into the hatchet’s handle, and can be easily holstered to your gear. Given these two items, you can respond better to precarious situations along the way.

Aside from these two necessities, other vital wilderness survival gear includes signaling devices, like flares and markers, that can help rescuers find you should you need help. A quality compass, by brands like Brunton and BCB, proves to be an indispensable tool when you are lost and need a guide for an alternate direction. Finally, for long-term outings, extra food and water rations are a must have. This includes water purification tools to ascertain potable water in the wilderness.

Ultimately, the best way to ensure you have the wilderness survival gear necessary to stay safe when enjoying the outdoors is to create a survival kit. You have the option to buy the items individually or take as one packaged set. Just be sure that the kit is complete with all the necessary components for your journey. The best wilderness survival gear kits will have items to keep you warm, healthy, and well-fed while signaling for help to arrive.

One of the biggest mistakes day hikers make is assuming they don’t need to plan for wilderness survival. After all, a hiker usually reasons, “I only plan to be out for a few hours. I’ll be back long before sunset. There’s no reason to carry more stuff than I have to.” Unfortunately, hundreds of hikers die or become seriously injured every year by relying on this faulty reasoning. Wilderness survival requires planning ahead and making three basic assumptions.

The first assumption you should make is that you may be gone longer than you plan. If you’re planning a day hike (a few hours or more), plan as though you’ll be out overnight. Bring enough water for the hike, plus enough for the night and the following 24 hours. You may become lost or otherwise unable to get back to your starting point by sundown. Your body will already have lost a great deal of water from the exertion of the hike. The last thing you want is to find yourself stuck in the wilderness overnight with no water. It may seem like a hassle to carry so much water. However, your survival chances will increase exponentially if you have enough water to sustain you in case of emergency.

If you are stranded in the wilderness overnight, always assume that the temperature will drop. Even in the desert, overnight temperatures can be significantly colder than in the daytime. Exposure to cold or inclement weather can result in hypothermia and may even lead to death. Day hikers should never leave home without additional warm clothing. A sweatshirt, long pants, socks, and rainproof jacket or covering should be carried in a backpack. You also should consider carrying a thermal emergency blanket, which is lightweight and compact for easy carrying. They reflect heat, protect from weather and are fire-resistant.

The third assumption day hikers should make is that they may become injured. If you aren’t prepared for the possibility of an injury, you could find yourself in trouble. Hikers should always carry a basic first-aid kit. Many hikers who have chosen not to carry one in order to save weight or space have regretted it later. Make sure the kit is fully stocked with band-aids, a sterile cleanser, gauze, adhesive tape and cloth bandages. Always replace items later if you use something from your kit.

Some other important things to remember:

* Take a buddy. Hiking alone is never recommended. It can be very dangerous, especially if you become injured. Hiking with a partner increases your chances of getting out of the wilderness alive if you get hurt.

* Take a cell phone. Dozens of hikers are rescued every year because they carried a cell phone. Having a cell phone may reduce your chances of injury or death by up to 50 percent.

* Make a plan. Be sure you know the area where you’ll be hiking. If you haven’t been there before, get a map of the area and mark the trail you’ll take. Make copies of your map, and make sure every member in your group has a copy.

* Inform someone at home. Never go into the wilderness, even for a short time, without telling someone where you’ll be, and when you plan to return. Leave a copy of your map with the person and explain your plans in detail. Tell them where you plan to leave your car. Arrange to call when you begin your hike and as soon as you return. This way, if you don’t get back when you planned, someone else will know and have a good idea where you are.

Using your head ahead of time may very well save your life. It just pays to be prepared.

Franklin Gray and William Bennett, Rochester educators established one camp in the Algonquin Park wilderness of Ontario Canada called Camp Pathfinder in 1914. It has been operating unceasingly ever since, which is a wonderful achievement for any establishment. Though the ownership has changed many times and now rests with Michael Sladden, fortunately the unceasing operation has been maintained and that is a reflection of the unwavering commitment to continue the good work. Primarily started as canoeing camp it has now become famous for wilderness canoe trips and leadership programs.

Safety First for Boys at Summer Camp

Sure outdoor summer camps and wilderness summer camps sound very exciting! But isn’t there some risk involved? Right, there is risk involved when kids go out in to the deep waters on wild river canoeing or simple canoe adventures. There is risk involved when kids camp during wilderness canoe trips. That’s the reason we have a strong staff of 80 people who are highly trained and experienced in handling camping activities. Our counselors and guides are highly trained and carry certifications in first aid, life saving skills, and paddling. They also have the many years of camping and trip experiences in Camp Pathfinder.

The crucial ratio of campers to staff at most summer camps in Ontario Canada is 1:2

In simple terms, this means, for every two kids there is a trained staff watching for their safe being. A canoe trip typically has 9 men: three guides and counselors and six campers. Each canoe trip is headed by the Headman, who is assisted by two assistants comprising of one Second man and one Third man.

A professionally trained full time nurse in the infirmary takes care of any health complains that may arise during the boys’ camp stay. There is a full time on-call consulting physician from the local community to treat ailments, if needed.

The owners and senior camp staff at most boys summer camps in Ontario Canada are old campers. The love for the rivers, streams and wildlife in and around Algonquin Park, Ontario Canada keeps Campers and Staff coming back for generations. Many current and former Camper and Staff bring in their varied experience as educators, counselors, and sports instructors to give the kids the best they have. They are certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR). Their positive approach makes them role models for the kids during their traditional summer camp or adventure summer camp stay. All the Trip Staff are Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certified. Most staff members at boy’s summer camps in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada are Red Cross or NLS certified lifeguards. The counselor staffs are all young and aged 17-24. They possess specialized certifications as life guards and wilderness first aid providers. They are also certified swimming, ropes, or paddling instructors. Trip guides and area supervisors must pass a three years apprentice phase to work in the summer camp setting. In addition they have many years of camper experience.

At most boy summer camps in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada the philosophy is – “Camp is for the kids”. Their safety is therefore is top priority. These should assure parents about our concern for safety of their boys. It is helpful to remember a few safety tips when your kid is on a wilderness summer camp or even a traditional summer camp. Sun screen lotions are a staple item that one cannot forget to pack when heading for a boys summer camp. Extended exposure to sun rays and the reflected rays from the surface of the lake or river water could harm the skin. An eye glass capable of warding off the ultra violet rays is another essential item. So is a brimmed hat.

Bug and insect can pester in wilderness summer camps. Try using citronella oil based formula. Make sure that your kid has tested and packed these items. Whatever the nature of the boys’ summer camp these items are absolutely essential:



Sleeping Bag



Dry Bag



Rain jacket/pants



Life Jacket



Pillow



Laundry Bag



Flashlight



Repellents



Sunglasses



Good quality soaps and shampoos should be brought along. There are no stopping young boys from getting dirty at camp, but remaining dirty is discouraged as it could lead to various illnesses. A daily soap bath is mandatory at most of the boy’s summer camps in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada to ensure good hygiene for kids.

Contact as many of the boys summer camps and talk to the Camp Director to confirm about the items to be packed for your north woods summer camp experience. Many camps do stock several items for your historic summer camp trip. Together the camp staff will make sure that your boy comes equipped with the best items required adventure summer camp.

 

If you are heading out on a wilderness trip you better make sure you have your wilderness first aid kits prepared and with you. Chances are that if you do not bring a kit with you then you will need it. Most times you bring a kit you will not need to use it, but that is fine, just as long as you have it with you.

If you are prepared for any sort of situation while on a wilderness adventure then chances are you will be able to deal with it. Being prepared is as important as taking your wilderness first aid kits with you. People who are prepared are usually much more safety conscious and thus does not experience as much trouble as other people would.

Even if people with you have wilderness first aid kits, you should avoid situations that could cause a problem. Prevention can be a much less expensive or even painful option.

Before beginning any trip, it is important to make sure everyone’s wilderness first aid kits are fully stocked. An empty kit is useless. At least two people in your travel party should have CPR training. You should have more than one person with this training in case the person with the training needs the CPR himself or herself.

There are courses available that focus on wilderness first aid training. This would be preferable to a general first aid course. Even if your trip is a short one, carry a basis first aid kit because you could still require a simple band-aid on your trip.

Before going on your trip, research the area to find any inhabited areas that you could evacuate to if needed. These would include cottages, camps or aboriginal settlements. People that live in the wilderness will have some form of communication that you could use in an emergency. Some remote camps will even have a bush plane that could be available in an emergency as well.

Your wilderness first aid kits should contain flares for emergency situations. If you are unable to get out of the bush, you need to be able to let someone know where you are. Other methods of attracting the attention of a plane include lighting three fires, writing a large SOS in the sand or using a signaling mirror. A wilderness rescue can be a very expensive operation, make sure you are properly prepared so that this does not happen to you.

There’s summer camp and then there is the adventure of a kid’s wilderness camp. So what’s the difference? Well wilderness camps offer an action packed adventure that offer a whole lot more then just hanging out and sitting around.

Most of us think of summer camps as staying in large bunk houses by a lake out in the woods but a wilderness camp offers so much more. There may in fact be cabins for the campers to stay in. For the first night anyway because these camps offer a more adventurous variety of activities taking there campers into the great outdoors for a more get close to nature experience.

Here are some of the activities your kids may expect to find if they go to one of these wilderness camps.

Outdoor Time – This is what these camps are all about. If your kids attend such a camp they will get plenty of time outside doing activities that teach them about life and living in the wilderness. They will sleep under the stars or in tents, depending on the weather.

Hiking – This is a standard activity with most wilderness camps. In fact for some camps they will hike to a new location each day and make camp, enjoying a different experience each day of their adventure.

Water Sports – While this is dependent on the camps location relative to a body of water most camps offer swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and in some cases white water rafting. They will also teach basic safety skills as it relates to the water activity.

Mountain Climbing – If the camp is located in a mountainous location there is a good chance your child we learn how to climb and bag a peak or two.

Survival Skills – Because the wilderness can be a dangerous place these adventure wilderness camps teach the youngsters how to survive in the wild. They are taught how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations, how to recognize edible flora and fauna, catching fish, cooking over a fire as well as first aid and what to do if they get lost.

Teamwork – This is an important part of any group activity. Learning how to coordinate and function as a team will be a skill that lasts them well into adulthood.

Self-reliance and Skill Development – Learning how to accomplish tasks that they otherwise would have thought they couldn’t do helps them develop not only new skills but it creates self-esteem as well.

An adventure wilderness camp is not for every kid but those who do attend such a camp report that they have a great time and most of the time would like to go back in the future.