AOC Survival Series: Introduction to Survival Skills

Ever wonder what you would do if you were lost, injured, or for whatever reason "stuck in the woods" and had to spend (survive) the night when you had not intended to do so?

Join us for a educational and fun survival skills training session. The focus of the event will be to learn and practice survival skills necessary for an overnight "lost hiker" scenario - while at the same time have a great time camping out. We will be camping at established (primitive) camp sites on the Chattahoochee National Forest. You can spend the night in a survival shelter you will build, or in your tent - the choice is yours based on how realistic you would like it to be.  Either way it will be similar to pioneer camping in that your car will be parked close by and if you wish you can bring all the creature comforts you typically would on a car camping trip.

Day 1: Starting around 10am the essential topics will be covered (shelter, fire, water, priorities), with time for foraging for materials, building shelters, and starting fires, etc. We will also need to gather/process fire wood. We will discuss and demonstrate various shelter types, as well as methods to start/build fires. We can then enjoy the evening sharing knowledge or survival stories, and enjoying the evening socializing around the campfire.

Day 2: we will cover additional topics as time permits.

Primary Topics:

• * Shelters
• * Fires
• * Water procurement/purification
• * Priorities
• * Daypack essentials

Addtional potential topics:

• * Signalling for rescue
• * Navigation/orienteering
• * Survival gear/emergency kits
• * Important knots
• * Wild edibles
• * Trapping/hunting (this would be for practice only.. as we could not leave traps on NF forest land, and hunting would not be practical per the club weapons restrictions)
• * Smart phones as survival tools

Keep in mind that we must follow the rules of the National Forest. As such, we will limit our activities to comply with these rules - such as not cutting live trees (must be dead and down). See 'additional notes' for link to National Forest rules.

It is recommended to do some reading on survival topics which interest you prior to the event (see 'additional notes' for links).
Some materials will be provided, however you should bring items you wish to utilize for skills you wish to practice. See "Recommended items to bring."

Feel free to contact trip leaders with any questions on gear prior to the event.

Keep in mind that the trip leaders are not 'certified' survival instructors, but have a fair amount of experience and knowledge they wish to share.

The forest service road is not in good condition, but is passable in a standard car.

There is very limited cellular reception at this location.

From Mansell Park & Ride
Get on GA-400 N/US-19 N
6. Turn left onto GA-136 W/Harmony Church Rd/State Route 9 E
Continue to follow GA-136 W
11.9 mi
7. Turn right onto Bailey Waters Rd
3.6 mi
8. Turn right onto GA-52 E
2.9 mi
9. Slight left onto Nimblewill Church Rd
1.2 mi
10. Turn left onto Nimblewill Gap Rd
3.1 mi

Camp sites will be along the stretch of gravel road next to the stream 1.9 miles after the pavement ends. Watch out for a slight drop off where the pavement ends.  Look for the 'AOC' sign

Other info:
http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com
http://www.wilderness-survival.net
http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Survival.htm
(this site has a link to download the US Army Survival Field Manual from which much of the site's content was taken)

National Forest Rules: Click here


There are no restroom facilities, so it will be necessary to bring equipment for proper waste disposal.  There is a creek near the camping area for water.

If steady rain is predicted this event may be cancelled