AOC Survival Series: Introduction to Survival Skills - Sat, Apr 23 2022

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



AOC Survival Series: Introduction to Survival Skills


The Basics:
Event Type:Learn
Event Location: North Georgia Mountains   Learn: AOC Survival Series: Introduction to Survival Skills  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Apr 23 2022  9:00 am >> Sun, Apr 24 2022 2:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 8:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Thu, Apr 14 2022 8:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Apr 22 2022 2:00 pm
Event Duration:1 Days 5 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Todd M
Mark
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:16
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 7 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

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 (and how to survive for 72 hours) - 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.   The more hands on you are the more you will get out of this. 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 (priorities, first aid,  shelter, fire, water), 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 socializing around the campfire.

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


Primary Topics:

  • *   Survival Priorities (Rule of 3's)
  • *  Shelter (5 W's of site selection)
  • *   Fire
  • *   Water procurement/purification
  • *   Daypack essentials (5 C's)

 

Addtional potential topics:

  • *   Signalling for rescue
  • *   Navigation/orienteering
  • *   Survival gear/emergency kits (10 C's)
  • *  Important knots
  • *   Wild edibles
  • *   Primitive fire techniques
  • *   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 lots of experience and knowledge they wish to share.

The forest service roads are gravel, and are passable in a standard car.

There is very limited/no cellular reception at this location. If you are planning to use your phone for navigation to/from the event, then you will want to ensure you have the off-line maps of the area loaded on your phone.


Required Items to Bring:

 

  • * Food - 1 lunch, 1 breakfast, 1 dinner and whatever necessary to cook/prepare your food.
  • *  Water
  • *  Tent / Sleeping bag / ground pad
  • *  Flashlight and/or headlamp
  • *  Rain gear
  • * Appropriate clothing for worst case weather
  • * Sturdy knife- recommend a fixed blade with a comfortable handle
  • * CASH for your driver, if carpooling
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Survival equipment (bring any items you wish to utilize during the event):  
- day pack with your survival items
- survival clothing (proper clothing is your most basic form of shelter.  Recommend 3 layers of non cotton materials:  base layer, insulating layer, weatherproof shell)
- tarp- to make a shelter, could be a poncho, space blankets, or even 2 large trash bags
- fire making tools (firesteel, lighter, matches, etc).  We will be using a firesteel for the fire making excercise.
- water container(s)- something to boil water in, as well as something to carry water in
- water filter/purification devices
- cordage- recommend at least 50' of synthetic cordage (minimum size #36), and some paracord
- space blanket and clear plastic sheet (we can demonstrate how to make a winter emergency shelter with these materials)
- topo map/compass/gps
- duct tape
- 2 cotton bandanas
- signalling device (such as a mirror)
- protective gloves

- pen/pencil & note pad



Also, for your comfort and convenience:
- camp chair or mat
- water shoes for foraging in the stream
- stove/cooking utensils
- toilet paper and trowel for digging a hole for waste disposal (no rest rooms near by)
- large tarp in case of rain
- saw for firewood processing


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

The event will be located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, approximately 6 miles from Nimblewill Church. Detailed directions to the exact location will be provided to the registrants a few days before the event. The Forest Service roads that you will travel to get to the event location (camp) are gravel and well maintained. They are passable with standard passenger vehicles, as long as they don't have super low ground clearance - i.e., don't bring the sports car.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):110Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $44.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

There are NO restroom facilities, so it will be necessary to bring equipment for proper waste disposal.

There is a creek next to the camping area for water.

 

Other info:
http://www.wilderness-survival.net
http://www.zulusurvival.com/courses/survival- course- introduction/survival-priorities/
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


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

If severe weather is predicted this event may be cancelled