This weekend we spent some time in Medoc Mountain State Park. This park is often used for search and rescue training and therefore is a great place for the emergency camping class. The day started with a quick overview of equipment and weighing of all of the students packs. This class keeps the student on his feet constantly moving, the student learned that weight and equipment choices are important.
After this was a quick hike to an area to learn the basics of improvised shelters and basic fire craft. Next was another hike down to a local creek where we met some contract associates for a lesson on how to obtain fish in an emergency. Then we hikes to the local ranger station where students got a chance to sit down while a NC Park Ranger gave a lecture on food and dangers in the back country. After the lecture students were given a quick course on GPS use and a few maps, then assigned to teams and sent on a hike involving several way points that ended at the location of the next class.
Once the student arrived at the end of their hike an opportunity to ask questions and share learning lessons from their adventure. Once questions were answered teams were assigned the task of collecting firewood and upon their return were given a surprise assignment. The students were informed that the evening was not complete and were given new maps and GPS coordinates. Students were sent out and told to carry their firewood with them. At the end of their course they were greeted with the area they were to set up improvised shelters and man a fire for the night.
When the morning came, students were given a lesson on emergency rope techniques and a given a much earned breakfast.
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