Each season offers different opportunities to practice and master certain survival skills. Cleverly disguised as simple and fun family time, these activities play a secondary role that most people never really think about or equate them to being a ‘prepper skill.’ As you will see, almost all of the normal Summertime outings have an element of preparedness and survivalism to them. Read on!
Hiking. Hiking along trails, or cutting your own, is a fantastic way to get your loved ones in the mindset of preparedness without it being ‘weird.’ Seasoned hikers know there are certain things that should be brought along, ‘just in case’ something happens and you cannot get back to safety when expected. With that in mind, pre-planning is a necessary skill. You need to think ahead and pack accordingly. Have you told a friend where you are hiking and when you plan to return? What about a way to protect yourself from wild animals? Do you have water and a way to purify more if you run out? Do you have some kind of shelter and at least two ways to make a fire?
You can teach your family (or learn it all together) about tracking animals, reading trails, finding water, and what to do if they get lost while hiking. Learn how to use a compass and figure out how much daylight is left as a family. It can be made into a fun game of hide and seek!
Camping. This is a step up from hiking in that you are creating a base and are better provisioned for, in case something goes wrong. Knowing how to put up a tent is a skill I believe everyone on the planet should learn to do. If you can put up a tent, chances are you could also build yourself a shelter if needed. Camping is where you can learn (and teach!) about starting a fire safely, controlling it, and making sure it is out. It is also a good place to talk about what to do if you overheat in the sun.
When it comes to meal times, ask each member to go out and find some edible plant they can contribute. Perhaps you can make a wild, fresh salad from whatever is edible in your area. There are literally thousands upon thousands of free information sites out there that cover what is edible (and poisonous) in your region.
Going to the Lake/River/Ocean. There is nothing like jumping into the ocean, lake, or river to cool off on a hot day. This also provides priceless learning opportunities for the family to learn together. Water safety, CPR, and sunstroke are just some of the things that can threaten to turn a good time into a horrible afternoon. Taking the time to teach the children will also reinforce the knowledge in your own mind and make them more self-reliant and confident.
Year Round Activities. There are some skills that are so valuable that they apply to every season. Some of those include:
- Identifying edible and medicinal plants
- Foraging
- Watching the land change with the season – learning to read the season changes
- Finding and purifying water
- Making shelters
- Starting a fire in less than ideal conditions
- What to do if you get lost
As you can see, it is pretty easy to incorporate little ‘lessons’ into your Summertime activities. How ever you get out there to enjoy the season, be safe! Be prepared!
I found your site really helpful for a greenhorn like me you also stimulated me to think of other methods and lists. Thank You!
Hello Gail from Canada!! You are so welcome and I am glad you’re here. Thank you for the feedback, it tells me I am on track! You can always email me with questions at akhomestead.dreamer@gmail.com or send me a Facebook message, too!