Scouts learn survival skills

New Egypt and Jackson area Boy Scouts from Troop 104 in Jackson spent a recent weekend learning and practicing wilderness survival skills during a simulated wilderness emergency scenario.

The Scouts attended to spontaneous "injuries" to members of their team, located and purified water for drinking, constructed a shelter with only found materials, started and maintained a fire using materials other than matches, signaled for help with the resources surrounding them, and found their direction using the sun and stars.

During the scenario each Scout team was given what appeared to be common everyday garbage left behind by careless campers. The Scouts used the found items for cooking, making hunting tools, building a shelter and starting fires.

According to the troop leaders, the scouts learned that the most important aspect of wilderness survival is not finding food, as most people assume, but keeping a positive attitude, staying put if you are lost, treating injuries and seeking or constructing shelter.

The Scouts learned to set priorities for their needs and to complete their tasks according to what was most important. After working all night and day to meet the objectives of the course, the Scouts were treated to a feast prepared by the leaders. They rounded out the day by sleeping in the shelters that night.

Every part of the weekend was orchestrated by Scoutmaster Steve Meyers and Assistant Scoutmaster Charlie Vadino and designed to simulate as much as possible a real-life adventure. The troop leaders said the Scouts enjoyed their experience and are looking forward to using their newly acquired skills to teach younger Scouts when they attend the wilderness survival weekend camp in the future.