Hey guys i am 17 years old and a senior in high school / eagle scout an one of the things i need to do to is a senior project. Well for my project i am going to do a survival quest i plan to go out for at least 4 days. I will take only a knife a water bottle and a video camera. what are your thoughts and opinions thanks
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Senior Project
- Thread starter zach225a
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You may want a little more structure. If you plan to demonstrate specific survival skills, you may want to plan those out and practice them before you go, then develop a script to follow. For example, the first day you may want to demonstrate building different types of shelters, then starting a fire using a metal match, boiling water to purify it (bring a cantene cup), different uses for cattails, and so on. Remember to leave youself an out in case things go wrong (bring a cell phone and stay in an area with service). You also may want to bring a buddy for safety.
If the survival video doesn't fly, you may have some fun with a conservation project.
If the survival video doesn't fly, you may have some fun with a conservation project.
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I really think that you should have a bit more than a water bottle and knife. why not a video carrying a day pack with some small stuff in it. e blanket, tinder, char cloth, fire steel, stuff like that. it is nearly winter and the weather is pretty suspect around this time of the year.
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Be sure to have quite the feast before hand. Also having a schedule will, at the very least, help you mentally get through each day. Bring plenty of extra batteries!
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How does your video benefit from being totaly under prepared, and how, as a Boy Scout, can you justify being that underprepared?
I'm not picking on you, but to not bring at least water is dangerous, and bordering on bad judgement. JMHO.
I'm a fellow Eagle Scout, btw.
I'm not picking on you, but to not bring at least water is dangerous, and bordering on bad judgement. JMHO.
I'm a fellow Eagle Scout, btw.
Ok guys i am seeing were you are coming from i will bring my day pack with basic survival supplies my paper is on why unprepared people should not go into the woods without basic skills also what style of a knife should i bring i was thing a wave thanks for the help
mtnfolk mike
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boomstick has a great point... you could try and focus some of your video, on carrying the basic essentials.. i have a smal amount of gear that stays in my pack at all times... i could easily survive a few nights outside, with the small amount of gear that i carry with me, in my pack.....:thumbup:
i agree with andy as well....:thumbup::thumbup: unless you have many hours of dirttime under your belt, i definately suggest carrying a few more essentials...
i was a certified wilderness EMT for about 10 years and i think that a few basic first aid supplies are a must have in the woods.. no matter how far you're going...
a fun project/hike can turn ugly real fast... you should be prepared for whatever you might encounter....
good luck man...
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Thats wise. Plus, using your equipment will give you something to do. I think you should have a fixed blade with you. JMHO. Use your gear to highlight why an unprepared person would be screwed. Especially the water. Where do you live, what kind of elements will you face?
Sounds like fun now. You'll probably be ravenous hungry, but 4 days won't kill you.
Sounds like fun now. You'll probably be ravenous hungry, but 4 days won't kill you.
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I love that Idea :thumbup:, please also take some first aid stuff
You could come at it from a couple of angles - maybe show how difficut it would be to do various tasks without the equip, and then the relative ease of doing so with the nec equip.
It would also give a lot more comfort level to those who care most about you - knowing that you had what you need in case of issue.
Of course (and as an Eagle I'm sure this does not need said - but will anyway) Please make sure someone knows exactly where you will be, in case of accident.
We want to make sure we hear all the details of how it went upon your healthy return
sp
Dont worry my first aid kit will be there and it is also a mini survival kit in of its self also my mentor will be camping near by and the place i will be is about 30 acres with a huge pond
o yea my state i am in is GA fiddleback is there a fixed blade you can point me to thanks
o yea my state i am in is GA fiddleback is there a fixed blade you can point me to thanks
these guys know what they are talking about ^^^^^
i would suggest having the average dayhiker's setup (water bottle and digicam) and also bringing a good basic kit that is good to have on a dayhike (basic shelter, water, food, fire, cutting needs covered). use your video to demonstrate how an injury could leave a person incapacitated, and show how the two different approaches to a hike would apply in an emergency scenario.
for instance, setup the video camera on a tripod, walk away and then start ambling in the general direction of the camera. "trip and fall", in the process "twist your ankle" and be in pain. then demonstrate trying to prepare for a night in the chilly fall with a water bottle and digital camera without being able to put any weight on that ankle.
once that is sufficiently demonstrated, repeat the process, but wearing a daypack with some goodies. this time you will be able to make a fire with deadfall on the ground around you, cover yourself in a space blanket, blow on your whistle for help, munch on a snack and sit and whittle while you wait for help to arrive.
i suggest finding a relatively secluded spot that's near civilization. you don't want to be more than a couple miles from civilation (and cell phone reception) but you want to certainly avoid sounds like cars, people talking, etc.
be careful, take care of yourself.
i would suggest having the average dayhiker's setup (water bottle and digicam) and also bringing a good basic kit that is good to have on a dayhike (basic shelter, water, food, fire, cutting needs covered). use your video to demonstrate how an injury could leave a person incapacitated, and show how the two different approaches to a hike would apply in an emergency scenario.
for instance, setup the video camera on a tripod, walk away and then start ambling in the general direction of the camera. "trip and fall", in the process "twist your ankle" and be in pain. then demonstrate trying to prepare for a night in the chilly fall with a water bottle and digital camera without being able to put any weight on that ankle.
once that is sufficiently demonstrated, repeat the process, but wearing a daypack with some goodies. this time you will be able to make a fire with deadfall on the ground around you, cover yourself in a space blanket, blow on your whistle for help, munch on a snack and sit and whittle while you wait for help to arrive.
i suggest finding a relatively secluded spot that's near civilization. you don't want to be more than a couple miles from civilation (and cell phone reception) but you want to certainly avoid sounds like cars, people talking, etc.
be careful, take care of yourself.
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I think a video on what Andy suggests might be more beneficial for the inexperienced hiker / camper
Your project can be very useful as there are many lessons that can be learned from it.... always remember safety first as things can go bad in the wilderness in a hurry.
Good luck !
Zach,
I agree with what the others said. Add some structure and you will make it a more interesting video and build in a margin of safety. You are not going to get too far with a knife and a water bottle. This is not one of those survival TV shows and you will not have a support staff backing you up. Think it through; how will you build a fire with just a knife? How will you sleep? What will you eat? Can you find safe water? Wandering around for 4 days, dehydrated, hungry and delirious from dysentery does not make for a good project or an interesting video.
Here are a couple of ideas:
Prepare and test a survival kit that you assemble yourself with a storebought one.
Put together the smallest survival kit that you can that covers all the basics, food, water, shelter, fire, signal.
Test a couple of fire starting kits. (I actually did this today and found out that a mag bar was worthless, that hand sanitizer will not catch and hold a spark and that a ferro stick and PJ soaked dryer lint will burn real good. I also worked on kindling skills).
Test a couple of minimalist shelters - poncho, tarp etc.
Create a do and don't video - as in - if you are lost do stay in one place, build a fire, stay calm, look for safe water, attempt to signal - don't wander aimlessly, neglect your need for water, warmth and sleep etc.
Demonstrate how a few well thought out items in a pack can make the difference between survival and disaster.
I agree with what the others said. Add some structure and you will make it a more interesting video and build in a margin of safety. You are not going to get too far with a knife and a water bottle. This is not one of those survival TV shows and you will not have a support staff backing you up. Think it through; how will you build a fire with just a knife? How will you sleep? What will you eat? Can you find safe water? Wandering around for 4 days, dehydrated, hungry and delirious from dysentery does not make for a good project or an interesting video.
Here are a couple of ideas:
Prepare and test a survival kit that you assemble yourself with a storebought one.
Put together the smallest survival kit that you can that covers all the basics, food, water, shelter, fire, signal.
Test a couple of fire starting kits. (I actually did this today and found out that a mag bar was worthless, that hand sanitizer will not catch and hold a spark and that a ferro stick and PJ soaked dryer lint will burn real good. I also worked on kindling skills).
Test a couple of minimalist shelters - poncho, tarp etc.
Create a do and don't video - as in - if you are lost do stay in one place, build a fire, stay calm, look for safe water, attempt to signal - don't wander aimlessly, neglect your need for water, warmth and sleep etc.
Demonstrate how a few well thought out items in a pack can make the difference between survival and disaster.
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That right there means its unlikely that you'll find a clean water source, and with only the water bottle, it would be tough to boil water.
For a fixed blade, get yourself a 15 dollar mora. You'll probably be OK with that.
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If you have never watched the show survivorman I would suggest watching some of his stuff online, also look for Ray Mears.
You could probably make a good shelter without a tarp using pine boughs, (and a comfy bed) but at least bring a metal cup for boiling water, a fleece blanket, a good fire kit, and for a knife I would say try to get a hold of a one hand trekker swiss army knife, wal mart usually carries them. The saw is small but works amazing.
If you are doing a video though, I would do it in the style to show how having a bare bones kit can save your arse in the woods, anyone can find a bic lighter, (though I'd prefer to use a flint and good tinder) and birch bark is usually easy to find, my favourite natural tinder, it burns when wet due to lots of oils in it. (don't cut the bark off, it may kill the tree, peel old stuff from a big one or carefully peel outer layers off.)
Show how you can reflect heat into your shelter with large flat rocks, make tea from pine needles, try your hand at snaring squirrels, make a fish/frog spear, 4 days is a long time, you may as well do some stuff well you are there and make your video kick a$$!
Search for PSKits and you should get a wealth of info.
You could probably make a good shelter without a tarp using pine boughs, (and a comfy bed) but at least bring a metal cup for boiling water, a fleece blanket, a good fire kit, and for a knife I would say try to get a hold of a one hand trekker swiss army knife, wal mart usually carries them. The saw is small but works amazing.
If you are doing a video though, I would do it in the style to show how having a bare bones kit can save your arse in the woods, anyone can find a bic lighter, (though I'd prefer to use a flint and good tinder) and birch bark is usually easy to find, my favourite natural tinder, it burns when wet due to lots of oils in it. (don't cut the bark off, it may kill the tree, peel old stuff from a big one or carefully peel outer layers off.)
Show how you can reflect heat into your shelter with large flat rocks, make tea from pine needles, try your hand at snaring squirrels, make a fish/frog spear, 4 days is a long time, you may as well do some stuff well you are there and make your video kick a$$!
Search for PSKits and you should get a wealth of info.
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I think it's a kick @ss idea. It isn't reckless, but it isn't dry and boring either. A couple of years ago a couple of guys tried to what you're doing, but with just a knife per guy, and they tried to stay out for 30 days. I think they lasted 13 days, IIRC. I admired them for trying, and I hope they try again.
IMHO, a metal water bottle might be for the best for you if you don't want a canteen and metal cup combo, and if Siguy offered me knife, I'd take it and run. I don't think you'd be regretting it too much if you took a bic lighter with you too, because it's really common and by day three or four I would think you'd be a bit weary of fire by friction. It's just four days, and you have a good safety net as long as your mentor is a reliable guy... I say go for it!
IMHO, a metal water bottle might be for the best for you if you don't want a canteen and metal cup combo, and if Siguy offered me knife, I'd take it and run
. I don't think you'd be regretting it too much if you took a bic lighter with you too, because it's really common and by day three or four I would think you'd be a bit weary of fire by friction. It's just four days, and you have a good safety net as long as your mentor is a reliable guy... I say go for it!
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Install a cache. Full week backpacking gear. make it easy to get to. and I mean full week heavy weather gear and food.
Do a dry run once a week from now until you do it. backyard is fine. but build your fire, use ONLY the knife and water bottle. purify the water. Etc. Do a couple 2 or 3 night dry runs the last 2 weeks before doing it. I realize I sound like I'm suggesting training a military op, but adventure is what you don't want
Got your ham license?
Take a couple fixed blades of different types if you can to do video comparisons of different kinds of work. no knife is perfect and your attitude towards the knife matters as much as the knife itself.
Do a dry run once a week from now until you do it. backyard is fine. but build your fire, use ONLY the knife and water bottle. purify the water. Etc. Do a couple 2 or 3 night dry runs the last 2 weeks before doing it. I realize I sound like I'm suggesting training a military op, but adventure is what you don't want
Got your ham license?
Take a couple fixed blades of different types if you can to do video comparisons of different kinds of work. no knife is perfect and your attitude towards the knife matters as much as the knife itself.
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I'm going to have to agree with the majority here and say that your original idea is a bit reckless sounding to me. Four days with nothing but a knife would be pushing it for even experienced people, if you don't have a carbon bladed knife or you don't have flint in your area how do you get a fire going? If you don't have active streams in the AO where do you find water? How do you purify it if/when you do find it? How do you plan to protect from the elements? I'm not trying to rag on you, just trying to be realistic with what is a good base idea.
My suggestion, take some of the essentials, a shelter, a stove or fire kit, a pot to boil/cook, a first aid kit, then go with Barrabas' idea and demonstrate how difficult it is to take care of yourself when unprepared vs. how easy when prepared.
whatever you decide to do, be safe and let people know where you are, and have fun with it!
My suggestion, take some of the essentials, a shelter, a stove or fire kit, a pot to boil/cook, a first aid kit, then go with Barrabas' idea and demonstrate how difficult it is to take care of yourself when unprepared vs. how easy when prepared.
whatever you decide to do, be safe and let people know where you are, and have fun with it!