Equipping Your Kids: Teaching Essential Survival Skills to Your Children

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Be Prepared

2. Essential Skills for Survival

3. Motivating Your Children to Learn Survival Skills

One of the major roles that God has given to men is to be the protector of their families. While I founded MENxNATURE with thoughts of my own journey as a father and a husband, the core of our movement is much bigger. It’s about evolving into authentic leaders, not just for our families but for ourselves. In a world filled with distractions, how do we help our kids cut through the static, stay grounded, and make meaningful connections?

Survival skills are a great place to start, not just to tackle rugged terrains but the challenges of our daily lives. Imagine being caught in a sudden storm while hiking or losing your way in the wilderness; these moments are as real and challenging as navigating the unpredictable storms of life. While urban settings offer their comforts, the wild demands more instinct, more intuition, and raw grit.

At the heart of it all, survival is about meeting our fundamental needs: warmth, water, and sustenance. And while nature’s unpredictability might have us facing wild creatures or unexpected injuries, the real challenge often lies within: our mindset, our resilience and our will to keep going.

Be Prepared

The heart of every adventure lies in being prepared, a sentiment beautifully captured in the Boy Scouts’ timeless motto: "Be Prepared". But what does it truly mean to be prepared? Is it just about having the right tools and skills, or is it something deeper?

To be prepared is to embrace anticipation and adaptability. It’s a conscious journey that combines wisdom with innovation. When I think back to the original Boy Scouts, led by the visionary Robert Baden-Powell, I see a group that was ahead of its time. They understood that the unpredictable nature of the wild mirrors the unpredictability of life. Challenges don't always announce themselves; often, they just appear, testing our mettle and our resolve.

The Boy Scouts' approach was holistic. They didn’t just train young minds to kindle fires or set up tents; they molded character, instilling values of resilience, leadership, and community. The old Boy Scout manuals, though they might seem dated, are repositories of this timeless wisdom. They simplify complex situations, making them accessible and understandable, especially for young minds.

But preparation isn’t just reading from a manual. It’s about immersion. The real essence of being prepared comes alive when we step out, braving the elements, confronting our fears, and learning from our mistakes. Taking kids on camping expeditions, letting them navigate trails, set up shelters, or even source some of their food, allows them to apply what they've learned. Every misstep becomes a lesson, every challenge an opportunity for growth.

Moreover, being prepared isn't a solitary journey. Sharing experiences, learning from peers, and drawing from the wisdom of seasoned mentors enriches the journey.

Essential Skills for Survival

The idea of navigating the vast world of survival skills can be overwhelming. However, breaking these skills down into a few essential keys can make all the difference. While the wild offers numerous lessons, some skills stand out as truly indispensable:

Maintaining core body heat

• Fire starting, which can be taught at several different levels

• Finding and cutting firewood

• Building a shelter from natural materials (brush shelter)

• Finding shelter in the wild

• Properly pitching a tent or making a tent from a tarp

• The importance of avoiding getting wet (including from sweat) in cold weather

Finding and purifying water

• Understanding the danger of drinking impure water

• How to find water in the wild

• Various methods of purifying water, including using natural materials or fire

• Ways to carry water, in addition to canteens and water bottles

Finding and preparing food in the wild

• Survival fishing, both using fishing line and traps

• Making snares

• Preparing fish and small game for cooking and eating

• Finding edible plants, specifically those in your area

Getting Rescued

• How to use your cell phone to get help when lost

• Basic communication techniques to call for help, such as a whistle or a fire

• Map reading

• Land navigation

Self-defense

• Shooting

• Preparing a defensive position

• Avoiding confrontations

• How to lose people who are following you

First-aid

• Basic first aid for wounds (cleaning and bandaging)

• Dealing with more complex wounds

• Splinting broken bones

• Dealing with dislocated joints

As we travel together, remember that the guidance provided here isn't exhaustive, but serves as a foundational blueprint. The landscapes we navigate in our lives, much like the diverse parts of our beautiful country, come with their own unique challenges. Every corner has its distinct trials shaped by nature. So, tailor what you need to learn and draw on local knowledge to address your challenges.

Motivating Your Children to Learn Survival Skills

Acquiring survival skills isn't just a pastime; it's a journey that can create a sense of accomplishment and confidence when they're venturing out. Most kids are naturally drawn to mastering these unique skills and they'll likely take pride in showcasing what they've learned.

The satisfaction of mastering survival techniques is similar to the satisfaction many of us felt when we were earning our Scout merit badges.

Now, I'm not implying you should rush out to stock up on Boy Scout badges, but a fun way to recognize your kid's progression of skills can be through something as simple as stickers or pins. They not only mark your son's or daughter's milestones, they serve as a visual reflection of their journey when you put those on a chart. With today's tech, crafting personalized stickers is straightforward, tapping into the numerous online sites (or just visiting Hobby Lobby and choosing some stickers together).

Fire-making could be an example of recognizing progress. Stickers could represent each level of mastery: from setting up and igniting a basic fire, progressing to collecting the right kind of wood, and then mastering advanced techniques. A sticker might represent proficiency in using the sun for ignition or using one of the three distinct friction-based methods.

And for those kids that want to truly dive deep into their learning, why not elevate their motivation? Consider rewarding them with actual gear as they cross specific milestones. Not only does this incentivize the learning process, but items like a reliable compass, a sturdy knife, or a tactical flashlight can continue to encourage them on their journey to master survival skills.

In Conclusion

In our roles as fathers and guiding figures, we take on a profound responsibility to pave the path for the next generation with crucial survival insights. We aim to prepare our young ones with the wisdom, grit, and independence needed to stand tall, regardless if we find ourselves in nature's unpredictability or just navigating our dynamic world. As we pursue our own growth of authentic masculinity, these skills do more than just ready our children for life's tests. It shapes them into poised, confident people, ready to tackle life's hurdles.

By dedicating time and patience, we're not merely helping our children grow in confidence but giving them the prowess to prepare themselves and their peers for pivotal moments. Spending this time together not only deepens our connection but also anchors the enduring values of readiness and tenacity for generations to come.

What skills are you teaching your kids to better prepare them for the world? Let us know below.