CA - Lessons in Survival

Last weekend, We ran the April Challenge Accepted camp, a program focused on wilderness survival skills. Held in the foothills of Cathedral Range State Park on a staff members property, the camp brought together a group of eight enthusiastic young people and three adults, including Ross, Tim, and Ferg. The theme for the camp was "Survival," and we delved into the basics of staying alive in the wilderness.

After setting up our tents and collecting water, the first order of business was to gather firewood for our evening meal. While some of the boys worked on making spears for fishing, Tom impressively started a fire using a flint and steel, sparking a sense of urgency among the rest of us as hunger set in. We enjoyed a satisfying dinner of calzones before trying our hand at fishing under the moonlit sky. Despite some initial success, the fish seemed to have sensed our presence and scattered, leaving us with a memorable experience.

The following morning, we woke up to a chilly day and struggled to start a fire due to damp firewood and difficulties finding tinder. After persistent attempts, we resorted to using matches to get the fire going and cooked up a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, mushrooms, onion, tomato, and spinach. The rest of the day was spent venturing into the bushland adjoining the farm property, where we built a shelter from fallen and dead trees and tree fern fronds.

As evening approached, we gathered around a big fire to cook a stew and enjoyed the warmth it provided. The night ended with most of us feeling tired but fulfilled from a day filled with new experiences and challenges. As we settled onto our sleeping mats, we reflected on the rewarding nature of learning survival skills and creating lasting memories in the great outdoors.