Winter Survival Skills - Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

NaturelFnaoks
Winter Survival Skills
Obiectives:
Studentswill be obleto...
. To leornskillsthot will helpthem to survivein o winter
including
emergency,
fire buildingondshelter.
. Descrtbedifferent snowflokeshopesqnd
understqndfhe intricocyof snowflokes.
.
.
To leorntechnigues
for mokingfire storters.
To feornhowto dressoppropriotely
f or winterweother
conditions.
Resourcesincludedin this packet:
r
t. Winter Sun- octivity in whichstudentswill leornwhy the sun'slight is
brighter in winter ond moketheir owngogglesto see the diff erence.
2. SnowSctence- o honds-onoctivity thot will ossiststudentsin
discoveringpropertiesof snowqnd howintricote snowflokesconbe.
3. TroditionolSnowGames-ahonds-onactivity thot ollowsstudentsto
exploresomeof the fun winter octivitiesthqt Notive Americonswould
hoveployed.
4. HomemodeFireStorters-on interoctiveoctivity thct ollowsstudents
to leorntechnigues
for mokingfire siorters, whichcouldbe oppliedto
o winter compingexperience.
informqtionrelotedto clothing/layering,
5. Bockground
snowforts ond
other winter survivolshelter,winter compfires, collectingwood&
lightingfires.
6. Additionolresourcesf or winter suiv-ii6lskills.
Makethe most of vour visit...
Bringyoursenseof adventure!
don'thondleonywild onimqls!
Don'tpick plontsor berries...ond
Stoy on the boqrdwslkor troils to ovoidtromplingdelicoteplonts.
Pick-upondthrow owoyoll trosh. Animolswill try eating
onything...once!
HeckrodtWetlondRese?ve,
Locotedof 1305 PlonkRood,Menosho,WI 54952
For info coll: 920-720-9349
AdditionolResources:
- EagleBluff NotureCenten,
L. WinterSurvivolCurriculum
MN
http://www.eoq
le-bluff .orglpogeslwintersurvival.html
informotion
Bockground
ondactivitiesrelotedto wintersurvivol
skills.
2. Comping,
OutdoorSkills,Compfires
Troining
& Survivol
http://members.ool.com/-ht-a/6SMomJoann/comping.htrnl?mtbrond:AOL_US
outdoorskills,compfires,
Linksto comping,
ondsurvival
troining.
3. OutdoorActionGuideto WinterComping
htto://www.princeton.edul-oolwinterlwintcomp.shtml
informqtion
Bockground
obouthypothermio,
wintershelters,ondwinter
comping.
4. ColdWeother
Survivol- SurvivolIQ
ig.com/survivol/co
htf p://www.survival
ld-weother-survivol.htm
infonmotion
Bockground
oncoldweat|rdrsuriivel.
- BoyScoutsof flmerico
5. WinterCamping
ondHypothermio
http://www.wrolin.com/wintcomp.htm
/
informotionregordingwinter canpiy!
Bockground
6. Tom Brown'sField6uide to Noture Observotionond Trocking,by Tom
Brown
7. A Field6uideto MommalTrockinqin North Americo,by JamesHolfpenny
8. fdentifyingAnimolTrocks,by RichordHeodstrom
9. Trocking& the Art of Seeinq:Howto ReodAnimolTrocks& Sign,by Poul
Rezendes
10.StokesNotuneGuides- A 6uideto AnimolTrockingqnd Behqvior,
by
Donold& LillionStokes
11.StokesNoture Guides- A Guideto Noture in Winter by DonoldStokes
12.AnimolTrocksof the 6reot Lokes,by ChrisStoll
a
13.Exploring
Winter,by SondroMorkle
"'-
14.TheSecretLonguoge
of Snow,byTerry Willioms
15.TheOutdoorSurvivolHondbook,
by Roymond
Meors
16.TheNotionclOutdoorLeodership
School(NOLS)Wilderness
6uide,by
PeterSimerondJohnSullivon
,/
17.The Kid'sWinter Hondbook,
by JoneDrokeqndAnnLove
18.The Kid'sCompfireBook,by JaneDrqkeondAnnLove
19.To BuildA Fira,by JockLondon
ZO.Snow
Coves
by EarnestWilkinson
for Fun& Survivol,
Winter SurvivalSkills - Pre/Post
I W EL C O M EW I N T i R
wffiffiwffiffiswM
F
Earl;t arctic peopleinvented snow
gogglesto protect their eyesfrom the
intenseglare of the sun bouncingoff
snow Make your own snow gogglesand
seewhat a differencethev make.
t
5.
Cut a 0.5cm ii;, in.r slit acrossthe bottomand a
iittle way up the sidesof eachcup.placerhe
goggles
on your eyesand decideif .uouneedrc
widenor lengthenthe slits sothat youcansee
well straightaheadand sideto side.
f
.
i
Cut two cups from the egg carton so that they are Pokea hole in eachside
i
flap and attach rhe
attachedto each other and to the flaps of
l stnngs so y-oucan lie on the gogglesat the back
cardboardon the outer side ofeach cup.
ofyourhead.
On a sunny dal: test your
goggles.Don't wear them
Trim the cardboarci
bridgebetweenthe two cups near traffic or in places
until the gogglesfit comfortabiyagainstyour
where you needto take
noseandbrow.
, care as you waik or
2.
ciimb.Never stare
right at the sun.
1 )
Source:TheKid's WinterHandbook
W EL C O / v \ W
E INTi R
SN#WffigHN€ffi
Vfnut is freezingcoidbut makesa warm
blanket?Whargrowson dirt bur is sparkling
ciean?Snow.of course:Fill u *ua*,rrlngcup
with a handfuiof freshsnowLet the *,io*'
.meit ani mke a iook.
'
Ybu'llseethere'smuchlesswaterin rhe cuo , '.r-',r,ii;
than there\tri
aSsnoln,.
v Y . That's
1 l l d - L r because
lJel;aUSe
: . " - .-...t9
.: ,
sno*
S
I I O W - ..,,.
q - ' '. . ."-,,
, : r , .;...",
.'];.+i:1.::#
is fiiled w-rthiinp.'air pockets.Whenrhe
snowmeirs.rhe air escapes.
The air
::;iilijlr*#*
pockefsln Snoviaci aSinsulation so
ihat animals ancipeopiecan iive ln
snoin'houses
ancikeepwarm.
At the bottom of the cup.;rou1l
seespeci.ls
of drrt. That's because
snoia'flakesform when sno*,
crystaiscoliectori airborneiusr
and dirt particies.The cr1,-stai-<
actuallv grow on the riirt.
When snow meits, the*iirt
is left behind.
. ,.:'r:,r..r,,i:,. . . . - ' i i . 4
,;eil-
...f..:#
ir:1:ri:;
f\J
Source:TheKid's WinterHandbook
'\,^/iLCOME
WiNTiR
tft d3 {,; tI? €,* $* ar"i*!,* €,p FIAKI
'HAPTS
5l\C\^/FLAKriffi PRt 55iCN5
l.io onehaseverfoundlwo snow{iakesthat
areexacttry
the same- but mostaresix sided.
Eachsnowflakeis rnatieup of snora-crystals
- very largeflakesma) containup to 200
crystals.Lookfor thesesnowfl"ake
shapesin
freshsnow
SeeSusthorn"intrrcarc nevri-1"
fajien snowflakes
can be.
.
hexagonalprisms
,ru1$'*
,,-_-lR
^f
L
.
Spral'onesideof the pane
of glasswith hairspral.'and
piaceit in the freezer.
j
/
/F*fu /S€u
\=Z Yby
d; -,':;l-rktr,/(!{!il:? Ie$b4qr
\.,,ii.f
€,J
.
stellar cr,vstais
t
hexagonaicolumns
?
L t
t'iren li snows.carefulil' tarry the paneoutside
wirh the hairspral.sideup andiet a fewsnou,flakes
faii on it. Look ai them rzu'ith
the magnify'inggiass,
,/\
,4'RN
'tf,#
a
.{F
4}
c.
-/'i\,
.
e
..".-.i-"..
"'i"''*'*'''
3.
Carefullytake rhe paneinsideand let the
snowflakes
melt. UseJ-oL1r
magnify-ing
glassio
look at the impressions
lefi or: rhe pane.
r
I
I
xlffi
.f
needies
spatial dendrite-.
##$ffiw
11
OUTDOOR
W I N T Ti I F U N
BK&ffisH€#ffi&&
SN#W#@ES
Ef,I
Ehe first peopieof l-lorth America pia3iedgamesi,har combinedfun with
hunting
practice.Play rheseNative outdoorwinter garnesand increaseyorrr
ability to rhrow
with power,speedand accuracy.
6#s**;fuF'
5 $\..$(}Vor/
The object cf snow snake is ro throw bone darts
io seewhosetravels farthesr aiong an ice run.
5 F\6AK
tr
ffi
4.
5i1(lzela straight
strer,chcf lce or pack
down and water a iong
irench of snow to rnake
I tarr0.*r ice run,
,i,fi
:$
:
t.
Throv;rhebonerian
1.
With the sandpaper.
.*oorn"
'bone.
ihe sidesof the
:.
Ask an aduitro
cinl]a holein +ne
encicf ihe bone.
Put giue cn rhe shaft enCt*!
ieathersior everg-reen
l
ano insert inro lhe noiear
.i^ ^
L I I U end ofihe bone
rho
overhand or siciearm
aiong ihe run. Draw
iines cr snrinkle colored
rirink crystai-cin',he
snow m show where
eachpiayer'sdari stops.
6.
For variation. constrrlct
a snow ramp along rhe
run so ihe darts "take
*ff" partwa.yalong.Oid
stones claim rhat. in
ancient rirnes"sn0r.4/snakedan-qlaunched
irom ramps couid {I.t op
ro a kilometer 'abor:i
haifa miie,.
^k
Sowce:The Kid,s WinterHandbook
"lji*rwiifii,,,,
T H ES P A R K
ffi#&MFtr
FH#€ffiffi&EffiE€S
w"@@@(
FIREPARCEL
l$ood holdswetnessfor a longtime, soit,s goodto have
waxedfirestartershandyin cale your kindliig won,tcatch.
Youcanmake firestartersin the kitchenwithleftover candles
wax crayons.store them in a containeruntil it is time to
3n_d
light a fire.
First. have an adult
helpyou preparethe
meltedwax.
with crayon and candle
stubs.Placethe can
inside the pot.
4.
Pour water into the
cookingpot (not the
can), keeping the
water level halfway up
'
the side of the can- If
the can floats, pour
someof the water out
of the pot until the can
rests on the bottom.
Have an adult turn off
the stove and remove
the pot. Onceit's coo},
iift rhe can of melted
wax out of the pot and
placeit on a por holder
or hotplate. Now you're
readyto make'"he
waxed firestarters on
thesepages.
3.
Have an adult place
the pot on a stove
element.Turn the
eiementon low and
wait for the wax to
meit.
Source:TheKid's Campfre Book
Roil several sheetsof
nev/spaperIengthwise
tightly. Tie big bows of
string every few
centimeters(inches)
aiong the length.
T H ES P A R K
W'@'@
@t'Wl@
@ & & E b& @ A a & &
FIRECUBE'
2.
'-5
l - _ = - _ _ - - _
WA'(ED
/NATCHE'
:}.
roll
Cut the newsPaPer
betweenthe string ties
to form little packets
of paper.
Fill the cupswith
sawdustor woodchips. Whenthesewaxed
matchesare lit, they
burn iongerthan
regularmatches,and
are waterprooftoo!
1.
Cut or rip the lid off
the eggcarton.
Pour the meltedwax
into eachcup and let it
cool.
Hold the string ties
and dip the packetsof
newspaperinto the
wax.Lay the waxed
packetson unused
newspaperto cool.
Place a piece of string
in each cup of the
cardboard carton,
leaving one end to
dangle over the side of
the cup.
5,
Separatethe cupsof
the eggcartonby
ripping or cutting in
betweenthem.
Wrap a piece of
string tightly
around a wooden
matchstick, but
do not cover
the tip.
With kitchen
tongs,dip the
wholematch,
tip and ali, in
meltedwax.
lt
4
ta
I
Let it cooion f,l
newspaper. {rq. l=.->
Sfriko tha
Wt
,l--:''.
rEE-h
:fi::ffi?
l:1i.""i'.1'
L,w,
""
-t -t ov -t -l -l -. -t :l .
\:w'
-
17
Clothing : How to Layer
Layer 1: Wicking layer...movesmoistureaway from your skin.
Chooseclothes made of synthetic materialsto wick
wick moisture from skin.
Layer 2: Insulatinglayer...addswarmth while wicking moisture.
Choosesynthetic fleece, or wool.
Layer 3: Outeriayer...blocks wind, repelsrain and snow.
Waterproof, windproof, breathablefabrics will keep you
warln and comfortable.
Voollv
har or Balaclava
Insulative lavers to.trap
body-warmth, can be
removed during hot
weather.
'!(ool
or pile mirtens,
artached to each other *'ith
a tape running through the
sleeves.
Snoqrsled Ventile jacket,
worn 907o of the time
throughout the year wirh
or without zip according
to preference. Used as a
shin in hot wearher and as
a shell over insularive
Iayers in cold weather,
Also {uncrions as an
e{fecdve waterproof.
Strong cotron
rrouserslike
the U.S. amy
Iighrweight
lrouser; must
be hard
wearing and
quick drying.
Gorctex socks
Berghaus Goretex socks,
worn over rhe rop of your
ordinarv socks, will keep
Gaiter to
Boors suited to
the terrain vou
are walking
on.
loq er rrouser
{rom moisture
and rhorns if
neceSsarv.
OUTDOOR
WTNTER
FUN
$NGWF#r€ffi
Witun the snowis stickyenoughto packa snowbailanc
there,splentycf it, the
conditionsare goodfor buitdinga snowfort. choose
a sitewhereyou canseein all
inrruders.your sporshouldbeshadedsorneof
rhe
*::.1^":::f9.%,u*L.rtrranted
time
so the fort will not melt
away 0n a sunny day.
SNOWFOrrT
t.
Roll a large snowball around, so it picks up
snow
until it's as big and heary as you can make
it.
Roll it to your forb site, pat the sides square
and
placeit as the first blcck in your fort wall.
2.
Roil anothersnowbailuntil it's the
samesizeas the first snowball.push
it in piacebesiderhe first block.
3.
Continue untii you have a nng of
snowball blocks outlining yorri fort.
Leave an opening for a back door.
4,
On the outside, pack snow into the
spacesbetween the blocks.place
smaller snowball blocks on top of
the basering. If you have ieft-over
boughsfrorn holiday decorations,
stick them inio the top of the snow
blocksto add height and privacv.
E
'.
Smooth ihe inside waiis of your fort.
Pack and car/e the snow to make
benchesand shelves,if yor: iike.
A/\
Source:TheKid's WinterHandbook
OUTDOOR
W I N T T RF U N
gNOW(NTAEII
When the snow is deep and dry, you can make a fortress
citl: or citaoei, with the help of a shovel.Look for a
grove of small trees such as sumac or aspen.Do not
tunnel into the snow because a snow roof maSi
collapse. Instead, shovel out snow paths between
the trunks to make passagelvaysand then
widen someto make rooms.Sumactrunks
are usually spacedapart whiie the
branchesinterweave overhead.Those
branches,heavy rn'ithred tassels of
fruit, will form an open-air roof to
yoir citadel as weil as a feeding
area for locai birds and squirels.
Another good place to
rnake a citadel is in a stanC
of young evergreentrees.
After a snowfall, you'll
finti that iittle snow
colieclscioselo the
:,
fruni<sof bushv
.*;S
evergreens.Look for
trees that have lower
brancheshigh enough
from the ground that
you can sii or stand
.::-
underthem besirie
,,'
the trunks. Shake
any snolv offthe
boughs aboveand
clear out the area
below with a
shovel'r,o
make
rooms.Finall1', ;.
,,,i
:,.+;i:,#
;
:::i
shoveltrails ro
..iE
connect,voursno$,
rooms.The tree boughs
wili make a natruai roof
over eachroom.
ffi:
| -,
i'
,.dr
r.iit .
g,',kSF:'
A 4
!N T E R
C E L E B R AW
TE
WENYHR€&&EPFERffi
Folow these directicns for a meffy and safeoutdaarfire. Then you can warm your
hands on Olympic Day (seepage 120)or during an eveningon the rink (seepage48).
With an aduit's heip, choosea site away from
buildings, trees, woodpilesand overhan$ng
limbs. Take ihe same precautions as for a
summer carnpfire - a spark can start a
dangerousblaze at any time of year. Keep a
pail of sand closeb)' for smothering the fire as
weil as a shovei for scoopingsnow onto
flames cr sparks.
You need three sizes of wood - tinder,
kindling ancifuel. Collect failen birchbark,
dead twigs, dry pineconesand neediesfor
iinder. And, in the rneadow,gather dry dead
weeiis,inciuding goldenrod,cattails and
milkweed stalks sticking out of the snow For
kindling, prune'"he dead needle-freelower
branchesoff conifers such as spruce,hemlock
and pine. Make a stack of dry split hardwood
loss for fuel.
c
Form a base for ihe fire by iayrng iour or five
similar-sizedwhole logs side by side on the
snow.Next, make a mound of tinder with a
few piecesof kindling on top. Use a ionghandled match to light the tinder. When the
iinder is br:rning weii, add more kindling,
starting with ihe smaller piecesand adding
larger ones as the fire catches.When the
fire is burning well, add several pieces
of dry firewood.l{ever leavethe
fire unattended.
Source:TheKid's WinterHandbook
Keepaddingfuel to the bonfire
throughout
the evening.Beforegoingindoors,
dorisethe
fire completell'withsnoin.
andsand,stirlng
the emberswith a stick until tiruyr.
rofa urrn
tneres no smoke.
C E L E B R AW
TE
INTER
@@@w@w@www@
HOTCHOCOLATE
Ering a Thermosfilled with hot chocoiate
to your
campfire,and warm up your insidesas well.
1.
Stir togethercocoa,
sugarand boiling
water in a heavypot.
2.
Add milk and stir until
the mixture beginsto
boii.Removefrom the
heat.
3.
Preheatthe Thermos
with hot water.pour
out. Pourthe hot
chocolateinto the
warm Thermosand
tighten the lid.
TH E 5PARK
€#etuffi€re.ffiru&wffiffi
!{nun you are collectingwoodfor a campfire,lookfor tinder
andkindling to get the fire goingand then biggerlogsto fuei
the blaze.
TINDER
Tinder is fine, dry
material that catches
easilywith a match
and bursts into flame.
Many peopleuse smail
balls of newspaperfor
tinder. In a meadow,
collect weed tops from
last year's asters,
miikweed, goldenrod
or cattails. Near a
forest, collecttiny
piecesof deadtwigs,
dry pine cones,pine
needlesand fallen
birch bark. Remember
never to peei bark off a
live tree.
KINDI.ING
You will needat least
two big handfuls of
kindling woodto keep
the flame alive.
Kindiing must be so
dry it snaps when
broken. Look for the
dead lower branchesof
a softwood tree
becausethey are
usuaily drier than
sticks iying on the
ground. Do not rip the
dead twigs off too close
to the trunk or the live
parts of the tree may
be damaeed.
FUEt
Fuel is the wood that
keepsthe fire burning.
You will need at least
two big armfuls of fuei
for a campfireevening.
All fuelwood shouid be
as dry as possible.
Look for piecesabout
as thick as your thigh.
Source:TheKid's Campfre Book
I
T H ES P A R K
LE€ffire€EHffiFHffiffi
No* that you'vefoundthe perfectsite and
gatheredyour wood,family and friends
. . . it's time to build the fire and light it!
"ld:?:
t'It
ffi
t=1
Kneelfacing the fire pit with your backto the
breeze.Lay two piecesof kindling in the center
of the fire pit so they form an angleopening
towardyou. Pile sometinder in the kindling. The
tinder shouldbe compactenoughthat the pieces
are all touchingeachother,but looseenough
that it remains light and fuii of air.
Usea woodenmatchif possible.Strike the
matchand tip it siightly downsothe flame
catchesonto the woodof the matchstick.If there
is a breeze,cup your handsaroundthe flameto
protectit. When it is well iit, push the matchstick
into the centerof the tinder. Blow gently into the
baseof the frre pit for the flame to catch.If the
tinder doesnot flame quicklSr,place a firestarter
(seepage 16) in it and try another match. When
the tinder catches, add more until you have a
good, strong flame.
Once the tinder is burning, add small pieces
of kindling, one pieceat a time, in a tepeeshape
around the flame. Place the piecescioseenough
together so they catch fire from each other, but
leave little air spacesbetween them so the fire
can breathe. Build the tepee gradually, adding
slightly larger sticks each time. Once the larger
piecesof kindling are burning well, it's time to
shape the frre into a campfire for heat or for
cooking.
Source:TheKid's CampfireBook
TH E SPARK
FORHEAT
A CAIvTPFIRE
When the kindling is burning steadily, gradually
add larger piecesof softwoodfuel to the fire,
keepins'thetepeeshape.If the main fuel logs
are as Lig around as two hands can circle, then
build up the fire until three are burning weil at
one time. A frre needs three goodlogs burning
tosether to throw off heat' More than five
logs and the frre gets too large and hot'
Add a new 1ogwhenever one of the
three main logs burns down to the
size of a pieceof kindlingWhen the fire is going well,
the kindling fePeewili ProbablY
collapseinto a crisscross
formation in the fire Pit.
Use a fire poker to Push the
logs together after a
collapse.Add fresh logs
acrossthe top because
fire burns upward.
A COOKINGFIRE
Using hardwood only, add smail logs
to the kindling tepee,until three
are burningweii. Whenthe tepee
collapses,pokethe logs so the
butt ends- the cut ends - ali
lie facing the breezeand the
lengths of the logs lie along
the line of the breeze.
After about an hour of
stoking, the frre
should have plenty
of glowing coals.The
fire is now ready for
cooking in the coals
(seepage58).
)
tl