Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at a Cub Scout Patrol Meeting (Pack 399). This was a new experience for me as the main audience’s age was 9-11 years old. Rather than plunging into conventional skills that I normally demonstrate, I chose to review the “Hug-A-Tree” program which was developed to teach children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found. I demonstrated how to use the trash bag and whistle that the program suggests to take on a picnic, hike, or camping trip.

But what would a survivaltek class be without some fire? At the request of the Cub Scout Master, I cooked an egg using hand sanitizer as fuel, and demonstrated how to make fire with flint and steel. But don’t worry, an impressive amount of parents were on hand and we all had fun together. It’s great having the opportunity to prepare the next generation for outdoor living and developing survival skills for the future.