|
March 22nd, 2010
A Lesson in Wilderness Survival This past weekend, we were lucky enough to be invited to share our knowledge of wilderness survival with the group of 8 and 9 year olds that were coming to visit. We were excited to teach such concepts as "lost-proofing" and shelter-building, and to facilitate the children in learning the "lessons of the wild". Little did we realize that we would walk away with a lesson of our own . . .
Kenton donned his "mountain man" leathers and his woods name: Red Fox. Each group of children began by choosing their own woods name, often in honor of their favorite animal. There were many creative names: dire wolf, mongoose, vole, tiger lily, southern bog lemming. Who knew 3rd grade aged kids were so learned? We took a meandering route through the woods, stopping first to discover the sweet secret of the yellow (or golden) birch. The kids were delighted to sample the tiny new buds and even more excited when they recognized the flavor: mint! As one young girl put it: "Yum! Mint gum!" Another young lady asked if she could take several buds with her for an after-lunch snack.
Our final task was to construct a debris hut shelter. We gathered sticks and leaves and bark, and when the shelter was complete, each child had a chance to burrow in and feel how warm and wind-free such a structure can be. They thought it was so neat to have their own squirrel's nest!
Once back, the kids were off to new adventures, but we were left with time to reflect. We were astounded by something we knew to be true but hadn't been reminded of for a few years: kids need the wild places. But not the wild places of adults filled with names and knowledge. Children need the wild places of magic and imagination, of strange seed pods and colorful fungi, of frozen streams and brackish puddles. Each new discovery is a new world unfolding, a new horizon available to them. More than teaching these kids about what to do in a survival situation, or how to make a shelter, we felt the best thing we could do was to simply provide the opportunity for each child to be alive, to be surrounded by the natural environment that is filled with both the familiar and the unknown, a place for them to make their own decisions about how to interact with that environment and with one another. In short, a place for them to grow, to connect with, and to cherish . . . and to one day become stewards of.
|
Our good
friend Jen is affiliated with an amazing school-- the
We began early
in the morning, sad to note the threatening skies and merciless wind.
We soon brightened at the thought that there is no better day to
appreciate the warmth of a debris hut shelter than a cold day.
From here we
followed the stream that runs through the property, smiling at the
exuberance each new group had for exploration. There were sticks to
break and make into walking staffs, sheets of ice-covered pools to poke,
animal skeletons to dissect, and a host of other wonders to investigate.
We marveled at the magic of each group of children to "entertain"
themselves, and felt almost guilty in gathering them together for their
lesson.
We
found a squirrel's nest and talked about shelter, located a deep pool in
the stream and discussed drinking water in a survival situation,
discovered a massive double oak tree and learned about wild foods, and
befriended a birch tree, where all the kids got to feel birch bark "paper"
and see its fire-making potential. They also loved the white powder
that came off on their hands when they touched the tree trunk. Soon
every young face sported lightly dusted cheeks.
As we headed
back, we followed our original trail in reverse. First to the birch
bark "paper" tree, then the oak tree, then the pond, and onward. It
was easy to know where to go when we paid attention to features of the
landscape we had passed as we travelled.