Park Happenings

Event Details

Basic Wilderness Survival

Led by: Ranger ANDe Demetriou

Location: Shelter 5, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

Date & Time: Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Would you know what to do if an afternoon hike took an unexpected turn? Join Ranger ANDe Demetriou at Shelter 5 for a hands-on, four-hour wilderness survival clinic built around the foundational 10 Essentials.

Rather than sitting through a lecture, you’ll actively practice life-saving outdoor skills directly in the hardwood timber and rolling bluff terrain of Meeman-Shelby Forest. Through realistic scenarios and team challenges, you will learn to:

• Master the Survival Mindset: Put the S.T.O.P. (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) protocol and the Rule of Threes into action before panic sets in.
• Dress for Survival: Understand the "3 W's" of layering and why cotton is your worst enemy in damp bottomlands.
• Build Emergency Shelters: Identify bluff-specific hazards ("widowmakers" and drainage washes) and rig rapid weather-resistant shelters with basic tarps and cordage.
• Spark Fire in Humid Forests: Harvest natural tinder (tulip poplar and cedar) and throw reliable sparks with ferrocerium rods—no matches or lighters needed.
• Procure Safe Water & Navigate: Clarify water with field-expedient filters, pace count across ridge-and-ravine topography, and signal searchers effectively.

The clinic concludes with a fun, fast-paced team rescue challenge synthesizing everything you’ve learned.

What to Bring:

• Sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes or boots
• Long pants and work/gardening gloves
• Layered clothing suited for November morning temperatures (avoid cotton if possible)
• Daypack with personal water bottle and trail snacks
• Pocket knife and whistle (if you have them; training gear will also be provided)

Open to ages 10 and up. Space is limited to ensure personalized, safe instruction. Pre-registration is required.