Wilderness Skills Itinerary
The following itinerary briefly outlines our one-day and overnight Introduction to Wilderness Skills Youth program. The focus of this course is basic wilderness training for campers, backpackers, and anyone who is out in the woods overnight.
Fire Building 101
Location: Butler School – 15951 Germantown Road, Darnestown, MD 20874
Date: TBA
Time: One day: 9AM-3PM // Overnight: 9AM Day 1 – 12PM Day 2
Objectives: Instruction in basic wilderness survival and technical skills.
Technical Skills covered:
- finding a good campsite
- building and maintaining a fire for survival
- building and maintaining a shelter
- catching or purifying water
- staying found: orienteering/wayfinding with map and compass
- assembling a survival pack
Basic One-Day Program Itinerary: (Times can be changed to meet the goals of your group)
9:00 am – meet at Butler School and discuss the wilderness preparedness – what is the minimum equipment that you should have with me in case of a survival situation?
9:30 am – fire building – preparation and starting techniques, maintenance and cooking
10:30 am – search for shelters – building and maintaining
12:30 pm – LUNCH – cook over fire if you like!
1:00 pm – water – finding, catching and purifying
1:45 pm – orienteering with map and compass
2:45 pm – wrap up and break camp
3:00 pm – END – Day Program participants leave
Overnight Program Itinerary: (Stay for an in-depth experience and to challenge yourself!)
3:00 pm – preparing for an overnight survival situation
3:15 pm – revisit shelter sites, construct/maintain shelter for overnight use
5:00 pm – fire and water – making char cloth and boiling water
6:00 pm – cook and eat dinner
7:00 pm – evening – 10-minute emergency shelter
Overnight — test your skills by spending the night in the shelter you built over the course of the day (or in your tent, if you prefer )
7:00 am – wakeup and break camp
8:00 am — breakfast
9:00 am – knife skills – tent stakes and tinder preparation
10:15 am – first aid in the wilderness
11:15 am – Wrap up
12:00 pm – END
Terms of Service
GO-Adventures will provide equipment and guides for an Introduction to Wilderness Skills course.
Price:
6-hour Course – $165 for up to 2 participants, plus $75 for each additional
participant.
Overnight – $210 for up to 2 participants, plus $105 for each additional participant.
Reservations:
50% deposit due to reserve your program date, with balance due 1 week before the program. Let us know if you require an alternate payment agreement.
Cancellation Policy: If making a cancellation more than 7 days prior to the program date, full refund is available. Cancellation within 7 days of the program date will forfeit your deposit or half of your program price.
5 days prior to your event, we will need the expected number of participants. If the number of participants changes within 3 days of the program date, no refund will be available. We require a 50% deposit to reserve your program date, and the final payment is due 1 week prior to the program. Should you require some other payment plan, please let me know prior to the program date.
We require a 50% deposit to reserve your program. You may make your payment using cash, check, or credit card. If paying by credit card go to our website and click on the “Pay Now” button at the bottom of the page. You will be directed to a secure PayPal site where you can make your payment.
Please note: In the description box please add your name, “Wilderness Skills”, and the date of your program.
If paying by check, make payable to “GO-Adventures,” (add a note with your name, “Wilderness Skills” and the date of your program) and send to our offices at:
GO-Adventures
c/o Donna Bogusz
13344 Cloverdale Place
Germantown, MD 20874
(Please Note: This is our office address not the Wilderness Skills Instruction site!)
What to Bring:
All group gear (and dinner and breakfast for the overnight program) will be provided by GO-Adventures. Participants are responsible for their own personal gear, and should bring the items on the list below.
It is very important that participants have these items in order to ensure a safe and comfortable day for everyone!
One-Day Program:
• Signed liability waiver
• Rain gear (poncho is best if you have it, otherwise regular jacket-style top and pants)
• Water in a leak-proof container
• Lunch that will not spoil – snacks are suggested!
• Comfortable clothing that will keep you warm and dry – wearing layers and non-cotton clothing with wool socks are highly recommended
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes – sneakers or hiking boots are appropriate, flip-flops are not
Suggested Items:
• Sunscreen, bug repellent, and at least one bandanna
• Camera and sunglasses are suggested
• 1 heavy duty lawn/leaf or kitchen compactor trash bag
• 3-4 zipper lock baggies (sturdy freezer style, either quart or gallon size)
• Small pack for your belongings
Overnight Program:
Everything on the list above, PLUS:
• Weather-appropriate sweater/warm clothes for overnight
• ~50 feet of p-cord or other strong, narrow-gauge rope. P-cord (parachute cord) can be found in army/navy or outdoors stores.
• Weather-appropriate sleeping bag
• Camping mattress pad (required in winter, optional in warm weather)
• Flashlight (headlamp preferred)
• Plastic or metal travel/camping mug
• Utensil (spoon or spork)
• Additional water bottle
• Additional snacks
• Toiletries
• Change of clothes if needed
*Suggested Clothing: polypropylene or other non-cotton long underwear, wool socks, boots with good traction and ankle support, an insulating layer such as wool or fleece, a shell layer (water resistant), hat or bandanna. The woods can be very muddy, please wear clothing and footwear you don’t mind getting dirty.
**Please note that, unless there is lightening, inclement weather will NOT discontinue activities-please come prepared!
The waiver must be complete and unedited, both front and back, prior to participation. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office at (301) 202-4106.