Thanks to Fort Whyte Alive, Atmosphere, and BushcraftCanada.com for helping make the February 2014 Winter Survival Course for Manitoba Hydro a great day!
At 48 participants, it was a packed house which made for an awesome time!
Cheers!
WINTER SURVIVAL & IGLOO COURSE
Hosted by: Fisher River Cree Nation
Instructed by: Maple Leaf Survival™
January 10-12, 2014
This course is designed for travelers and persons whose occupations expose them to winter/arctic conditions as well as winter camping and survival enthusiasts. It is also designed for people wishing to become more aware of northern sociological and environmental issues. Techniques of winter survival will be examined through field work, lectures, group discussions, and slide presentations.
Personal survival kits for northern travelers will be discussed in addition to survival relating to downed aircraft. Participants will build their own Inuit igloo, and time permitting, the Athabaskan Quinzhee and Hybrid survival snow shelters.
Maple Leaf Survival is a locally based survival organization instructing survival courses at various locations in Manitoba and partners with Cabelas, Bushcraft Canada, Fort Whyte Alive and Oak Hammock Marsh.
Maple Leaf Survival practices a combination of old world primitive and contemporary approaches, focusing on what works rather than limiting survival skills to a specific style. A well-rounded approach using various methods and adapting oneself to a survival situation is the philosophical foundation upon which Maple Leaf Survival is based.
FRIDAY NIGHT:
Introduction to the Arctic
Slide lecture – “Snow shelter construction”
SATURDAY:
Breakfast
Igloo construction
Lunch
Complete igloo construction
Dinner
Knife Skills
Survival food discussion
SATURDAY NIGHT:
Sleep in snow shelters
SUNDAY:
Quinzhee construction and Inuit games
Fire Theory, Concepts & Techniques
Rescue Signaling
Primitive Navigation
Survival kits
Lunch
COSTS:
$65.00/person/day = $162.50/person (based on 2.5 days)
All participants are responsible for bringing their own sleeping gear and proper winter clothing, which is a requirement for the course. Accommodations and washroom facilities are available within the lodge for those who do not wish to sleep outside in their survival shelters. However, you will still need your own bedding/sleeping bags etc.
The course will be held in January and is usually the coldest month of the winter so please be prepared for the weather conditions. The following is a list of suggested materials and gear every participant should bring to have a successful, comfortable, and fun time during the course:
• Sleeping Bag, blankets and a Pillow (cold weather blankets)
• Bedding materials (roll mats, no air mattress)
• Tarp – approximately 10′ x 10′
• Winter parka
• Snow pants
• Winter boots
• Winter head & neck gear
• Winter gloves/mitts (two pairs) and Wool Socks (two pairs)
• Cold weather clothing and baselayers (wool, synthetics. Please AVOID cotton if possible)
• Flash lights
• Sunglasses, Lip Balm, Toiletries
Optional – not necessary but would be beneficial
• Knife (ideally a fixed blade with sheath)
• Wood hand saw
• Signal mirrors
• Signal flairs
• Survival kits
• Shovel
To register, please call: 204-782-5205
Thank you
Mark your calendars!
Maple Leaf Survival will be conducting a Survival & Bushcraft Course this fall at Fort Whyte Alive on the following date:
Sunday November 24th, 2013
Join Maple Leaf Survival at Fort Whyte Alive and learn survival concepts and techniques at the Siobhan Richardson Field Station, a private facility located right on the water!
Maple Leaf Survival will teach basic survival concepts and techniques for safe and effective enjoyment of the great outdoors. Course topics include: shelter building, finding and treating water, fire by friction using a bow drill, survival food, knife and axe skills, basic navigation and rescue, and what your essential survival kit should look like.
A Search & Rescue pilot will be conducting a mock flyover to simulate a rescue and allow students an opportunity to practice ground-to-air signalling with heliographs (signal mirrors) and signal fires!
A hot lunch and snacks will be provided by the Buffalo Stone Café. Participants must be 12 years of age* and older to participate; registrants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
All equipment necessary to participate in the course will be provided. Participants need only to dress properly for the day’s forecast.
Participants receive discounts from our partners: Cabelas.ca and BushcraftCanada.com
Participants will also receive a Free Day/Family pass from Fort Whyte Alive
Register at (204) 989-8355
Fee: $60 each or register with a friend and pay just $100 for both
* Please ask for details at time of registration.
Note: Course must be paid in full prior to course date.
Maximum class size: 20
About FortWhyte Alive:
FortWhyte Alive is dedicated to providing programming, natural settings and facilities for environmental education, outdoor recreation and social enterprise. In so doing, FortWhyte promotes awareness and understanding of the natural world and actions leading to sustainable living.
DISCOVER our outdoor exhibits and 640 acres of prairie, lakes, forest and wetlands. Highlights include a 70-acre Bison Prairie and viewing mound, more than 7 km of interpretive trails and floating marsh boardwalks, family treehouse, birdfeeding stations, and songbirds, deer and waterfowl in their natural habitat.
Maple Leaf Survival™ would like to extend a huge Thank You to Cabelas Canada for their amazing support.
We had a great time at our booth the past two weekends at the Fall Great Outdoor Days and sincerely appreciate the invitation and look forward to working with you again in the future – We had a fantastic time!
Lots of calories – that’s what you should look for when it comes to survival foods. If they contain some salt and are warming and yummy, even better! One of our favourite winter survival foods which are likely already in your pantry are Nissin instant noodles. They are inexpensive, warm your soul and are ultra lightweight. Just add boiling water and you’re good to go. This particular brand has considerably more calories than others – perfect.
Sometimes you just want something to take the chill off your head and ears without overheating during high activity pursuits in cold weather. The Patagonia Capilene winter beanie caps are breathable, super lightweight and very packable. At first glance, they might not look very warm, but their warmth-to-weight ratio is very good.
“Capilene baselayers feature a moisture-wicking polyester fabric that dries quickly. Capilene polyester is also recycled, recyclable and features Gladiodor® garment odor control.”
Patagonia Capilene 4 Beanie. Cost: Around CDN $40
Patagonia Capilene 4 Expedition Weight Beanie (ultra lightweight). Cost: Around CDN $40
The U.S. Navy is seeking to buy 300 new survival kits for the Naval Special WarfareDevelopment Group, sometimes known as Navy SEAL Team 6.
Read more: Navy SEALs Survival Kit
