Castaway

Castaway

Lost on a desert island! Separated from your group in the middle of a jungle! Trapped on the side of a cliff that you can’t climb! What do you do?

Lots of great movies have been made through the years based on this story line—and they’re really exciting—but what would you do if you were really in that situation? Will you be able to survive?

Surviving in the wilderness is usually not something a Scout will plan for. You will need to know about survival skills long before you actually need them! This adventure will help you learn some important skills you will need in case you ever get lost. Learning these skills will make you a better Scout and increase your chances of survival in an emergency.

Rationale for Adventure

Opportunity to try out some new Boy Scout skills and be introduced to some survival skills and knowledge.

Requirements

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Castaway

1. Do two of these:
   1. With the help of an adult, demonstrate one way to light a fire without using matches.
   2. On a campout with your den or family, cook two different recipes that do not require pots and pans.
   3. Using tree limbs or branches that have already fallen or been cut, build a shelter that will protect you overnight.
2. Do ALL of these:
   1. Learn what items should be in an outdoor survival kit that you can carry in a small bag or box that easily fits in a day pack. Assemble your own small survival kit, and explain to your den leader why the items you chose are important for survival.
   2. Show you can live “off the grid” by minimizing your use of electricity for one week. Keep a log of what you did. Discuss with your den members how you adjusted to this lifestyle.
   3. With your den, invent a game that can be played without using electricity and using minimal equipment or simple items.
   4. Name your game, write down the rules once you have decided on them, then play the game at two different den meetings or outings.
   5. Teach your game to the members of your pack or other Scouts.
   6. With your den, demonstrate two different ways to treat drinking water to remove impurities.
   7. Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters “S-T-O-P” stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do you do to help rescuers find you.
   8. Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them, and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Boy Scout motto.