THRIVE ON Backwoods Survival Skills Adventure Program

RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THRIVE ON ADVENTURE - CLICK HERE

Build confidence to succeed in a wilderness environment and learn the priorities of survival
- Shelter - Fire - Water - Food

When everything goes wrong, do you have the skills to survive? 

Scouts with a strong interest in rustic outdoor adventure that want to be confident in their ability to survive in the
wilderness. Learn how to build survival shelters, advanced fire making techniques, water collection and
purification, practical land navigation, harvest wild game and fish. Later in the week, put these skills to the test
during a survival outpost scenario.

A weeklong adventure program based at Camp Rock Enon, where Scouts will experience the wilderness, enjoy the outdoors and learn how to thrive in the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley. This highly experiential program will teach Scouts the essentials of surviving in the wilderness including water acquisition, primitive shelter building, matchless fire building, outdoor cooking as well as navigation and first aid. Skills the Scouts will need as they prepare to survive off-grid later during the session. 

During the program they will learn basic blacksmithing skills needed to fabricate a steel strike that they will use to
start fires, make a knife and leather knife sheath that they will use throughout the program. They will test their aim in archery, black powder muzzle loader rifle and tomahawk throwing challenges to earn points for food and they will learn techniques to catch, clean and cook fish. Scouts will build their own survival kit which they will then put to use as they conclude the week testing what they learned in the backwoods of Camp Rock Enon.

BACKWOODS SURVIVAL FEE: $650.00 YOUTH or ADULT (includes regular camp fee)

• June 21-27 - Week #2
• July 5-11 - Week #4
• July 19-21 - Week #6

 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE: (subject to change)

• Sunday
  • arrive/check-in at Camp Sinoquipe with your Troop
    • (option to come directly to Camp Rock Enon - prior arrangements)
  • complete medical and swim checks
  • transport from Camp Sinoquipe to backwoods survival adventure program base camp at Rock Enon
• Monday - Wednesday
  •  While based at the backwoods survival camp learn survival basics while you
    • build fires using various methods
    • source and treat water for drinking and cooking
    • experiment with cooking over an open fire
    • primitive shelter building
  • Learn blacksmithing basics to fabricate tools you will need to start a fire
  • Make a knife and leather knife sheath
  • Complete challenges to hunt for points to earn food by test your skills at 3D archery, tomohawk throwing and black powder muzzleloader rifle and fishing
  • Learn the importance of navigation and first aid in the backcountry
  • Participants will also have the option to check out some other activities while at camp including climbing & rappelling on the natural rock faces or swimming, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding at the lake
• Thursday - Friday
  • Use your survival kit and newly learned skills and challenge yourself in the outer backwoods of Camp Rock Enon as you live off-grid for the remainder of the session. 
• Saturday
  • Enjoy a mountian style breakfast at backwoods basecamp before you depart  
  • Transport back to Camp Sinoquipe to check out with your Troop

ADVENTURE PROGRAM DETAILS:

• Space is very limited 
• Open to all Scouts age 13+ at the time of summer camp and registered adult leaders
• The Backwoods Survival adventure program is based out of Camp Rock Enon in Gore, Virginia
• Transportation is provided from Camp Sinoquipe to the base camp at Rock Enon for participants whose troop is attending Camp Sinoquipe. Otherwise participants must transport themselves to/from Camp Rock Enon for Sunday check-in and Saturday check-out. 
• Participants will be housed at the backwoods base camp at Rock Enon in the typical 2-person canvas wall tents with a cot
• All meals and adventure program equipment are provided during the session
• All participants are required to have a BSA Medical form parts A,B & C