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? Thrive On! A wilderness survival and bushcraft adventure

Looking for something beyond the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge? Do you want to be confident in your ability to survive in the wilderness? Scouts in this program will learn the priorities of survival – Shelter, Fire, Water, Food, and skills to help them provide for survival longer than 72 hours. Nestled in the eastern woodland mountains of Camp Rock Enon, participants will build survival shelters, learn advanced fire making techniques, water collection and purification techniques, practical land navigation and how to make implements to harvest wild game and fish from trained CRE wilderness survival instructors. They will learn to craft implements that will make any survival situation more comfortable. Scouts will put those skills to the test in a survival outpost scenario and upon successful completion of this course be more confident in their ability to successfully survive in a long-term survival event. Participants will cook their meals in the training area under instructor supervision.
 

Prerequisites – 1st Class rank, Wilderness survival merit badge or Venturing Ranger Award or equivalent experience, age 14 or older or be 13 and have completed the 8th grade. Current first aid qualifications are a minimum of Basic First Aid and AED or earned the First Aid Merit Badge; Wilderness First Aid preferred.

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
  • 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