Wilderness Survival Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA

BSA has created updated versions of the Troop Program features for Scouts BSA. The Wilderness Survival program feature is available in digital format on the BSA website or can be purchased as a publication from you local Scout Shop.

The Wilderness Survival program feature helps Scouts learn how to stay safe, warm, and dry when the unexpected happens during an outdoor adventure. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings:

• Survival gear
• What to do when things go wrong
• Helping the wilderness survive you

Suggested troop meeting ideas are grouped by essential, challenging, or advanced. Here are a few you can see in the guide.

• Introduce the points of Trek Safely (essential)
• Discuss wilderness first aid (challenging)
• Discuss difficult survival situations, such as cold, hot, windy, or water (advanced)
• List what should go in a personal survival kit (essential)
• List what should go in a unit survival kit (challenging)
• Compare the cost of assembling your own survival kit vs purchasing one (advanced)
• Learn how to make a shelter with found materials (essential)
• Discuss how natural features can help or hinder when making a shelter (challenging)
• Discuss how to make your shelter visible to search parties (advanced)
• Practice signalling with shiny objects (essential)
• Review common ground-to-air signals (challenging)
• Discuss how color and motion can enhance visibility (advanced)

There are also several games suggested to keep things interesting at your troop meetings.

• Shipwreck
• Kim’s Game with Survival Items

The plan even provides Scoutmaster’s minutes and ceremonies for meetings.

Then there is the “Main Event”. Once again, there are suggestions for essential, challenging, or advanced. Details and planning aids can be found in the online guide.

• Hold a survival field day for Webelos (essential)
• Build and sleep in survival shelters during a weekend campout (challenging)
• Complete an overnight campout with minimal gear (advanced)

Find some related helps and achievements for the Wilderness Survival Troop Program Feature below.

Program Planning for Scouts BSA

The Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader work together to develop long term plans for a Scouts BSA Troop. One thing which can help with this is the BSA troop program features.

The Outdoor Code

Every Scout who is spending time outdoors should be familiar with the Outdoor Code. It is especially important for Webelos, Scouts BSA, and Venturers who are out camping regularly.

Safety Merit Badge Helps and Documents

The requirements for the Safety merit badge help Scouts understand how they can prevent accidents and crime. Scouts inspect their home for hazards. They also learn how to be aware of things like fire exits and alert to dangerous situations when they are doing activities elsewhere. Scouts also investigate careers related to safety.

Signs, Signals, and Code Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts working on the Signs, Signals, and Code merit badge will learn about various methods of communications, including distress signals, Morse code, sign language, braille, and semaphore. They also explore maps, text message symbols, and emojis.

Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts learn how to "Be Prepared" while working on the Emergency Preparedness merit badge. They learn how to deal with situations like fires, automobile crashes, natural disasters, home emergencies, water safety, and more. They learn about community readiness plans for emergencies and explore the many careers related to emergency preparedness.

First Aid Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts learn how to handle a variety of emergency situations while working on the First Aid merit badge: shock, heart attack, cuts, broken bones, hypothermia, bee stings, heatstroke, convulsions, dehydration, pains, cramps, and more. They learn to "be prepared" for many types of illnesses and injuries.

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts working on the Wilderness Survival merit badge learn to anticipate and avoid the hazards involved in backcountry adventures. They put together a first aid kit and build a natural shelter. They also learn how to treat water, be aware of weather conditions, and light a fire without matches.

Scouts BSA Second Class Cooking and Tools Requirements Helps and Documents

Second Class requirement 2 is related to cooking and outdoor skills. Scouts learn how to prepare a fire, cook outdoors, safely prepare and store foods, and tie some knots.

National Outdoor Awards – Adventure Segment Requirements

To complete the requirements for the National Outdoor Award Adventure Segment, a Scout or Venturer must learn to be prepared during outdoor adventures. He or she must also complete a challenging backpacking, paddling, sailing, climbing, or other high-adventure activity. See the specifics , along with some related helps and awards.

Search and Rescue Merit Badge Helps and Documents

While doing the requirements for the Search and Rescue merit badge, Scouts learn to safely participate in a SAR mission. They familiarize themselves with the terminology involved and the command structure. Scouts explore the differences between wilderness, urban, and water search and rescue missions. They investigate career opportunities related to SAR activities.

Scouts BSA Tenderfoot Camping and Outdoor Ethics Requirements Helps and Documents

Tenderfoot requirement 1 is related to camping and the outdoors. New Scouts learn to prepare for a campout and find out what should be on their packing lists. They use these skills when they camp overnight. They also learn how to be responsible citizens in the outdoors.

Scouts BSA Second Class Camping and Outdoor Ethics Requirements Helps and Documents

Second Class requirement 1 is related to camping and being outdoors. Scouts learn to select a campsite and how to have good manners in the outdoors. They put these skills to use by going on outdoor activities.

Scouts BSA First Class Tools Requirements Helps and Documents

First Class requirement 3 is about knots. Scouts learn to tie a few different types of knots and then use the skill to make something useful.

Scouts BSA First Class Camping and Outdoor Ethics Requirements Helps and Documents

First Class requirement 1 is related to camping and being outdoors. Scouts learn how to have good manners in the outdoors. They put these skills to use by going on outdoor activities.