What Do You Think?

Boboque · 07-21-2012, 07:52 PM

I was thinking of the general state of things in the world the other day, and I was thinking of the inability of a majority of our young people to survive outside of the "civilized" world. I have tried to teach our grandchildren again and again, the art of survival outside of town and outside of prepared food and established housing to no avail. The sad thing is, I am not alone and the majority of their friends are in the same boat. They could not survive comfortably unless someone who was knowledgeable about survival helped them.

Have you had success teaching your children or grandchildren about survival?

Grandpa · 07-21-2012, 08:35 PM

For the most part, yes. My older grandsons could all do well in the wilderness with no preparations. The younger ones are getting there. The granddaughters are so so. One older and one younger could do fine on their own but the others........ehhhhh good luck.

About the time they are learning well, too many interferrences come along. My clan are all very sports minded, especially baseball and softball so that is competition for learning wilderness skills. Grandma is sitting through or running back and forth between 4 ball games today, while I'm packing for a long walk in the morning.

Greatoutdoors · 07-21-2012, 10:21 PM

My kids are still very young, but we are trying to teach them skills that are age appropriate. We will continue to do so as they get older and we spend a good bit of time in the outdoors. Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone to teach us these skills so we are learning on our own through a LOT of trial and error.

**CozInCowtown** · 07-22-2012, 07:23 AM

Survival, er, not exactly.
Skills that would help her survive? Definately.
She is a good whitetail and bird hunter, excellent shot with her .22 pistol and quite the fine horseman.
Kid has been camping all her life, a good fisherman and has proven it is possible to burn water.
She would have about a good a fighting chance as anybody I hope.
DC

Lorax · 07-22-2012, 08:11 AM

I've taught my son pretty well. He's in the USMC and during field training, he has used what he's been taught to build better shelters and fare a little better than most during harsh weather and adjusting/dealing with his issued gear. His improvisational skills are better than most because of his outdoor self reliance he's been taught.

Boboque · 07-22-2012, 09:31 AM

Sounds like you all have had much more success than I have. I wish that my children and grandchildren would have gone with me on an adventure or two so I could have taught them skills they would need. But, alas, they didn't, instead choosing to stay with friends or go to movies. It really worries me that they wouldn't be able to survive if civilization as we know it were to collapse.

Pathfinder1 · 07-22-2012, 09:42 AM

Hi...

As Coz said, "not exactly 'survival' skills"...and not taught by me.

At 22, she has taken deer by rifle, black powder, and I think bow. She can gut, clean, skin and cut up a deer. She is also a good fisher, and is familiar with black bear habits, as she lived (in college now for a few more months yet) in the center of black bear country.

She is also a skilled equestrian, and can also care for smaller livestock.

She got her hunting and fishing skills from her dad.

Her farm animal skills she got from working with them on farms.

oldsarge · 07-22-2012, 11:09 AM

Tried to share as much as possible with my son. He's older now and has other interest. My wife & daughter have no interest in anything I'm interested. It concerns me and I worry that they will never be in a situation where the will have to fend for themselves.

dinosaur · 07-23-2012, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsarge

Tried to share as much as possible with my son. He's older now and has other interest. My wife & daughter have no interest in anything I'm interested. It concerns me and I worry that they will never be in a situation where the will have to fend for themselves.

Looks like your wife picked the right guy huh, Sarge?

Marshmallow · 07-23-2012, 09:00 AM

Our grandchildren are a little more accustomed to the outdoors than even I am. Their mother loves animals. Their father hunts, fishes and gardens. If I had my choice, most of the time we would end up in an air-conditioned hotel room, although I do enjoy camping for short runs.