A hands-on seminar that teaches you the vital skills needed to protect yourself from the elements when modern gear isn’t an option. This course moves beyond “camping” to focus on the physics of heat retention and the engineering of emergency structures. You will learn to think like a survivalist, evaluating your environment for the “Rule of Threes” and identifying natural resources to build a life-saving microclimate. From the iconic debris hut to advanced tarp configurations, we will cover the construction of shelters that block wind, shed water, and trap body heat. Whether you are a hiker, a back-country enthusiast, or someone who wants to be prepared for the unexpected, this seminar will give you the confidence to build a “home” wherever you stand. Participants will be taken to our wooded trails, where they will be shown how to forage for the right shelter materials.
Audience Target: Adults and teens ages 10+. Ideal for anyone interested in survival craft.
Format: Seminar & Hike
Workshop Benefits/Learning Outcomes:
- Apply Site Selection Priorities (The S.T.O.P. Method): Participants will be able to evaluate a potential shelter site for critical safety and comfort factors, including avoiding “widowmakers” (dead hanging limbs), identifying natural windbreaks, and ensuring proper drainage to prevent water pooling.
- Construct a Thermally Efficient Debris Hut: Attendees will demonstrate the ability to engineer a ridgepole-and-rib frame and apply “squirrel-warm” levels of natural insulation (leaves, pine needles, or moss) to minimize heat loss through radiation and convection.
- Demonstrate Waterproofing and Thatching Techniques: Participants will learn to apply natural “shingling” methods using bark, boughs, or grasses, ensuring that layers are oriented to correctly shed precipitation away from the sleeping area.
- Engineer a Thermal Ground Barrier: Attendees will be able to construct an insulated “sleeping mattress” using at least 12 inches of compressed debris or raised timber to prevent conductive heat loss
Fee: $40 for non-members, $35 for members
Limited Availability. Please Preregister at: https://shop.capefearbg.org/SelectEvent.aspx?eventID=1000147
Presenter: Daniel Rundell is a northwestern native with many years of outdoor survival and bushcraft experience. Some of his passions include: wild edible & medicinal plant knowledge, primitive shelter construction and self rescue techniques. Daniel, a former professor at FSU, enjoys spending his free time learning new techniques to use in the wild and is always looking for his next camping adventure.
