Outdoor Skills Lab
Duct Tape Saves Lives
What do duct tape, fishing line, and a tampon have in common? Take this interactive class,, and find out!
My dad used to tell me all the time, growing up, that duct tape saves lives.
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Since then, I've learned one can do quite a bit with some fishing line, as well as a tampon!
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This abbreviated course is part of my Survival Skills workshop that I teach to leaders each year at an annual Outdoor Wilderness Leadership hosted by an American Heritage Girls troop in the Houston Metro area.
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From gear repair to water treatment, from first aid to kitchenware, take your outdoor skills to the next level.
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Hands-on practice will give you practical knowledge and experience that will increase your confidence and skills while keeping you and your loved ones safe in your outdoor adventures.
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This course is for you if:
you have a sense of adventure
you have a sense of humor
you have ever found yourself without a bandaid
you like to always be prepared
you think outside the box
you think inside the box but wish you were a more out-of-the-box thinker
you want to increase your survival skills knowledge
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This course is NOT for you if:
you already know everything there is to know about wilderness first aid
you have zero sense of adventure. Or humor.
you don't want to learn new ways of doing things
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Bonus #1--go home with a first aid kit tailor-made by you, for you
Bonus #2--links to downloadable and printable pdfs that cover material learned in class.
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Cost is $55/person
Camping 101
Want to take the family camping, but don't know where to start? Let me show you!
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Campsite selection and set up
Tent selection
How to set up a tent
How to set up your camp kitchen
Cookware needs
Health and Hygiene
Clothing considerations
How to start, care for, and extinguish a fire
Safety in the outdoors
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Bonus #1 downloadable packing list
Bonus #2 campsite set-up pdf
Bonus #3 fire building/fire safety pdf
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$30/per person 16+/$40/couple (kids are free)
Backpacking Basics
As much as I love camping, I love backpacking even more!!
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My very first hike AND my very first camping trip ever was on a whim of a backpacking trip over Spring Break, way back when I was in in college. I grabbed a former Eagle Scout frind of mine, and headed out to west Texas, where I tackled the Guadalupe Peak Trail--up to the highest point in Texas. You might think that Texas is as flat as a pancake, but you would be wrong. The highest point in Texas is 8,749' above sea level. The trail to get there is a mere 4 miles, one way, with nearly 3,000' of elevation gain in that very short distance. That trip was grueling. And life-changing.
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From helping strangers repack their packs trailside, to teaching kids and adults alike how to get started in the outdoors, my years of experience will help you learn the basics of backpacking, and give you the tools you need to begin to venture out on your own--safely. No 3,000' ascents and descents required!
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Here's what you'll learn:​
Fitting a backpack
Packing your pack
Gear weight--what you need to know
Campsite selection and set up
Tent selection
Backpacker's kitchen
Food as fuel
Health and Hygiene
Women's specific hygiene needs (if needed)
"Cotton Kills"--clothing considerations
How to start, care for, and extinguish a fire
Safety in the outdoors
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Bonus #1 downloadable packing list
Bonus #2 how and where to physically get started pdf
Bonus #3 perfect beginner trails pdf
Bonus #4 campsite set-up pdf
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$45/per person 16+/$50 per couple (kids are free)