Reading posts on social media, it seems more and more families aren’t planning big summer vacations this year. Instead, a lot of them are opting for staycations. Why not add a layer of fun and make it a survival staycation?
What’s a survival staycation? Well, it is what you make it to be, I suppose. The general idea is to take some time to practice preparedness and survival skills right in the backyard or at a local park. This gives you the opportunity to try out new ideas as well as refine and hone what you already know.
Survival Staycation Ideas
Fire Making
This is always a fun one to practice, especially when you have children. Kids love fire. Start by collecting tinder, kindling, and fuel from the area. Do what you can to scavenge what you need when possible. That said, don’t be afraid to use store-bought or homemade tinder concoctions, especially if this is a new exercise for everyone. The goal is fun, not frustration.
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Practice using various types of fire starters, including lighters, ferrocerium rods, matches, and such. Let them get some experience using as many methods as possible.
If you want to add a layer of competition, use stakes to run string about 18 inches above each fire lay before they begin. First one to get their fire going hot enough to burn the string wins.
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Open Fire Cooking
This is a skill that’s useful when camping as well as if the grid goes down for a while. I’ve often said that there’s as much art as there is skill involved with open fire cooking.
There are tons of easy meals you can cook over an open fire in the backyard, whether it’s a campfire or one of those patio fire pits. We did this one ourselves over Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few things on our menu:
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- Baked potatoes
- Flatbread
- Various types of freeze-dried meals
- Hobo meals
If you’re not familiar with that last one, they’re sometimes called foil packet meals. Basically, you take a piece of aluminum foil and spray the middle with non-stick spray. Peel and slice a couple of large potatoes and carrots. Put a raw hamburger patty in the middle of the foil, then add some of the sliced vegetables. Add salt, pepper, and whatever other spices you’d like.
Some folks add a couple of spoonfuls of condensed mushroom soup. I usually add about a tablespoon of butter. Then, fold and seal the packet tight. Toss it on the coals of your fire, meat side down, and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes.
This is a great survival staycation exercise because food cooked outside just tastes better. Plus, you can use the fire you started in the last exercise to cook the food, making it a double lesson.
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Knots
I didn’t stick with Scouting long enough to learn knots when I was growing up. For years, if I needed to tie something, I’d just twist and loop the rope or string until it seemed tight and call it good. There’s a much better way, and that’s to learn a few basic knots.
The thing is, you don’t need to learn them all. You just need to know a handful to cover 99% of your knot needs.
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- Sheet Bend – attaching two different-sized cordage together.
- Fisherman’s Knot – attaching two similar-sized cordage together.
- Bowline – securing a loop at the end of the rope.
- Two Half Hitches – securing the rope to a stationary object.
- Clove Hitch – attaching the rope to a tree or post.
- Trucker’s Hitch – securing loads in your truck or trailer.
There are a number of videos on YouTube illustrating these knots step by step. I like the 3/8 Technicord from Atwood Rope Mfg. for practicing knots. It’s soft and easy to manipulate. Knots are a great thing to practice when you’re just sitting around the campfire in the evening, listening to music and chatting with one another during your survival staycation.