Play Wild: April 2010

So today I ran our first session, hurray! It was great, the kids had a great time and I managed to experiment with the group dynamics that I wanted to try. When the kids arrived we had a quick introduction and the kids who did not know each other said hi. Straight to it, Off you go! I let the kids just go for it, I could tell they were eager and not up for more talking. While they were playing I quickly gathered them together and explained the whistle safety calls. I then let them go of and play for a while more then tested out the "get back to me ASAP" whistle call. The kids reacted great, they were all back at my side in seconds. More play and then we went and took a look at the goodies that I had brought along. The kids seemed genuinely interested in the gear and asked a lot of questions, however after a few minutes I realized all they wanted to do was grab the gear and get back at it. So enough talking. The kids grabbed the walkie talkies and the rope and stated their own game of "Cops and Robbers' Girls Vs Boys. They spent the next hour running non stop. With about 20 minutes left in the session I gathered everyone together and showed them how to use and handle knives safely. A quick hand in of gear borrowed and that was it. The kids however did not want it to end; the mums on the other hand were shivering away and glad to get in a warm car. So session number one done and the result was fantastic. I am so excited to get busy, I hope to the sessions fill up quickly and we can all have some serious outside fun! Thanks to the Mums who brought their kids Cheers Derek

A few books that I like to use. The Commando Survival Manual is great it has good pictures and the instructions are easy to follow. The SAS Survival Guide is a classic book in the British outdoor world, every one seems to have a copy. It too is a great book however it's pictures are black and white and is a little more grown up than the other book making it less appealing to younger readers. The book at the back is the Okanagan Backroads Mapbook, it contains a lot of local hikes and directions to get to the trail heads by car. It is not to bad publication but it does not contain many local young kid friendly hikes or trails.

Demonstrating how to handle pocket knifes safely as well as letting the kids look and handle a few different multi tools that are good for in the outdoors.

Just some of the gear that I want to introduce the kids to over time, camp stoves, map and compass, walkie talkies, knives and safety stuff etc. I had this lot covered in a blanket to start with, I then quickly pulled it away and there was a small gasp of excitement.

"Blow your whistles"

The kids were required to the carry whistles with them while they were on activities. The human voice does not carry well over natures voice and on this occasion the noise from BX river was louder than me shouting. The shrill noise of a whistle could be heard pretty well above the water and if a kid got lost or for some reason couldn't walk then they could have signaled me by blowing their whistle.