This program is designed specifically for families with youngsters and for others with limited experience in the outdoors (though many experienced people have also benefited from taking this program and have given it high praise). The content applies to just about any endeavor that can take you into the natural world—hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, rafting, or simply driving a car through a remote area.
The presentation is basically story-telling, both true and hypothetical, with plenty of examples and hands-on demonstrations (building a simple shelter; how to use a flint-and-steel; we may even, time and the surroundings permitting, show you how to start a fire with a bow-drill).
We’ll share with you our list of essential survival items. These are items that you and ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN should have with you whenever you venture into the wild—and by “wild” we mean any location that has more grass than your back yard and is farther than shouting distance from home, camp, or the parking lot, be it a forest preserve in DuPage County, the Canadian backcountry, or the Utah desert. The list of items is short. They are small and lightweight and all of them can easily fit into a fanny pack. Any one of them could turn a potential emergency survival situation into a brief detour, an interesting but not overly exciting adventure, or at worst a minor mishap. All together they could save your life.
Testimonials
- “Spectacular! It was very accessible and very easily understood by the lay person.”
- “My kids talked about it the whole rest of the day. “
- “Both [instructors were] really engaging & interesting. Connected to audience.”
- “I thought it was very well done, the stories were excellent teaching tools for the kids and adults. All the information was very useful, easy to apply and easy for kids to understand and hopefully remember.”
- “We genuinely enjoyed the day… Thumbs Up!!!!!!!!!!”
- “My son LOVED the workshop! I would definitely recommend it to anyone.”
- “Overall, the information was very helpful, succinct, and thorough…what you guys were able to put into 3 hours was very impressive.”
- “My kids just loved the class! It was great. They learned so much, how to build a shelter, how to start a fire, and how to stay safe…buddy system, whistle, etc. The life stories were great and helped paint a picture of why everyone should be prepared.”
- “On the way to the car [my son] asked me to sign him up for another program like this!”
White Oak Library District
Lockport, Illinois
- Date:
- Thursday, June 27, 2019
- Time:
- 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- Location:
- White Oak Library District
- Lockport Branch Library
- 121 E. 8th Street
- Lockport, IL 60441
- Fee:
- Free
- Ages:
- Minimum age 10. Ages 10-15 MUST be accompanied by an adult!
Registration:
Call: 815.552.4260
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, Illinois
- Date:
- Saturday, July 13, 2019
- Time:
- 9:00 a.m.-noon
- Location:
- The Morton Arboretum
- Thornhill Shelter
- 4100 Illinois Route 53
- Lisle, IL 60532
- Fee:
- $29 for members; $34 for non-members
- Ages:
- Minimum age 16
Registration:
On Line: https://www.mortonarb.org/courses/what-know-you-go
Registration must be made through the Arboretum. Limit 20 participants.
For more information contact: Registrar’s office at 630.719.2468
Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois
- Date:
- Saturday, September 28, 2019
- Time:
- 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- Location:
- Benedictine University
Birck Hall of Science
5700 College Road - Lisle, IL 60532
- Fee:
- There is no fee, but we would suggest a donation of $5 per person / $10 per family.
- Please remember to register before the event.
- Ages:
- 10 years and older
Children 10-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Contact: Karly Tumminello at 630.829.6569
What should I bring?
- A willingness to learn, a notebook & pencil, and water to drink. (Though we do all the talking, we don’t want anyone in the audience to get dehydrated.)
Other Options
We present these programs periodically either on our own or as requested by park districts, scout groups, YMCAs, schools, etc.
Whenever we are doing a workshop that is open to the public, you will see a notice of it here.
If you or a group to which you belong would be interested in having us present a workshop (two-hour), please contact us via email at contact@natedpro.org.
If you would like to see your park district, scout group, etc. sponsor a workshop, tell them to contact us.
Thanks,
Ron Nosek
