Wilderness Survival

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The Wilderness Survival requirements were revised effective January 1, 2008.


Wilderness Survival Merit Badge
Field of study: Personal Development
Status: Elective BSA Advancement ID: 117
Created: 1974 Requirements Revision: 2008
Discontinued: N/A Pamphlet Revision: 2008

Contents


Wilderness Survival Requirements

  1. Show that you know first aid for, and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites.
  2. From memory, list the seven priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your councelor.
  3. Discuss ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important.
  4. Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions:
    a. Cold and snowy
    b. Wet (forest)
    c. Hot and dry (desert)
    d. Windy (mountains or plains)
    e. Water (ocean, lake, or river)
  5. Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful
  6. Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires.
  7. Do the following:
    a. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost.
    b. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror.
    c. Describe from memory five ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean.
  8. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter.
  9. Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears.
  10. Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.
  11. Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather.
  12. Explain why it usually not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.
The official source for the information shown in this article or section is:
Boy Scout Requirements, 2008 Edition (BSA Supply No. 33215)
The text of these requirements is locked and can only be edited by an Administrator.
Please make a note of any errors in the requirements on this article's Talk Page


Notes

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  1. Per the BSA: You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Merit badge pamplets are available at your local Scout Shop or online at ScoutStuff.org.
  2. In 2007, requirements 1-8 were revised. Requirement 9 was added to requirement 8, requirements 10-13 renumbered as 9-12 with some minor wording changes.

Requirement resources

  • 1: First Aid
First Aid Videos:
Basics - Basics2 - Wilderness First Aid - CPR Basics - Venomous Snake Bite - First Aid Kits
Other First Aid Links: Mayo Clinic First Aid Guide - Bleeding First Aid Video - Class 1 Exam - Class 3 - Warning Signs of Cancer - Heart Disease
Survival Videos:
Survival Kit - Build a Shelter - Signaling - Desert - Wet Weather
Other Survival Links: Orienteering - Water Treatment
  • 6: Fires
Fire Starting Videos
Build a Fire - Site - Kindling - Wood - Flint & Steel - BlastMatch - Steel Wool - Fire Piston - Magnifying Glass - Log Cabin - Tee Pee - Dangers - Safety
Other links: Firem'n Chit - Fire Safety merit badge Campfire building
  • 10-11: Camping
Camping Videos
Packing - Layering - Wet Weather - Campsite - Sleeping Bags - Pads - Tents - Water Purification - Leave No Trace
Other Camping links: Leave No Trace - Outdoor Code - Camping Checklists - Cooking - USScouts: Camping - Camps Database
Types of Tents - Water Treatment - Campsite Selection - Types of Sleeping Bags - More Checklists

Related awards


See also

Boy Scout portal
Varsity Scout portal


External links

Knot Videos:
Basics - Basics2 - USScouts Knots - Animated knots - More Animated Knots - Still more
Other Knot Links:
Knots - Sea Scout Knots - Ropers Knots Page - Climbing Knots - Fishing knots - Knots Index
Cooking Videos
Food Selection - Food Quality - Stoves - Utensils - Water Purification - Leave No Trace
Other Cooking links: Leave No Trace - Cooking - Water Treatment - Stove Safety - Food Safety - Meal Ideas


Other Links

Personal tools