Survivor Team Competition:What you need for survival in any given circumstance depends on weather, terrain & health. This is an idea to play a game but also to think about what you might need if you found yourself in a ‘survival’ situation. Usually you will need: something for shelter, to keep you warm, meet your health & first aid needs, provide food & water, signal to rescuers, and maybe assist you in finding your way to help.
You will need a small backpack (day pack) for each group, with about 20 items inside. (Each pack needs the same) Include 10 items that would be essential and 10 items that would be good to have. Set a scenario eg. you are lost beside a river. What would you consider the 10 most important items for survival. Or: You are put down in Bush on Mt Ruapehu and have to walk out….
Example: Necessary Good
First aid kit cell phone
Raincoat piece of fruit
Scroggin camera
Pocket knife ipod
Matches cup
Water bottle torch & batteries
Piece rope blanket
Tinfoil sunscreen
Candle water purifying tablets
Compass/map hat
The groups need to unpack the items and repack with the 10 they feel are ESSENTIAL for survival in your scenario. 
You would ask groups to say why they chose a certain item like tinfoil. If they say it gives warmth (survival blanket) and can help protect from hypothermia, then they understand its use and can be counted as correct. Things like coat or blanket can be used the same so they only need one of them. You could add fishhook and line for a necessity if scenario is near water. Rope can be used to carry, hold, tie together, repair etc so is very useful. Give points for those correct.
You could discuss things like ‘if you only had either a torch or matches, what is most useful’. Eg. torch can signal, let you see. Matches can build a fire for warmth, as a signal, can light a small branch as a torch…. |
