Winter Survival
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Nature Kids met at rare Charitable Research Reserve to learn about wildnerness survival led by Istafa from rare.
We discussed the things necessary for survival like shelter, water and fire.
Istafa showed us a snow shelter that Athabaskan people make with snow that is called a quinzee.
To build our own quinzee, everyone helped to shovel the snow into a big pile.
While the snow sintered (settled and refroze), we tried fire starting using a flint and steel striker to make sparks into dryer lint. Once the sparks started burning the lint, we carefully added paper and small twigs to feed the fire. It was hard to get the fire going and very satisfying when successful.
Istafa built a bigger fire, and we added our small ones to it. We cooked smores, banana boats and warmed up apple juice over the fire.
When we were done eating, it was time to carve out the quinzee.
We took turns making an opening and scooping out snow to make the interior of the quinzee. It was hard work. When we were done, the inside was big enough to lay down in and noticeably warmer than outside.
It was a fun morning!
Reported by: Rachelle
