Re: My Concerns With BSA's Wildernsess Survival Merit Badge
Jonathan Dixon (dixonj@ROCOCO.COLORADO.EDU)
Fri, 26 Jan 1996 15:06:59 MST
> From: "Norman J. MacLeod" <gaelwolf@SSNET.COM>
comments about Wilderness Survival MB:
>
> 1. From memory, describe the priorities for survival in
> a backcountry or wilderness location.
>
> When I look at the text in the pamphlet, I am left with the feeling
> that there just isn t enough "meat" to the learning required. You
> see, every survival situation is different. While there is a small
> core of absolutely essential priorities, they are not always
> prioritised the same. For instance, locating a good source of water
> may be the first priority in the summer, especially if the weather
> is hot and you are running low on your water supply. On the other
> hand, it will likely come in third behind shelter and heat in the
> midst of a winter snowstorm.
I can't tell from the wording (and don't have the pamphlet), but does
the MB intend that scouts give a hard-and-fast ranking to priorities
or just that they know that the top priorities are shelter, water,
means of maintaining good body temperature, first aid, etc.? I would
interpret it this way, and mention to the boys that the relative
ranking of these priorities depend on the individual situation.
> [several comments on good requirements which aren't covered well
> in the MB book]
In these cases, perhaps national has to be encouraged to upgrade the
MB book. I know that Wilderness Survival survival is among the most
frequently upgraded books over the last several years (along with
computers MB), but perhaps there are things that could be better
covered and changes in available equipment that need to be mentioned.
> 8. Show that you can find and improvise a natural
> shelter minimizing the damage to the environment.
>
> I would, however, have preferred that the phrasing about minimising
> environmental damage have been left in the pamphlet s text, and out
> of the requirement. I would hate to have that phrase stick out in
> anyone s mind in a real survival situation. While environmental
> protection is admirable in all cases, it has to take second seat to
> the needs of the survivor.
I agree here -- when it comes down to a choice of me surviving
vs. environmental concerns (like whether to cut trees or whether to
light a fire on a no-burn day), I'll do what it takes to survive and
if they want to fine me after they've rescued me, so be it.
> 9. Spend a night in your shelter.
> ...
> However, I would like them to get to the point where they will be
> able to do so with far more comfort than they are likely to enjoy
> on their first few attempts.
I'm not sure comfort is all that important in the badge -- all they
need to do is survive.
> 10. Explain how to protect yourself against insects,
> reptiles, rodents, and bears.
>
> OK - but let s remember that a lot of those same critters are
> actually food!
Only if you know how to catch them without injuring yourself, avoid
getting any diseases they may carry, clean them properly, and cook
them. Probably best just to avoid them (see my comment below on plants).
> 11. Show three ways to purify water.
>
> How about ten different ways to collect enough water to have to
> purify it?
I would say at least a few ways of collecting water would be a
reasonable addition to the requirements.
> 12. Show that you know the proper clothing to be worn in
> your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather
> and extremely cold weather.
>
> ...not to mention wet weather in any temperature! How about
> something on the variety of ways to keep the clothing you are not
> wearing from getting wet?
I agree completely.
> 13. Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible
> wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival
> situation.
>
> OK, I ll admit it. This one REALLY bothers me! This is likely based
> on the idea that most people in survival situations are found within
> three days. However, I would like to point out that there are a lot
> of areas in North America where situations can easily develop in such
> a manner as to prevent the launch of a SAR operation to find you.
> Have you ever been in the Pacific west when the fog and rain rolled
> in and didn t leave for the next ten days? People who live in those
> coastal regions know what I m talking about, here!
Here is a place where we'll disagree. This requirement was changed
about 10 years ago because it was pointed out to the BSA that even
experts in plant identification sometimes make mistakes, and sometimes
those mistakes can be fatal (like someone decides that hemlock looks
like a real good thing to make tea out of). Most people can survive
without eating for several weeks at least, especially if care is taken
to reduce the amount of energy expended to a minimum. Most cases
where people have died in survival situations involved dehydration or
hypothermia/hyperthermia; in fact I don't recall having heard of
anyone starving to death in such a situation. Improper choices of
wild plants/bugs/whatever, on the other hand, could at least lead to a
case of the runs, contributing to dehydration, and really wouldn't
provide much in the way of real nutrition anyhow.
> I really think the BSA s Risk Management Team needs to take a REAL
> close look at the way this badge is presently set up. I can foresee
> significant legal liability problems for the corporation on the day
> a Scout who holds the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge fails to
> survive after becoming separated from a BSA sanctioned backpacking
> trip and fails to survive the challenge. It wouldn t take much of a
> lawyer to win a bundle, especially if the Scout isn t found for a
> couple of weeks and there is reason to believe he didn t at least
> try to become a basic hunter-gatherer from the beginning of the
> situation.
I think the lawyer would have a field day with the fact that a
situation came up where the boy was lost for several weeks. I don't
see what wilderness survival MB teaches would be as big an issue. I'm
sure that the Risk Management Team looks at this badge on a regular
basis, though, to make sure they haven't missed any important advances
in survival craft.
I'll close this by adding the caveat that I have little experience in
survival matters (which is why I'm not a counselor for it), so most of
my statements are based on what I've heard from others and retained.
If they are incorrect, I'd be happy to hear about it so if I'm ever in a
situation where I need to know these things I do things properly.
YiS,
Jon
--
Jon Dixon
dixonj@colorado.edu
http://spot.colorado.edu/~dixonj/
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