YouTube can teach you just about anything these days.
Want to know how to start a fire without matches or build a shelter from scratch? There’s probably someone who’s made a brilliant video showing you exactly how.
And they’ll make it look ridiculously easy, too.
But it’s a different story when you’re the one trying to do it, especially if it’s raining and nothing seems to be going right.
That’s why some things are better learned by getting outside and giving them a go.
Here are five survival skills worth practicing:
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Learn to Put Up a Shelter
There’s nothing quite like trying to put up a tent in the wind while three people stand around arguing about which pole goes where.
And somehow, you’re the only one doing anything.
Save yourself the headache and have a practice run in the backyard before your next trip.
Put it up, take it down, and make sure you’ve got all the pieces. It’s much better to figure things out at home than in the rain.
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Learn To Start a Fire
There’s always someone on a camping trip who gets put in charge of the fire.
You know the one. They barely seem to do anything, and five minutes later, everyone’s pulling up a chair.
Well, next time, ask them to show you how it’s done.
Better yet – get them to talk you through it while you do it yourself.
You’ll soon find out there’s more to starting a fire than throwing a match at some wood.
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Find Out What You Can Do
It’s easy to feel prepared when you’ve got all the best equipment, and you’ve watched a handful of tutorials.
But can you use everything you’ve packed in your backpack?
There’s a good way to find out. Take some time to pressure-test yourself in field-relevant skills during a supervised outdoor course. Try navigating, building a shelter, or dealing with an unexpected problem.
You might surprise yourself. You might also discover you’ve got a few things to work on.
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Don’t Just Pack a First Aid Kit
You know that first aid kit you bought ages ago and have been carrying around ever since?
When did you last look inside it?
For all you know, half the supplies could be missing or past their expiry dates.
Have a proper look before your next trip and learn how to use what’s there.
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Learn To Use a Map and Compass
Most of us haven’t had to find our own way anywhere in years.
We just follow the directions on our phones and hope they’re right.
Which is fine, until you’re somewhere without reception. Take a little time to learn how to use these two things together.
Then, bring them along on a few familiar hikes and see how you get on.
It’s a useful skill to have, especially when the nearest phone charger is miles away.
Final Thoughts
So, next time you’re camping, have a go at something you usually leave to someone else.
Take charge of the fire, put up the tent, or work out where you’re going. You might make a complete mess of it at first, but who cares?
At least you’ll know what to practice.
