Wilderness survival classes coming to SPRD

As a new offering through the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), a five-day wilderness survival class/camp is being scheduled through the Parks and Rec Summer Activities program July 27-31.

The class meets Monday through Friday and introduces youth to various emergency "scenarios."

Youth are taught various hard skills such as shelter and fire-building, creating and setting primitive traps, fashioning rope out of T-shirts, grass or bark, orienteering; and are introduced to primitive skills such as stone tools, primitive pottery, basketry and natural fibers. Each day they practice using these skills while working in teams given scenarios to problem-solve.

Experienced staff and owner of Coyle Outside, Dan Coyle, has created the classes with the intention of using the fun and challenge of survival skills to teach youth to improve their sense of their own inherent abilities, their judgment and self-control, and their leadership, communication and teamwork capacity.

Coyle has taught survival and primitive skills for over 15 years and taught for at-risk teen programs. Coyle Outside is contracting with SPRD to provide this course.