Planning Your Survival Camp
Your survival camp is a place that you can set up that will allow you to stay safe and wait out any disastrous event.
In order to thrive at your camp, there are certain kinds of gear that you’ll need.
You’ll need the basics such as food, water, warmth, shelter and first aid. You’ll want to make sure that you have the food to feed each member of your family for a few days and a plan in place to provide for long term food needs such as hunting or fishing or living off the land.
You’ll need water that you can take with you and purification tablets to purify water that you find once you settle at your camp. All of these items can be easily stored and transported in individual backpacks.
Pack a first aid kit and include medications that anyone has to take on a regular basis.
To provide warmth and a possible way to cook, you’ll need items to start a fire with. You can use a waterproof lighter or waterproof matches and tinder.
Some people choose to take a portable camp stove along, but these eventually run out of fuel so keep that in mind.
Take communication devices such as cell phones with you and use solar powered chargers to keep the battery charged for them. Bring a battery or solar powered radio so you can listen to any emergency broadcasts. If you have amateur radio equipment, be sure to bring along an antenna and any other equipment you need to stay on the air.
You’ll need personal hygiene items and toiletries. Also pack a foldable shovel to use for digging for sanitation purposes. You’ll need flashlights and lanterns. Bring emergency blankets, sleeping bags and tents. You’ll also want to have a multi tool and storage bags for the water you may have to gather.
Bring weapons to protect yourself and your family.
Kids usually like camping and instead of a stressful time, you can treat it like an adventure and the kids won’t be scared. Plan fun activities for them. Just because you’re in survival mode doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the time together as a family.
Go on nature walks, let them help with preparing the camp, the meals, take them fishing, go wading or swimming if there’s water nearby and the weather permits. Set up a treasure hunt for them, and have them trace items they find in nature in a sketchbook.
Bring marshmallows along for them to roast. Bring card games and puzzles. Let them keep a log of each day’s adventure. Pack a disposable camera for them to capture family moments.
The kind of activities you get to do with the children will depend on the type of camp you set up. An emergency base camp is usually set up quickly and is usually just a stop over place until you can move to a better base location.
Nomadic camps are prearranged places where you’ve planned to set up camp. Friends and loved ones often prepare for survival situations together and having a people camp together offers many benefits to everyone in the group.
Having a cabin or a pre-built shelter somewhere away from your home can offer a more permanent shelter for a longer stay. These are usually shelters with very primitive conditions.
When you’re at your survival camp, it’s important to keep on track with managing your daily activities. You want to keep to a routine as much as possible – especially if you have children.
If school is in session, then you want to schedule educational time. Sticking to a routine will help you feel less stressed out and will give you some semblance of order during a difficult time.