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REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



AOC Survival Series: Introduction to Survival Skills




The Basics:
Event Type:Learn
Event Location: Medicine Bow School, Dahlonega, GA   Learn: AOC Survival Series:  Introduction to Survival Skills  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Apr 9 2016  9:00 am >> Sun, Apr 10 2016 4:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 7:45 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Tue, Mar 8 2016 8:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Mar 23 2016 7:00 pm
Event Duration:1 Days 7 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Todd M
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Member Cost:$115.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:7
Number Registered So Far: 10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

Ever wonder what you would do if you were lost, injured, or for whatever reason "stuck in the woods" and had to spend (survive) the night when you had not intended to do so?

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn survival skills from Mark Warren, who has taken much of what he knows from the true masters of survival, the Cherokee Indians.The essentials of shelter, fire, and water will be covered.  You will learn, and practice skills which will help you survive in a worst case lost hiker scenario.

First we will learn about basic emergency shelters.  Then we’ll learn about what different species of trees offer us as fuel. (Long-term coals; short-term flare-ups; torches; ineffectual woods; etc.) This means wandering through the forest and learning trees. Then we address pyre-making. How to build a master structure for a match fire. Next we move to fire by friction using the purest, most primitive technique – the hand drill.  That night we’ll learn how to make a water- purification bowl. The next day will be devoted to foods and medicines from plants. We’ll go over how to address headache, stomach upset, food or water poisoning, infection, insect sting, etc.

About Mark: Age 68. Chemistry/pre-med major UGA. Practicing survival skills for 48 years. 12 years naturalist for the Georgia Conservancy. Running Medicine Bow for 35 years. Longbow World Champion 1999. Author of Two Winters in a Tipi.

Please note: We will hike 3/8 mile from the Medicine Bow parking area to the camp site with our gear


Required Items to Bring:

Bring tent, sleeping bag, pad, food, cooking and eating gear, weather gear, flashlight, extra batteries, extra bulb, rain gear, knife (preferably, a sharp sheath knife – the type that does not fold up) water bottle (refill water provided), notebook, pen, loose comfortable clothes begging to get dirty.

It's just like going on your own self-contained camping trip except you'll have plenty of company and an instructor. There will be a community open fire for cooking but you are welcome to bring a camp stove.  Clean-up water, soap, and scouring pads for dirty dishes will be provided.

Please don’t bring electronic gadgets that can be distracting and take away from the enjoyment of being away from such things – like noisy games, radios. Cell phones don’t get service here. Cameras are welcome.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

A good attitude, and a willingness to learn and have fun!


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

                                 DIRECTIONS TO MEDICINE BOW 

From Atlanta Take GA 400 (19)  north toward Dahlonega. 400 ends just past the Chestatee River at Hwy. 60/19. Turn left onto 60/19 and go about 4 miles into Dahlonega all the way to the square. This means you ignore the by-pass (at the first traffic light near Moe's SW Grill) which is labeled 60/19 also. By going straight through the light you are on 60/19 business. Go straight.

At the square you have to turn right. After that turn, go straight for two short blocks to a traffic light and turn left (still 60/19 north) on N. Grove St. Go a little more than 2 miles (past the high school on your left). Look for Banister Funeral Home on your right and then very soon see Gold City Tire on your right. At this intersection (Camp Wahsega Road to left, Hidden Valley Rd. to right) you’ll see signs for Frank D. Merrill Army Ranger Camp, Camp Wahsega 4-H Center, the Whisenhunt ATV trails and the airport all pointing left down Camp Wahsega Road. Turn left on Camp Wahsega Road and * go 7.4 miles
Turn right on a gravel road called Hunters Ridge. Go 100 yards 
down a little hill past a log cabin, up a little hill, follow the curve to the right and you’ll 
see the Medicine Bow street sign. Don’t take any sharp turns at the sign. Take the gentle right fork – with the street sign on your left -and ten yards later look for the parking lot entrance sign (a hand-painted arrow) on your left. Turn sharp left over the cobblestones and down into the parking lot. 
Park on the high side of the lot, pointed uphill with the old rusted truck to your left and slightly back behind you at the 8 o'clock position if your car is pointed at 12 o'clock. Please park parallel to one another as closely as is comfortable to allow room for others.


From Gainesville :  Take hwy. 60 all the way to Dahlonega square then follow above directions. 

From points north :  Take hwy. 60 or 19 south from Blairsville or Morganton. As you get close to Dahlonega look for hwy. 60/19 business at a yellow gas station (Marathon) just past Concord Church. Turn right onto business 60/19, cross Yahoola Creek, go to the top of the hill and turn right on Wahsega Road. Then follow above directions from Atlanta at asterisk*. 

From points west :  Take hwy. 52 or 136 to hwy. 9. Turn left. After you cross Cane 
Creek climb a hill to a traffic light and turn left at a cemetery. Go to Dahlonega square. 
Go straight across the square to the first traffic light, turn left onto hwy. 60/19 business (N. Grove St.). Go a little more than two miles to Camp Wahsega Road. Follow above directions from Atlanta at asterisk*.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):57Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 7:45 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $22.80 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

There is one safety rule at Medicine Bow and one conservation suggestion that I hope you will be open to: 1.) Do not discard any scrap foods – solid or liquid – onto the ground. Especially be mindful of the eating area, where spillage is most likely to happen. There will be a compost container available for food disposal. 2.) Please consider low impact camping food with little waste packaging and little leftovers. It is not a requirement on a camping trip to buy envelopes of dehydrated “camp food” or military MRE packages that people usually end up throwing away more than half. Consider fresh foods: rice, potatoes, nuts, cheese, fruit, butter brought in a reusable sealed container, something homemade you bring in a reusable container or Zip-loc, etc. 
Bathroom is a latrine with a nice view. Tissue is provided.

There is a lodge where food can be secured but not refrigerated.

For more information about Mark Warren and the Medicine Bow school:

http://medicinebow.net/


Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$115.00/Person
Cost Includes:

Survival class fee

Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Wed, Mar 23 2016.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

The class will not be cancelled due to inclement weather, unless severe weather is predicted.  There is a lodge where class activity can take place in the event of rain.

Cancellation Policy: This event will be cancelled if we do not meet the minimum number of paid registrations by March 23. If the event is cancelled by the Trip Leader, the members will receive a full refund. If you cancel on or before March 23, you will receive a full refund less a $10 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for cancellations after March 23, unless someone replaces you from the wait list and pays in full.