Homeland Improvisational Survival Skills School

There are a lot of myths around about how to tell direction without a compass (ie: moss only grows on the north, a needle on a leaf in water works like a compass, etc). Most of them will make your situation worse.

One of the best tried n true methods is the sundial.

Find a straight stick, approx 3ft tall. Stand it up in the dirt. At the tip of the shadow, place a rock.
Now wait about 15-20 mins. Place another rock at the shadows tip and draw a line connecting them. This is your East/West line. The shadow will mo e east as the sun sets in the west.
From here you can get a good idea which direction you're facing.

Remember if you're exploring unfamiliar woods and decide to risk going off trail, stop and mark which direction you're heading. Do not try to guess. Do not walk towards what looks like a clearing in the trees.

Humans naturally vier to the left when walking. Walk far enough and you'll come full circle.

Always bring a compass or GPS. Make sure to take note of your surroundings and have a safe trip.

Recently theres been a viral video showing a person using peppermint oil to remove a tick.

DO NOT DO THIS. I repeat, DO NOT DO THIS.

Peppermint oil does NOT kill ticks.
Putting any kind of oil such as essential oils, vasoline, etc will only aggrivate the tick.

When a tick becomes threatened or aggrivated it will regurgitate its stomach contents into the bite wound. This DRASTICALLY increases the chance of contracting a tick-bourne diesease.

ALWAYS use tweezers to gently pull a tick off. After removal, wash the bite area thoroughly. If you want the tick tested, store the tick in a sealed container and place it in your freezer. Use a damp cottonball for preservation.

For more information on safe tick removal visit the CDC website.

Ticks are already a severe problem here in MI...especially in the UP.
Chances are, if you step in any grass up there you WILL end up with ticks on you. And nobody wants these disgusting pests on your clothes, let alone your skin.
With camping season upon us and many of you flocking to the woods with your families, its more important than ever to protect yourself. Here are some tips to minimize the chances:

1) DEET. This is the best way to keep them away. Spray your clothes from head to toe, with extra concentration around openings such as sleeves and pantlegs.

2) tuck your pants into your socks. Sure this might look silly, but you aren't going to a nature fashion show. Keeping your pants tucked in keeps those bugs out.

3) invest in some long sleeve, summer under armor. This can be worn under your normal clothes and will keep you cool while staying skin tight, preventing any ticks from crawling up your sleeves.

4) Perform daily tick checks. If you're staying in the woods overnight have your partner or buddy thoroughly look you over. Check under your armpits, on your back, check your groin (do this yourself), and if you have long hair check just below the hairline on your neck. Ticks try to find inconspicuous spots in which to hide. Check when you get up and again before bed.

5) Never touch a tick. If one does happen to embed itself dont panic. While they do carry serious dieseases such as Lyme disease, the tick has to be embedded for a full 24 hrs before theres any risk. Do not burn it off. Do not grab it. Aggrivating the bug can make it clamp tighter.
Instead use tweezers and do ypur best to slowly pull the tick straight out in a slow steady motion.
Most outdoor stores sell a tool specifically for tick removal. These run from $2-$10 on avg and look similar to a cigar cutter. This is your best option.

6) Avoid long grass. Ticks are expert ambushers. They can stay on grass for weeks waiting for a passing animal to latch onto. People included. If possible stay on trails and dont wander through bushes or tall grass/weeds.

Fact of the matter is, if you go outdoors in the UP you will likely acquire a tick passenger. If you see one on you simply flick it away, preferably with a pen or stick, or whatever is handy. Avoid touching them when you can and have a safe trip.

http://banana1015.com/tick-population-on-the-rise-in-michigan-video/

Tick Population on The Rise in Michigan [VIDEO] Ticks are so freaking nasty and unfortunately these little suckers are really starting to make their mark in Michigan. These little things can not only

Bears are typically more aggressive in early spring and late fall.
Here in MI, especially in northern MI and the UP, black bears are a growing presence and you may encounter one during a trip to the woods.

While generally cowards and quick to spook, an early spring encounter with a mama bear sporting cubs can potentially be dangerous as the bear is far more likely to become aggressive and charge, especially if startled.

It's important to stay calm and always remember you are the guest there. Walk with a purpose, don't act like prey, and make as much noise as possible. Black bears will avoid people in the wild so you can drastically decrease the odds of an encounter by alerting them to your presence with loud noises.

Mind you the water will not come out tasting like siberian cucumber water, but this is an effective way to remove a large number of pollutants from your water in a pinch.
Remember to always boil your water as that is the only way to kill microorganisms that can make you sick.

The best option is a LifeStraw. They're cheap, lightweight, and 100% effective.

In a pinch, common items such as crayons or corn chips (Fritos are a good example) will burn slowly over a long period of time.

Knowing which type of wood you're using can mean the difference between getting a fire going or going to bed cold.

Been noticing a lot of activity on the page lately. We appreciate the likes but we are still in the process of getting set up. We will post updates as often as we can.

Still getting setup due to scheduling issues and course details. Will post more info as it comes.