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Don't Get Lost Getting lost while camping and hiking is a growing problem.  Although a compass might help the knowledgeable outdoors person find thier way from one place to the next, the average camper has no idea how to use a compass. To avoid getting lost, stay on well-marked trails and never camp without a friend, family member, or buddy along for the ride. Before you start on your adventure, obtain maps from the park or forest ranger. If you and your buddy do get lost, follow trail markers to the nearest ranger station and wait for help to arrive. If you can't find a ranger's station, find a safe, sheltered place and wait for help to come looking for you.  An ordinary sports whistle is a camper's best friend when it comes to safe rescue. The regular repeat of the clear tone can help guarantee your cries for help will be heard at distances the human voice can't travel. Hitting the trails without at least one experienced adult to provide supervision and guidance is extremely unwise, according to the US National Park Service. So take along a parent, or even a trusted older friend or teacher. Sharing the beauty of the great outdoors can actually help teens and adults get to know one another without all the ordinary urban distractions. Finally, if you run into a problem, don't hesitate to ask for help.    "That's what the rangers are there for,"  Keep a picture of your children with you in case they get lost.   The Hug-A-Tree Foundation The Hug-A-Tree Foundation began as a result of the tragic death of a young boy during a family campout in San Diego County. The boy got lost on a popular trail and was found dead four days later. His parents and some searchers formed the Hug-A-Tree Foundation to help kids stay safe if they do get lost in the wilderness.   One of the biggest concerns of children when they get lost is that their parents or who ever is in charge will get mad at them and may not want to pay searchers to look for them. How many of you really think that your parents would want you to stay lost? While it may feel that way it is far from true. The answer is that your parents want you back no matter what. IN many countries there are rescue teams and volunteer search groups that look for lost people and they do it as a service to their communities.   Lots of people get lost in the wilderness - including adults! No one will be mad, and the rescuers are more than happy to help you. To them it is a fun challenge, something they want to do.   It is recommended that whenever you go on an outing to the wilderness you carry with you, in your pocket, a garbage bag and a whistle   If you get lost here is what you do:    Scenario #1: You are prepared    As soon as you realize you are lost - HUG A TREE! Stop sit by or even hug, a tree and relax. Look around and see if you are near a clearing. If so, see if it is possible to make a big arrow from sticks or dirt to point to where you are. This is so helicopters can see you. If is cool or rainy, pull out you TRASH BAG and use it for shelter. To do this you need to make a hole near the bottom of the bag for your face or else you will suffocate If a helicopter is going over - lay down in the clearing, or where ever you are, and MAKE YOURSELF BIG If you hear something near you, BLOW YOUR WHISTLE. An animal will run away and a searcher will know where you are Remember to stop, stay warm and dry, and THINK you will be found Your best weapon for surviving if you're lost is YOUR OWN BRAIN. This is something you will have with you no matter what. It is your best tool for getting out of a situation like this alive and well.   Scenario #2: You are not prepared    You still need to stop and HUG A TREE as soon as you know you are lost. STOP MOVING IMMEDIATELY. Look around to see if you are near a clearing. If so, see if it is possible to make a big arrow from sticks or dirt to point to where you are. This is so helicopters can see you. Whether you have a trash bag or not, you still need shelter. DO NOT throw away or discard any items of clothing like a jacket. Even if you don't need it now, you may need it later. If it is cold or rainy, try to stay as dry as possible and if you roll up into a ball you will stay warmer. If a helicopter is going over - lay down in the clearing, or wherever you are, and MAKE YOURSELF BIG If you hear something near you, yell. An animal will run away and a searcher might hear you. If it is hot out, you want to stay cool, and if it is cold out, you want to stay warm. Your best weapon for surviving if you're lost is YOUR OWN BRAIN. This is something you will have with you no matter what. It is your best tool for getting out of a situation like this alive and well.   What you DON'T need if you get lost:   Food - you will be found way before you get to the point where you are really starving Water - if you follow the Hug-A-Tree guidelines, you will not be lost long enough to suffer from dehydration Matches or a fire - You can keep warm by rolling up into a ball and staying out of the wind, or by using your garbage bag as a shelter   What about animals?   Different areas have different animals, but animals are not too excited about getting near humans. Yelling or blowing your whistle is usually enough to chase an animal away, if one even has the guts to come near you!   Do avoid snakes - never try to handle them or pick them up.   Above all, don't panic.  Understand that shortly after you realize you are lost, so will the groups you are with. They will tell the ranger, or call the sheriff or the police and all sorts of people will begin to look for you.   Spend time in the wilderness. There is nothing like it.  But, be prepared and remember to Hug-A-Tree and survive, should you get lost! The following is only an outline of what you may wish to discuss with your child: Now that you are old enough to begin going on some bigger outdoor adventures, there are some things we need to discuss. No matter where we go, what we do or how careful we are, there is always the possibility that you or I could get lost or look around and not be able to locate each other. I want to talk about what you should do if that ever happens, so you will be able to help me find you faster and make yourself comfortable until I get there. First of all, if you ever get separated from me or a group you are with, the most important thing to do is to stay in one place. I will bring some friends and start looking for you where I last knew you were, so don't leave that place. Find a rock, a log or a tree and make it your "house" or "fort" until I find you. Make sure that your "house" is somewhere out in the open where I will be able to see you. You must know that I will not stop hunting for you until I find you, so just stay in one place and wait for me. It is important to me that you know that I will not be angry or upset if you get lost - anyone can get lost - and, when I find you, I will be really happy and want to hear all about what you did while we were separated. Dress your child in bright colors. Perhaps have them wear a brightly colored hat. Visibility is a key element. Teach your child to always look around them when they are hiking or taking part in activities in the outdoors. Have them note landmarks or unusual areas. Have them look backwards from time to time to note how the trail will look upon their return. Have them practice re-tracing their steps from time to time. In the event your child does get separated, make sure they know it is all right to be worried and afraid, but that you will find them as soon as possible.   Simply clicking on the image above will open your default E-mail Writer and have a pre-determined subject line. You can simply send this E-mail with nothing to write and I will be alerted with the Page that has a broken link.  However it would be nice if some input from you of exactly which link is broke. Thank You!!!! Copyright © 2012 Jon's Images, Inc. All rights reserved DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using  any info from this site, you agree to our full terms. 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