Survival Skills for Kids: Fun Outdoor Activities

In this list I'll cover 10 fun activities you can teach children to help better prepare them for the worst-case scenarios, but in a fun way that helps give them the confidence they will need to successfully navigate whatever they encounter.

Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Encourage children to explore their surroundings while learning about different plants, animals, and natural landmarks. Create a scavenger hunt checklist with items like pine cones, animal tracks, edible plants, widow-maker trees, and unique rocks. This activity teaches kids about keeping their eyes peeled for things that could help them in an actual survival situation.

Fire Building Challenge:

Teach children the basics of fire safety and fire building by organizing a friendly competition. Using safe methods and under supervision, have them gather tinder, kindling, and fuel to start and maintain a fire. Before the competition starts teach them about a variety of structures they could use for their fire, like a teepee style, log cabin, or upside-down fire. Give them parameters like it needs to light with one match or they need to start it using a Ferro rod. Emphasize the importance of fire for warmth, cooking, and signaling for help in emergency situations.

Shelter Building Workshop:

Engage children in hands-on shelter-building activities using natural materials found in the environment. Whether it's constructing a lean-to, debris hut, or simple tarp shelter, this activity teaches kids essential survival skills such as selecting suitable shelter locations, identifying sturdy materials, and maximizing insulation for warmth.

Wilderness Navigation Game:

Turn navigation practice into an exciting game by creating a mini orienteering course in a local park or wilderness area. Provide children with maps, compasses, or GPS devices and challenge them to find hidden checkpoints or complete a series of tasks using their navigational skills. teach them to measure distance with their steps, This activity enhances spatial awareness, map reading abilities, and problem-solving.

Emergency First Aid Training:

Introduce children to basic first aid techniques tailored to outdoor scenarios. Teach them how to clean and dress minor wounds, recognize symptoms of heat exhaustion or hypothermia, and administer CPR or rescue breathing. Role-playing different emergency situations empowers kids to stay calm and respond effectively in real-life emergencies.

Survival Kit Assembly:

Guide children in assembling their own mini survival kits containing essential items such as a whistle, signaling mirror, emergency blanket or bivvy, water purification tablets, matches, and energy bars. Discuss the importance of each item and how they can be used in various survival situations.

Plant Identification and Foraging:

Take children on a nature walk to identify common edible and medicinal plants in their environment. Bring a book that shows the local fauna that they could use as a reference. Teach them how to recognize safe and nutritious wild edibles, emphasizing the importance of proper identification and ethical foraging practices. Help them identify plants that look like look like another edible or medicinal plant but are actually toxic so they know what to look out for. This activity encourages curiosity, respect for nature, and self-sufficiency.

Knot Tying Practice:

Teach children the knots you use the most in outdoor settings, if it were me I'd be teaching the Arbor knot, Bowline, Truckers Hitch, Clove Hitch, sheet bend and the Prusik knot. From securing tents and tarps to building shelters and setting up hammocks, knot tying is an essential skill for any budding outdoors person. Encourage children to practice tying knots with different types of ropes or cords until they master each technique.

Water Safety and Filtration:

Discuss the importance of water safety and methods for obtaining safe drinking water in the wilderness. Teach children how to locate water sources, assess water quality, and purify water using methods like making a Charcoal filter, digging a coyote well, boiling water, using purifying tablets or a water filter.

Emergency Preparedness Simulation:

Conduct a simulated survival scenario where children must apply their acquired skills to navigate challenges and make decisions in a controlled environment. Whether it's building a makeshift shelter, signaling for help, or administering first aid, this experiential learning activity reinforces problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience.

By incorporating these fun and educational activities into children's outdoor experiences, parents, educators, and mentors can instill valuable survival skills and foster a lifelong love for adventure and exploration. Empowering children with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the natural world not only prepares them for unforeseen challenges but also cultivates a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature.