Leveling Up: How Spark Learners Utilized their Survival Skills
"If I had a phone or a watch, I could call rangers, and I could wait in that spot until they could rescue me."
"Have tape, find a leaf, and then you can stick it to whatever is bleeding."
Over the past two weeks, Spark learners have engaged in a Survival-themed session that has helped them build real-world skills, resilience, and teamwork. We began by exploring what survival truly means: staying safe, healthy, and calm no matter what happens. The STOP method was introduced (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) to guide learners through difficult situations, such as getting separated from family or friends at a theme park.
Learners practiced staying calm, using positive thoughts, observing their surroundings, and planning their next steps with confidence. Our adventure gained momentum as Discovery learners joined us for guest talks to share what learners might need to survive in the woods, how to build a shelter with sticks and leaves, and what foods to eat in nature. Learners put their knowledge to the test and collaborated as a team to design their own indoor forts, each with a challenge to solve.
"If I were able to leave and go camping, I would ask what the weather would be and just look at the weather."
"If I bumped my head and didn't know where I was going, I would use a compass. “
“If I needed help, I could rest and use a whistle.”
Spark learners jumped into another new challenge on surviving extreme weather. Learners imagined themselves on a big adventure that suddenly went off-course, leaving them lost in unfamiliar conditions. Our first stop was the Sizzling Sand Dunes with intense heat and little shade. Learners worked together to come up with ideas for staying safe, such as creating shade, looking for water sources, and using things nearby to make simple tools. However, the plan quickly changed again, and they were in the Frozen Ice Peaks, where strong, icy winds blew all around them. Learners quickly rethought their strategy to stay warm.
We closed out the week exploring the topic of bravery and how it may look different for each learner. Maybe it's encouraging another learner to share in front of an audience or helping a learner to take a few deep breaths when something feels uncertain. During this session, learners have strengthened their problem-solving skills, deepened their relationships with each other, and discovered that they are resourceful and brave in the face of challenges.
