by buddyh » Dec 4, 2009 11:08 am
Any names or links to caves that offer wild tours would great. The BSA Troop I am registered with is very adventure based with trips around the country and even abroad.
As for the first aid kit I do not require much. The primary items are first, the knowledge, second is non latex gloves, and after that personal med's and a whistle. Though a whistle is not really a first aid item but the kit is a great, common or known place to keep one. I make the point that many items in the pack are multipurpose. Duct or athletic tape can be used in so many ways. The bandanna I show them also so has many uses. I solicit possible uses for the items I carry and explain why I carry what I do. I do not ask they carry SOAP notes, irrigation syringes, miles of gauze, a thousand bandaids. I suggest Chapstick and a few Anacin type pills, especially for the folks approaching my age or older.
Let me know how you prepare a group for caving or other adventures. I find games are a great way to get people to remember how to apply what I've taught. Having a relay race to put on a harness or crawl through an obstacle course of tables, chairs or what ever is on hand, just like they did in the OCR (CRO) photos on my website. To solicit questions and answers, I find Starburst candies are great, even adult leaders will ask a question then. They are easily thrown to, not at, the person responding. I don't tell the students that they will get a candy for asking a question but after the first person to ask a question or answer one receives one you better be ready for the onslaught.
I also solicit feedback from the participant. They may do this either online or I take my computer and ask them to writhe three sentences. What they liked. What they did not like. What could be improved. The Scouts often do a thorn and roses session before heading home. I can get a good idea of how the whole trip went. I often request a thorns and roses session.
I learn from others so I may share with others.
BuddyH