Casara Members From Nova Scotia
Spent A Weekend Learning Survival Skills
Meet the trainers
The three men pictured here have an enormous amount of wilderness survival experience and skills between them and were more than happy to pass some of their expertise on to the CASARA members throughout the weekend.
On the far left we have Al Daigle, middle picture is of Brian Myrah and on the right we have last but certainly not least Keith Mitchell. There is a VERY impressive biography that can be viewed regarding Keith Mitchell on the internet by clicking here.
On the far left we have Al Daigle, middle picture is of Brian Myrah and on the right we have last but certainly not least Keith Mitchell. There is a VERY impressive biography that can be viewed regarding Keith Mitchell on the internet by clicking here.
A group of CASARA members were treated to a Survival Course which was put on by a group of highly trained
military personnel. The group of trainers were all very experienced as Search And Rescue members and passed on
a wealth of knowledge to the CASARA members.
The survival course started on the first day with a six hour in-class training session. During this session,
the members were instructed in such topics as first aid, what clothing one should be wearing in anticipation of
things going wrong during a flight, or while on a hiking or hunting trip planned for even just a few hours. Attention
was focused on the essential light-weight things you can take with you to make your stay as comfortable as
possible given the conditions encountered, and to keep a win – win mindset that things are going to be fine.
It was said, that in most cases as long as you do not panic and follow proper recommended procedures and
training, most times you will be fine.
The in-field training focused on things such as, building a shelter –having a pre-built signal fire ready to use
if necessary- building a fire to keep you warm for the applicable weather conditions – how to catch/gather food
and water – what to eat, and what not to eat in the wild. While the participants were given some food, it should be
noted that the food given to them consisted of “several” pieces of candy for the complete outdoor overnight event!!
The scenario presented to the members was that they were in an aircraft (possibly on an actual search mission to
help locate someone in distress) that had crash landed and they had to survive by whatever means possible until
help arrived.
Just to make this training session as realistic as it could be, Mother Nature lent a hand to help the trainers show the members that when a situation seems bad, it can always get worse.
On the day of the outdoor/overnight training, it just happened to have been the worst day of the winter
weather wise. It wasn't enough that it was a very cold winter’s day, the members also had the pleasure of enduring continuous freezing rain conditions the whole time!
Every member that participated in this event had put their name forth on a volunteer’s list with a lot of other
CASARA members in hopes that they would be the lucky ones to get picked for this training. None of the
members in this training are paid for what they do at any time, it is strictly and completely on a volunteer basis.
Any and all of the members could have said “I have had enough” and quit the training at any time during the event.
But even so..........................................................NOT ONE PERSON GAVE UP!
One might ask: “Why anybody would put themselves through this? Well, the answer can be found in the
CASARA motto which is:................................... "THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE"
military personnel. The group of trainers were all very experienced as Search And Rescue members and passed on
a wealth of knowledge to the CASARA members.
The survival course started on the first day with a six hour in-class training session. During this session,
the members were instructed in such topics as first aid, what clothing one should be wearing in anticipation of
things going wrong during a flight, or while on a hiking or hunting trip planned for even just a few hours. Attention
was focused on the essential light-weight things you can take with you to make your stay as comfortable as
possible given the conditions encountered, and to keep a win – win mindset that things are going to be fine.
It was said, that in most cases as long as you do not panic and follow proper recommended procedures and
training, most times you will be fine.
The in-field training focused on things such as, building a shelter –having a pre-built signal fire ready to use
if necessary- building a fire to keep you warm for the applicable weather conditions – how to catch/gather food
and water – what to eat, and what not to eat in the wild. While the participants were given some food, it should be
noted that the food given to them consisted of “several” pieces of candy for the complete outdoor overnight event!!
The scenario presented to the members was that they were in an aircraft (possibly on an actual search mission to
help locate someone in distress) that had crash landed and they had to survive by whatever means possible until
help arrived.
Just to make this training session as realistic as it could be, Mother Nature lent a hand to help the trainers show the members that when a situation seems bad, it can always get worse.
On the day of the outdoor/overnight training, it just happened to have been the worst day of the winter
weather wise. It wasn't enough that it was a very cold winter’s day, the members also had the pleasure of enduring continuous freezing rain conditions the whole time!
Every member that participated in this event had put their name forth on a volunteer’s list with a lot of other
CASARA members in hopes that they would be the lucky ones to get picked for this training. None of the
members in this training are paid for what they do at any time, it is strictly and completely on a volunteer basis.
Any and all of the members could have said “I have had enough” and quit the training at any time during the event.
But even so..........................................................NOT ONE PERSON GAVE UP!
One might ask: “Why anybody would put themselves through this? Well, the answer can be found in the
CASARA motto which is:................................... "THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE"
Click on any picture below to enlarge.
Then click on either the right or left side of the enlarged picture
to scroll back and forth through the pictures
Then click on either the right or left side of the enlarged picture
to scroll back and forth through the pictures
