Survival School

Six important years of my life - between the ages of 15 and 21 - were spent in a back-to-the land commune in rural north eastern Vermont. It was one of the seminal experiences of my life, and I’ve always felt fortunate to have had the opportunity at such an early age - to bond so deeply with nature, learn key survival skills, and know without a doubt who my friends are and what really matters in this world.

"Moonlight in Vermont" - photo by Professor Bop

I know that Vermont, although resolutely rural, is not wilderness, and that even though we built our own shelter, grew our own food, cut the wood that provided heat for both and did so in one of the most extreme climates in the US, it was not the same as a wilderness survival experience.

Still, when I read an article by Laura Read about Wilderness Survival Schools in the SF Chronicle Magazine this weekend, I saw some similarities in what happens to the human psyche when you live in nature, giving me an even deeper appreciation of all those years immersed in the beauty of Vermont's green hills.

Here are a few quotes from Read's article:

"Most good schools teach that wilderness survival is not only about making a fire, capturing food and building a shelter, though those skills are important. It also requires an intimacy with natural systems. Students learn how things work in the environment around them, and how they themselves fit into that environment."
~ Laura Read

“It’s not what’s in your pack that makes the difference in survival, it’s what’s in your heart.”
~ Lawrence Gonzales, National Geographic Adventure columnist

“Survival is not so much about technique; it’s about the opening of your mind to possibilities.”
~ Lawrence Gonzales

“We want people to realize that they are part of nature, and nature is their home – that they can trust nature, but that they can also trust each other.”
~ John Chilkotowsky, Program Director, Wilderness Awareness School

“There’s something elemental in nature that invites you to be who you truly are.”
~ John Chilkotowsky

"Things Look Brighter in Vermont" - photo by Paul+Photos=Moody