• Mount Rainier peeks through clouds, viewed across subalpine wildflowers and glacial moraine.

    Mount Rainier

    National Park Washington

Staying Alive! The Ten Essentials for Your Trip

A compass aligned to north on top of a topographic map.
A map and compass are two of the ten essential items to bring with when hiking.
NPS, Mike Punches
 
Overview: Students will be introduced to the basic ten essentials necessary for taking a short, three to five mile hiking trip into a local park, national park, or other outdoor trip. The students will participate in a series of scenarios assessing their knowledge of the ten essentials and preparedness for surviving common situations they might face on a short hiking trip.
Grade Level:
 5 - 12
Objectives: Students will be able to:
  • Identify the ten essential items suggested for travel on any hiking trip.
  • Understand the importance of carrying each of the ten essential items while on a hiking trip into a local park, national park, or other outdoor trip.
  • Identify other items that might be considered for a trip into a local park.
Lesson Plan:
 Staying Alive - word, 45KB
Staying Alive - pdf, 541KB
Resources: Staying Alive Ten Essentials
Staying Alive Master Scenario List
Staying Alive Scenarios
Staying Alive Items for Trip
Staying Alive Ten Essentials Quiz

Did You Know?

human-food-habituated red fox

Feeding wildlife invites aggressive animal behavior, road accidents, and harm to people.  Feeding birds artificially concentrates nest predators, harming young songbirds.  Feeding animals in the park is prohibited, and is liable to a $100 fine. Follow link to learn how to Keep Wildlife Wild: More...