YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game

Transcription

1 YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game This is the first time an event of this nature has taken place within the Yellowhead Region and we (Yellowhead Regional Council) want to make sure that everyone coming out for this game, and their families, are aware and understand what should be happening. Please read through this entire document. It contains an overview, outline, objective, rules, some words about shelter and food, a list of some of the possible hazards, last reminders, game details (location, contacts, etc.), and finally the waiver, indemnity and consent form. Everyone coming (warden and adult) needs to bring: - a signed waiver/consent form - an initialled copy of the assumption of risk, showing that you have read it - appropriate foot ware - a whistle. If you have no camping or outdoor experience, this is not the time or place to try it out and see what it is like, or if you may like it. This game is the time and place to put into action the skills and knowledge that you already have. One the following pages there are a few numbers that have a * by them. These numbers will be set just before the start of the game once we see how many people will be playing.

2 Overview The YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game is the culmination of this year s lessons that the YACS have held. These lessons included: rope and tarp shelters, clothing, fire lighting, mapping, camouflage, orienteering, search and rescue, and sneaking quietly through the bush, amongst others. Having attended these lessons is not a pre-requisite for participating in this game. While still trying to maintain safety, the game is designed to test the participant s knowledge and skills in a more intense than normal camping environment; to better help them understand some of the possible experiences and emotions they might face if they ever found themselves in a survival situation. Game Outline The 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game is one of stealth, teamwork and skill. Participants will be on one of two teams. Since each team will be out overnight, they will each need to set up their respective camps. They must also spy on the other team and create as accurate a map representation of the other team s camp, while trying to protect their camp from being spied upon. There are numerous strategies that each team may employ as they see fit depending on the terrain, weather, vegetation, equipment, and their skill level. Above all else, please play honourably. We want this to be a safe and memorable experience for all. This is NOT capture the flag. This is a spy and stealth survival game. People are supposed to sneak around and avoid detection. This is to reduce the amount of running and possible trips and falls. Game Objective The objective of the game is to locate and map out the opposing team s camp or base within 5m* of their flag or marker. The detail and accuracy of your map will be the main criteria to be judged. The second item to be judged will be the amount of game time remaining when your map is turned in. The number of arm bands taken from the other team may also be considered if there is a tie with all other factors.

3 The RULES We only received a handful of votes about the gaming style and outhouse safety zones. The exact rules concerning both of these will be outlined at the start of the game and will be dependent on the number of people that show up. Gaming style The game area may be divided into two sides or it may be kept as one large playing area. This will be set once we see how many people show up to play and the defined play area boundaries that we will be using. If the play area is divided into two, you can only be caught once you cross the centre line. If it is one large area, the only safe zones will be in your team s respective camps. The play area is considerably larger and more dense with underbrush than what we had at Camp Encounter. Outhouse This will also be determined at game time by how many people are present and the gaming style (above) that is used. a) When using the outhouse, the game is still on. You can capture someone or be caught immediately upon exiting. b) Just like the central jail area, there is a small safe zone surrounding the outhouse in which you cannot be captured. 1) There are four items that are mandatory for you to play -Completed medical info and signed permission slip - Initialled copy of the assumption of risk -Whistle or other appropriate signalling device -Proper foot ware (no crocks or flip flops) 2) Each participant will be given an arm band that must remain visible to identify teams. 3) Each team will be given a marker to place as their base. When first being placed, a leader (or two) will go out with each team so we know where people will be camping and to make sure that the site is appropriate. After placing the marker, it cannot be moved to a new location. *5 meters in all directions of this marker is your base. Each team should have shelter for all its members, a food cache, a properly constructed fire pit (if having a fire), meal prep and eating area, whatever else is deemed necessary. Note: the food cache should be located away from the main camp and is permitted to be reasonably outside of the *5m radius. 4) No shelters may be built outside of this area, unless you are scouting and need a last minute survival type of shelter to stay. 5) As soon as the whistle is blown, the game is on. This means you can go and set up base, scout the area, or even try to remove arm bands from the other team. 6) When spotted by another player, they may attempt to take your arm band. If your armband is taken, the other player keeps the spoil of war until the end of the game Sunday. These may be

4 tallied up in the event of a tie. A person that removes your armband does not have to escort you to the central jail. 7) When you no longer have your armband, you must stop all game activities and go to the central jail immediately. 8) Once in jail, you must wait until the timed increments to be released (this will be determined at game time by the number of people that show up to play). A good idea would be to have something to keep you busy like a book, journal... or maybe a harmonica. The actual time will be dependent on how many people show up to play. 9) Spying on the enemy territory without an arm-band, taking someone else's arm band while you don't have your own, and other dishonourable plays is considered cheating. Cheating may cause your removal from the game. 10) The central jail area is a no capture zone. All participants in this vicinity will not be allowed to tag each other. Play will begin for the player once exiting the safe zone, which will be marked. 11) Once exiting the jail zone, you cannot re-enter, and leave, and re-enter. 12) Some locations, such as the farm houses and yards will not be counted as the play area. There is also a well, and maybe some other locations we will have to mark off for safety. We are to stay away from these places AT ALL TIMES. 13) The final game boundaries*, anywhere up to a ¼ section, will be established once we see how many people actually show up to play. 14) If there is an emergency, three loud and long whistle blasts will signal an interruption in the game. Upon hearing three whistle blasts, please report to the central jail area. If you blew the whistle, or are in very close proximity to where the whistle is blown, please stay close by to assist. Leaders will come to where the whistle was blown and assess the situation and indicate what will happen next. 15) Please do not bring anything that you are not willing to lose or break. If something falls out of your pocket, it will not likely ever be found. The vegetation and underbrush is real thick in spots. 16) If, at any time during the game, you need assistance, the leaders will be available at the central jail area. 17) Play honourably and play safe. This is supposed to be fun for everyone. Shelter People are responsible for their own shelter. Tents provide better protection, but rope and tarp would be more versatile. There is lots of plant material around the site that can also be utilized. If there are people that were planning on sharing the same shelter but end up on opposite teams, everyone s shelters will be taken into consideration. There will be a form of shelter available for everyone on each team.

5 Food Everyone is responsible for their own food and water, including cooking and clean up. It is suggested that each team create a food cache so it is protected from animals. It would be best if people do not plan on sharing food with another person just in case they end up on opposite teams. Final Reminders: 1) In order to be in attendance, each person (participant and leader) MUST have the four following items: - Signed permission slip/waiver/consent - Initialled assumption of risk form - Appropriate footwear (no crocs, sneakers, flip flops, etc.) - Functioning signalling device (a whistle) If a warden shows up without any of the four items, they will be sitting out and not playing. 2) The leaders will be making random patrols throughout the game and reserve the right to remove anyone from the game that is witnessed to be, or perceived to be: - a danger to themselves or others. - improperly prepared - not playing honourably 3) There will be a designated area to come for assistance at ANY time during the course of the game. 4) What to pack... Remember the seven enemies of survival: fear, pain, cold, thirst, hunger, fatigue, and boredom/loneliness. This is what you must prepare and pack for, plus helping your team meet the game objective. There are numerous other items which one may wish to bring. Please do not bring anything that you are not willing to lose or damage (e.g. I-Pod). The following is not an equipment list, but rather a reminder of some things you may wish to consider. While these may not be mandatory, they are strongly suggested. camouflage gear water bottle shelter food safety glasses gloves survival kit toque

6 complete change of clothes (2x - one for game and one for the ride home) fire lighting supplies pencil paper compass first-aid kit sleeping mat sleeping bag sit-upon personal toiletries sheath knife pocket knife harmonica? insect repellent sunscreen toilet paper flashlight 5) Play hard, play safe, play honourably. Game Details Location: The game will be played on up to a ¼ section of land a few miles east of Entwistle. The legal land description is SE W5th To get there, from Hwy 16, go N on RR 70 (1 mile west of where the railway bridge crosses Hwy 16). Turn W on Twp 534 and turn into the first driveway on the N side. Follow driveway up the hill. (note: there is also another driveway access from the north from RR70, turn W on Twp 534a and take the first driveway to the S up the hill through the forest) The site borders TwP 534 on the south, RR 70 on the east and Twp 534 A to the north. The western boundary is an old fence line, half way to RR 71. Player hint: go onto the computer and see if you can figure out what the site looks like from satellite photos of the game area. Maybe print out a map for your team. Time: The plan is to blow the start whistle at 12 noon. However, we ask everyone to show up at 11 am to help solidify the rules and pick teams. The game will run, as the name suggests, 24 hours, so if we start on time, we should end at 12 noon on Sunday. We do need to do a debrief of the game and to set a time and place for the planning meeting for next year, so expect to leave the site between 1 and 2 pm on Sunday.

7 Contacts: The following people will have their cell phones at the site. It is presently presumed that there will be reception. Kirt Martin The land is occupied by family members of JFW. The land line there is , but there is no guarantee that this phone will be manned all 24 hours. Emergency Services: The closest emergency services are about equidistant to both Stony Plain and Drayton Valley. Like just about all JFW events, there will be several people that have their first aid ticket. Terry Bartley has agreed to be out initial first aid person. Chaperones: Because of the higher risk of this event as opposed to being at a camp facility, JFW requires a ratio of 6:1 (as outlined in the Youth Safe Outdoors Manual). We will need parents to stay and camp out (supervise) too. This is more along the lines of wilderness camping than a Provincial Park. Although the site is vehicle accessible, we need to bring everything we may need. The participants will need to carry their supplies into the bush. Currently the leaders/chaperones are: Kirt Bennett Martin Schiebel Neil Marsh Ross Maxwell Terry Bartley The adults will be taking turns on shift so that there is always someone awake through the night if anyone needs assistance. Interventions: Circumstances or situations may arise that necessitate an interruption or an early end to the game. These may include events like extreme weather and injury. Should there be a need, three whistle blasts will signify an emergency and immediately suspend the game until further notice. Upon three whistle blasts, all people not already directly involved are to meet at the central meeting/starting location. There are numerous strategies that teams may try: - Do you all stay on defence and only go and spy all at once towards the end? - Does your team split with half on spy and half on defence? - Maybe your team times it s spying to be in the last 10 minutes before the release time from the jail. - Perhaps your team wants to camouflage all of its shelters. - What about making your base/camp in an area that no one would ever suspect?

8 Assumption of Risk While precautions will be taken to reduce the risk, there are inherent dangers with an outing of this nature. These dangers may include, but are not necessarily limited to, one or a combination of the following (as copied from the Youth Safe Outdoors CD): Injuries related to vehicle crashes en route to and from activity area; Becoming lost or separated from the group or the group becoming split up; Injuries related to slips, trips, and falls in the program area or en-route to/from it; Injuries related to collisions with movable (e.g. cars) or immovable (e.g. trees, rocks) objects; Injuries related to the physical demands of the activity and/or lack of activity skill; Weather changes creating adverse conditions; Hypothermia due to insufficient or inappropriate clothing; Loss of manual dexterity in hands during cold and wet conditions; Hyperthermia (e.g., overheating) due to insufficient hydration, overdressing and/or overexertion; Injuries related to equipment (poor fit, improper adjustment, malfunction, and/or entanglement in apparatus or equipment); Injuries related to lifting, carrying, walking with, or putting down packs; Other injuries (e.g., blisters, sprains, strains; acute or overuse injuries/conditions); Drowning or near drowning if in water; Illness related to poor personal hygiene, or failure to purify drinking water; Injuries related to encounters with animals and plants in the environment; Allergic reactions to natural substances in the outdoor environment (e.g., bee stings or jelly fish stings in ocean) or food items; Psychological injury due to anxiety or embarrassment (e.g., re: lack of skill, body image); Complications of an injury or illness related to remoteness and time to emergency services; and Other risks normally associated with participation in the activity and environment. Injuries related to colliding with another person or with a fixed object; Injuries related to the terrain (e.g. steep slopes, pits and holes, surface water, uneven ground, roots, rocks, loose surface, lack of traction); Burns or scalds related to use of fires, camp stoves and/or the handling of hot food or liquid; Cuts related to the use of knives, axes or saws Please print your name (both participant and parent/guardian) to signify that you have read, understood, and accept the above. Participant Parent/Guardian

9 YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game Permission/Consent/Indemnity Waiver Completing this form constitutes your permission for your child/ward to attend and participate in the YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game on May 28-29, 2011 and that they will abide by all the rules set forth. Any violation of the rules, or endangering themselves or others, may result in your child/ward being removed from the game, and if serious enough, sent home at your expense. Participant s name: Age: Sex: JFW Club: Parent/Guardian Name: Phone: Address: Family Doctor: Phone: Health Care Number: Please list any and all details that may be of use in the event of medical treatment, like: asthmatic, diabetic, psychological, emotional, urinary, nervous system, allergies, bad joints or bones, seizures, medications, etc. If more room is needed, please write on the back of this sheet. If there are no medical issues, please write None. Experience has shown that in conjunction with outdoor activities, accidents and injuries may occur. This signed form is my consent for the leader, or designate in charge, to arrange for appropriate medical attention for my child/ward without my prior approval. I understand that I will be contacted by the most efficient means possible should this be exercised and that I am responsible for all associated costs in the care of my child/ward. I further agree to hold harmless and blameless any and all parties related to the YACS 24-Hour Survival Challenge Game and indemnify same should any charges be warranted against, or damages caused by, my child in any way, shape, or form. Signed: Dated: Print Name: