3 Things you MUST always carry into the Forest (The last one, you won't expect!)

If you have done any exploring or adventuring with the Urban Naturalist's Association, or me as a guide elsewhere, you know all to well that the navigation of a place is not my strong point.

Maybe the reason why I have had such wonderful personal experiences with plants, to be able to feed myself in the highly probable scenario I am ever lost in a wilderness situation. (Good grace forbid it, unless you know, Naked and Afraid...)

If you should ever find yourself in an emergency in the forest, there will be a few things that you will wish that you had to help ease your mind to focus on survival and getting back to civilization.

Can you imagine the feeling of panic and doom as the sun begins its descent and don't know where you are? or you are not where you want to be? Imagine away the scenario that you can use your phone to get you out of the situation. What do you do?!

Always keep calm and think about basic human needs in such a situation. 

FOOD. WATER. SHELTER. WARMTH.

1.

In the event that you should find yourself needing to weather a night in the woods, without being prepared to. You will want to have a safe place and FIRE. 

Three of the four of our basic needs, are contingent on fire in this survival situation, the sterilization of water to drink, preparing any animal that may be secured to eat, and depending on the season, for the warmth or repellant potential.

Our first must have, outdoor survival MUST HAVE therefore is a simple LIGHTER or way to ignite fire. You have options here. But most easily accessible and common is a regular lighter. Box matches, fire starters...all wonderful to have in the arsenal.

2. 

The second most important thing to have on you in the event of an emergency out in the wilderness is a way to protect yourself and build security.

Think of how the environment can be used. Are there small saplings and vines? How can these be used to help with the basic needs? These things can address our needs for shelter and security if only we had a way to harvest them! Hmmmm….most people don't carry around an ax or saw, so our next best thing to have handy would be a KNIFE. 

Not only does the knife provide an immediate level of protection in the event of close contacts where we would need to defend ourselves but it can also aid you in securing the supplies to be safe for the night in "cutting" out a way to stay dry and able to function. 

3.

Our final survival item is one that I'm sure the more technical person won't consider as it serves most our mental and emotional needs. It is amazing just how much survival is contingent on the way we think and approach a situation. A calm and level headed person has far greater likelihood of getting to safety first if we were to compare them with an irrational, panicked person.

Mental strength and fortitude are paramount. You must remain focused and in your sense of power. What motivates you to be strong when you are feeling at your weakest? What is it that pulls that extra UMPH! out of you when you just want to be done?

The final item on this list of must haves in the forest is a SENTIMENT that brings out of you, your EYE OF THE TIGER.

This most easily takes the form of a PICTURE! Who or what do you have a commitment to that you can't let down. This will give you a mental reminder on the importance of your level head. Most only have their phone now a days for fond memories. Think of the value of carrying a wallet in this situation or wearing a locket.