The homesteading class recently made their yearly pilgrimage to Mr. Giles’s Ranch to camp out for the night. Four seniors and one sophomore went on this exclusive excursion and all reported great memories and unique experiences.
From felling small dead trees in a safe and controlled manner to cooking breakfast on a rickety grate, that worked “pretty great” according to Giles; everyone enjoyed the experience.
Throughout the year Giles prepares the homesteaders with interesting factoids, skills, and resources to survive and thrive in the wilderness.
He teaches the students important skills like fire building, food preparation and preservation, and shelter construction techniques. Although many people might assume that his slow and methodical introduction of new material is just goof off time, he has successfully produced several students that have not only survived his Ultimate Homestead Test, but created short term shelters from nothing except paracord and tarp.
This year the annual Homestead Field Trip began with all participants meeting at the school and loading into the school van. This year Dylan Stern, Jacob Garner, James Johnson, Andrew Sawyer, and Owen Fain went on the trip.
After arriving at the top of a mountain at about 11 p.m., Giles jokingly declared that survival was not guaranteed.
Stern quickly began crafting a lean-to out of a tarp, some string, and a few decently thick branches he cut to length. Garner had cleverly thought to bring his own tent and began setting it up. He was almost more prepared than Giles himself. Sawyer and Fain began chopping limbs off a downed tree to prepare the fire for lunch.
At 11:30 tech teacher Daniel Johnson arrived with James Johnson and immediately prepared to spend some time being advised on issues of survival with Giles.
James then met up with Drew and Owen and helped them build a very sturdy fire. At midnight, Dylan had completed his structure and was looking very cozy. Garner was showing off his surprisingly good campfire cooking skills, he was so adept that Mr. Giles said “Jacob is a camping god, with a lowercase G”. Drew and James were working their way to chop down a tree for their shelter.
After Giles assisted with the felling of the tree Drew and James selected (which proved stubborn) he proposed a quick hike before dinner. A nearby barn was the destination (it was on the opposite ridge, so nearby is a bit of an overstatement) they set off. They reached the barn without difficulty and Jacob took a tumble down a grassy slope (no one was hurt). They split into two groups with Drew, James, and Owen electing to venture into the gully between the barn and the camp. After receiving directions, the two groups made their way back to camp without incident.
After dinner Drew and James realized they wouldn’t be finishing their shelter today and so resorted to a small tent Drew had packed for protection from the wind. After dinner Mr. Giles proposed another small hike, this time in the dark. They took their flashlights, left Mr. Johnson with the fire and ventured into the woods. “Are you sure we’re going the right way?” James said as Drew led them straight into a blackberry bush. With the help of Mr. Giles, they found a tree house full of snakes and promptly returned to camp.
The next morning they awoke to Owen screaming “it’s raining!” and packed up in the sogginess without breakfast. They departed before curfew, but no one complained.
