Early Check In
Attendees may arrive on Friday to check in and find their assigned campsite. Teams may use tents and any other gear that they brought. There is no provided dinner nor breakfast for participants, so bring food.
Northern Star Council has decided to not endorse this event. One of the primary reasons is because there is no leader's guide detailing the stations, which would need to be given to everyone. The council's requirement defeats the intent of the course; placing participants in a surprise survival situation.
Insurance for a non-council event is spendy. The best quotes would triple the registration cost. Without an organization to stand behind this program, we are regretfully forced to cancel Clever Coyote.
Thank you for your support over the years.
Test your knowledge and prove your skills by completing tasks, earning gear, identifying plants, handling problems associated with a survival scenario, building a shelter, and staying in it overnight. At the beginning, you have only the clothes you're wearing. At the end your team could walk away with bragging rights and a prize for each member.
Open to all Scouts BSA members. You're going to be placed into small teams based on your registration information, typically 3-5 per team.
Teams will tend to simulated injuries that relate to the scenario for the weekend. A member of each team will have fake wounds applied and the team must properly handle the problem. A staff member will monitor treatment by the teams to ensure the appropriate aid was provided.
Each team will need to navigate independently between the stations in order to complete the challenges. This will also guide you to your starting point where you will find some gear. One obstacle you'll need to circumvent is the lack of a compass. Can you still find a way to determine north?
In the interest of simulating a real survival situation, the event does not guarantee a full stomach.
Find a way to send a message to an observer that is a distance away. You'll have to do more than just shouting, and you will have to use the provided gear in order to achieve this task.
One of the most useful tools during a survival situation is having a fire. It's easy when matches or lighters are available, but significantly harder when one is ill-prepared. It will be possible, but you might want to brush up on your skills before this event.
Drinking the water you find in streams and lakes could get you sick. One needs to be able to purify water before drinking it in order to make it safer. Drinking water will be provided, but the skill to purify more water will be what's tested.
Knowing how to use ropes for specific uses can be extremely important. Teams will be presented with a series of tasks. Staff will verify the solutions and then teams will be allowed to use more gear.
No tents. No pillow. Construct one or more shelters to house your team for the night. Find a way to stay warm, perhaps by weaving a blanket or getting a large bundle of dead grass as a cover. Adults will sleep in tents, and youth can warm up in a small shelter.
Friday, after 6:00 pm
Attendees may arrive on Friday to check in and find their assigned campsite. Teams may use tents and any other gear that they brought. There is no provided dinner nor breakfast for participants, so bring food.
Saturday, 8:00 am
People arriving on Saturday need to check in before the event starts. Staff members get a final meeting before the big day.
Saturday, 9:00 am
The event's scenario will be announced to everyone. Rules will be covered. One last chance to remove forbidden items and hustle them into vehicles.
Saturday, 9:15 am
Staff confirms that each team member has only the allowed gear and any medically necessary items. From this point, teams control their activities. They pick where they want to go and what they want to complete.
Saturday evening
Staff retires for the evening. Check on team progress for building their shelter.
Did you notice that there's no meals on the schedule? Participants need to earn food by completing challenges.
Sunday, 8:00 to 9:00 am
Youth are involved in a discussion of the event, what they learned, and what different things could be attempted next time. Questions are fielded. Prizes are awarded and we thank the staff for helping put on the event. Oh, and there's a prize for the winning team.
Sunday 9:00 am
Everyone is done. We do ask that participants help with an easy service project if your schedule allows for it, as coordinated by the camp host.