2016-17 Okpik, Cold Weather Camping

Cold Weather Camping Training

What: Okpik aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to enjoy an outdoor experience in cold weather; to help Scout units extend their outing season to all 12 months of the year; and to share their acquired knowledge and skills with their units. These skills are taught over five sessions using the patrol method.

Okpik sessions cover: Cold Weather Clothing Systems and Sleeping Systems; Cooking, Meal Preparation and Planning; Equipment & Sleds; First Aid and Hypothermia; Travel Safety; Winter Naturalist; Winter Photography; Stoves, Fire building, Leave No Trace; Tents & Shelters. The overnight session introduces participants to a variety of winter activities and games and an opportunity to try out what they learned in a safe environment. Learning is done using the Patrol Method. Okpik also teaches you how to have fun in the cold! Think Klondike Derby for adults and senior Scouts!

Who: Okpik training is open to all levels of Scout leaders and experienced Scouting youth (Boy Scouts, Venturing, Varsity and Sea Scouts) who are 14 years old by the date of the Indoor Session. Boy Scout youth must be 1st class or above.

When and Where:

• Indoor Session – Tues., Dec. 13, 2016 - 6:30pm Registration / 7pm – 9:30pm
  LDS Church, 0N429 Old Kirk Road Geneva, Illinois
• Outdoor Session 1 – Sat., Jan. 21, 2017 – 8am Registration / 8:30am – 1pm
  Von Oven Scout Reservation, 701 S. West Street Naperville, Illinois
• Outdoor Session 2 – Fri.-Sat., Feb. 10-11, 2017 - Arrival Fri. 5pm / Departure Sat 4pm
  Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin, Illinois

Patrol Meetings: Each patrol will have 2 meetings. Date, time, and location TBD by each patrol.

All participants must submit a completed Annual Health & Medical form at the Indoor Session (parts A & B). In addition, all youth participants must submit a completed Activity Consent form at the Indoor Session. Participants must attend all sessions and patrol meetings in order to complete the course and earn the coveted Okpik cubes!

How to Register and Cost: Registration is online only from now through December 13th. Cost: $80 per person. The fee covers registration, materials, snacks during sessions, and a food allowance for the overnight session.

Questions - Contact:
Scoutmaster – Ed Hedborn, 630-989-0655, afs-6@comcast.net
Senior Patrol Leader – Mike Fugate, 815-757-4987, mwfugate@frontier.com