Register to attend Shiloh Park program that teaches kids what to do if they get lost in the woods

September is National Preparedness Month.
Do you know what to do during an emergency? Do your kids know what to do if they find themselves in an emergency? It is estimated that 330 million people visit the country’s national parks, forests, and wilderness areas every year. Some of those people get lost and don’t know how to survive.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Shiloh National Military Park is offering a Junior Ranger “Hug a Tree to Survive” program. It’s designed to show children what to do in the event they get separated from their parents or legal guardians while outdoors in the woods.
Inspired by the search for 9-year-old Jimmy Beveridge in 1981 in southern California, the Hug-a-Tree and Survive program teaches children how to survive in the woods if they become lost. The program was developed to educate children in a some of the most basic and vital survival principles.
The program features a short film on steps to take if they get lost in the wilderness, and then heads outside for hands on interactive learning. Children and parents alike can learn what essential supplies they should carry while hiking or camping, and apply the lessons they learned from the introduction film.
Rangers will discuss how rescue operations take place and the importance of the kids using what they learn in the program to be successfully found. The program is geared for children ages 5-10. There will also be a demonstration on making an outdoor adventure plan and how to do a shoe print. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Space for the program is limited. To register in advance, call the park at 731-689-5696. The Hug a Tree program begins at 10 a.m. and lasts around two hours.