PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release March 27, 2002
WILDERNESS TRAINING INSTITUTE: A PROGRAM
IN PREVENTION (BASIC WILDERNESS SURVIVAL GUIDEBOOK AND 1-DAY TRAINING
COURSE)
David Arama, Director WSC Survival School & Project Leader
voice /fax: 519-570-2021; cell 905-435-7305
wscadmin@wscsurvivalschool.com
www.wscsurvivalschool.com
TORONTO –
The Wilderness Training Institute (WSC Survival School) wishes to
announce the launching of a revolutionary “Wilderness Survival
& Safety” training program and series of guidebooks, aimed
at educating the tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts/leaders
who venture into the backcountry wilds. The goal is to increase the
awareness of survival preparedness, to save lives and prevent mishaps,
and to reduce search and rescue occurrences.
“The New Search and Rescue Initiatives Fund (NIF) demonstrates
our continued commitment to improving Canada’s Search and Rescue
system” said R. William Slaughter, Executive Director of the
National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS). “We’re very
proud of the Wilderness Training Institute’s Program in Prevention,
and of the wealth of expertise and experience found in Canada.
The project was initiated with the profound belief that a high percentage
of wilderness enthusiasts venture into the backcountry unprepared,
resulting in an ever-increasing number of lost person occurrences.
The project has developed a Basic Survival Skills Course, Student
Guidebook, and Instructor Manual to help raise awareness in the need
for survival preparedness. These products are to be aimed at outdoor
leaders and professionals, Parks staff, volunteer searchers, school
teachers, and privately for groups and individuals. The course(s)
and guidebooks include the following survival topics:
*survival preparedness: trip plans and planning, survival essentials/kit
construction, navigating in the wilderness,
*survival gameplan: what to do if lost, to improve survival odds,
and to increase chances of being located by search and rescue personnel
“Numerous
recent tragedies across Canada (avalanche deaths, snowmobile fatalities,
lost hunters, hikers, campers, etc.) have highlighted the need for
this project. By contrast, the current “craze” in Survivor-type
television shows and adrenalyn-eco thrill adventures is worrisome
in that the message seems to be opposite to the reality of the survival
ordeal,” said David Arama, Director and Project Leader of W.T.I.
The New Search and Rescue Initiatives Fund (NIF) was established to
provide funding for projects that will improve search and rescue in
Canada. Over $8 million is allocated annually to approximately 100
projects.
The National Search and Rescue Secretariat was established in 1986,
following the Ocean Ranger oil rig disaster. The Secretariat’s
mandate is to promote an efficient, effective and economical National
Search and Rescue Program by coordinating central activities on behalf
of those agencies providing search and rescue services to people in
distress throughout Canada’s areas of jurisdiction.