Hug-A-Tree and Survive

Being lost in the woods is not the end of the world, but if your child is lost in the woods it may seem like the end of of your world until he or she is found. The Hug-a-Tree and Survive (https://nasar.org/education/hug-a-tree/) program teaches children how to survive in the woods should they become lost. The program was developed to educate children in a select few of the most basic and vital survival principles. It was specifically designed for children between the ages of 7 and 11 but can be effective with slightly younger and older children.

Hug-A-Tree and Survive emphasizes four key rules to keeping children safe:

Tell an adult where you are going.
Always tell your parents, or another trusted adult where you are going, who you are going with, and when you will be back. You can do this in person, over the phone, through a text message, or by leaving a note in a place they will see it.

If you are lost, “Hug-A-Tree” and stay put.
A tree can help protect you from the elements while you’re outdoors, and most importantly, keep you in one place. Depending on where you are, there may not always be a tree. Perhaps your “tree” can be a large rock or bench at a park, or a sales counter at a mall. No matter what your landmark is, it is important to stay put, in order to stay safe.

Keep warm and dry.
Temperatures change throughout the day and can drop at night. Even if you are warm during the day, keep your jacket handy for night time. If you get cold, put on an extra layer, pull up your hood, or put on your hat if you have one, tuck your shirt in, tuck pant legs into your socks, and zip up your jacket. You can also keep warm by building a nest to keep you off the ground, or by using an emergency shelter.

Help searchers find you by answering their calls.
Whether searchers are parents, police officers, or SAR volunteers, remember they just want to get you home safely. Answer back to their calls by making noise and signaling, so you can be heard and seen. Make sure to leave lots of footprints and clues, so searchers can follow your tracks to find you.

While designed for the outdoors, these rules are easily transferable to other places including sporting events, shopping malls, public parks, urban areas, and much more! Together, these core points work to ensure kids have the knowledge and training needed to safely enjoy the outdoors, and their communities.

Search & Rescue (SAR) personnel often present the Hug-A-Tree program in their communities, but you can review the material and teach it to your own children, tailoring it to their capabilities and adding additional material as you see fit.