For those seeking to build self-reliance in nature, the City of Raleigh offers survival skills programs for youth and adults through the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center. According to a recent announcement from the City of Raleigh, participants can learn skills such as knot tying and orienteering, which enhance outdoor confidence and have practical, everyday uses.
The "Know Your Knots" program is a hands-on workshop where children, aged 7 to 12, are introduced to various knots that find applications in outdoor activities, creative problem-solving and beyond. Each participant in these sessions, which cost $6 a head, will leave with their very own paracord bracelet, a symbol of their newly acquired expertise. While kids get to learn and play, adults in attendance—free of charge, and without the need for registration—can provide support and perhaps, pick up a trick or two themselves. The program is scheduled for Jan. 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. and March 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Adults with a zeal for exploration can look forward to "Orienteering 101," a beginner-friendly course aimed at teaching the fundamentals of navigation without the trappings of technology. For a fee of $12, those aged 16 and older can learn to decipher a compass, undertake bearings and interpret topographic maps. The quest for confidence in the wild beckons at Lake Johnson Park, with sessions available on Sunday, Feb. 8 and March 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. Advanced registration is required to stake a claim in this adventure.
Details of the programs, including registration procedures, are accessible at Raleigh's official parks and recreation site.
