By Ryan and Angie Brown Always be prepared

THIS SUMMER HUNDREDS OF HIKERS, bikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts will be heading into the hills, lakes and forests of our great region and it's our job to get them back alive! We're the Survival Kids –Ryan and Angie Brown. We both share many of the same hobbies – fishing, hiking, camping and hockey! (Street hockey is an official outdoor Canadian activity!) We want to share some of the neat info that we have picked up over the past couple of years. (I'm 12 and Angie is 10!) We also want to hear from all you other "survival kids" out there. Send us your tips and suggestions at SurvivalKids@OttawaOutdoors.ca. Well, it’s time to get going so let us remind everyone of the number one survival rule: Always Be Prepared!

SURVIVAL STUFF

Whether you're trekking into the woods or mountain biking along a trail, it's always a good idea to be prepared for unexpected emergencies. You might want to put together your own personal emergency kit, just in case. A water resistant, durable waist pouch or small knapsack should do. Here are some things you may want to take with you: 1. Map 2. Compass 3. Flashlight 4. Whistle - if you are trekking as a group, every kid should have his/her own whistle. Three blasts is the international sign for help. 5. Sun protection – including sunscreen and a hat 6. Filled water bottle 7. First aid kit 8. Extra clothing in case the weather changes suddenly – a rain poncho, a sweatshirt, a jacket. 9. Extra food/snacks

BEE-CAREFUL What do they look like? • The are brown round masses attached to trunks or branches up high, or sometimes in the ground. • NEVER bother bees. If you get near their beehive they might try to defend it by attacking you. • If you’re near a rnest when a swarm is disturbed, sit still for at least five minutes. When it’s safe, crawl away carefully. What if I’m being attacked? • Run away at once, and don’t swat the bees. This will make them even angrier. • Try to get shelter indoors. If you can’t, then run through thick bushes as the leaves will spring back and hit them, giving you time to get away • Do not jump into the water because they’ll be waiting when you surface.

Fishing tips for Kids • Use earthworms, corn, or small pieces of • • a hot dog for bait. Take along lawn chairs. The key to casting is in the flick of the wrist.

Go overhand instead of sidearm as there’s less • • chance of hitting someone. Have a towel handy to wipe your hands.

Always have your first-aid kit, a hat and sun • screen too. Use wet cotton gloves to hold the fish. Dry gloves or rags will hurt the protective coating of the fish.

Cooking over a fire • Dig a small trench a few inches deep and make a fire. When it has burned down to a thick bed of hot embers, you can begin grilling. • Find a long green stick about as thick as a pencil. Use your pocket knife to sharpen one end of it. • Push the small pieces of meat, vegetables, or fish onto the stick. • Place your stick over the fire until the food is cooked. Yum!

H ow to make a sundial

A sundial is used to estimate the time of day without using a watch. The next time you’re outside, try this out. In the early morning, stick a big stick in the ground and then put a small stick in the ground where the shadow falls. Then take note of where the shadow is around mid-day and then in the evening. Next, attach a string and draw a semicircle between the first and last points. While you’re camping, you’ll see the shadow move across your sundial now you’ll be able to tell the time.