Wilderness Survival Skills Workshops

At Audubon Center

South Britain — A series of workshops on Wilderness Survival Skills is being offered by the Audubon Center at Bent of the River from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday afternoons during February and March. Topics include primitive fire building, introduction to orienteering, and primitive shelter building. Led by Justin Pegnataro of the Two Coyotes Wilderness School, the “Primitive Fire Building” workshop on February 10 will focus on making fire the way our ancestors did. Participants will create a friction fire and their own fire building set to take home. The workshop is limited to 20 people at least 12 years old; children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Register by Wednesday, February 6, to reserve a space.

“Introduction to Orienteering” will be held Sunday, March 2, with Audubon Naturalist Chris Cohen teaching the basics of orienteering, including using a compass, and other important survival skills. Participants will learn to apply their newly learned skills on a preset course on the Audubon grounds. This workshop is also limited to 20 people at least 12 years old. Fee is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Register by Wednesday, February 27.

The last workshop in the Wilderness Survival Skills series is “Primitive Shelter Building,” scheduled for Sunday, March 16, and instructed by Mr Pegnataro. Participants will learn how to build a quick survival shelter using available natural materials and their own hands. Fee is $10 for members, $20 for nonmembers. Register by Wednesday, March 19.

Anyone interested in joining one or all of the Wilderness Survival Skills workshops should contact the Audubon Center at Bent of the River at 203-264-5098 by the registration deadlines. Additional information will be provided upon registration.

Bent of the River is on East Flat Hill Road, about a half mile from Connecticut Route 172 off of I-84 (Exit 14).