The COVID-19 pandemic has created a host of challenges across the world.  With country-wide and state-wide shut downs led to a decrease in the workforce which led to many individuals and families unexpectedly being home and unsure about future income.  This increase of time off and not a lot of money come in led people to do activities outside, such as camping, hiking, etc.  National and State Parks such as the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge all experienced record numbers of visitors at their parks which led to a major increase in Search and Rescue calls due to lost or injured visitors.  The demand put tremendous pressure an agencies responsible for visitor safety, to the point that they requested individuals not prepared or unfamiliar with the area stay home.

As a result of this new demand to engage in outdoor activities, Boone County Extension partnered with Nature School Reliance to lead a Basic Survival Program for adults to learn skills to build confidence while interacting with their environment.  These skills included, water purification, fire starting, shelter building, backpack equipment and basic first aid. Fifteen participants attending the program. 

An evaluation was given three-months after the program.  Six out of seven participants that competed the evaluation had shared the skills they had learned with at least one to three other people, some as many as eight.  Three had already utilized some of the skills learned, and four out of seven had purchased survival gear mentioned in the program.  Overall, all participants felt safer, more confident, and that the program has helped them achieve some of their person long term goals such as longer hikes, camping trips, and exploring unfamiliar areas.