Campers were busy setting up camp when an announcement came from the instructor: “A storm will be here in 10 minutes from the northwest!”
With that, students had to figure out the direction the storm was moving and rearrange their camp so the 12 campers could stay dry inside a makeshift shelter.
As the seconds counted down, the campers crowded inside the structure made of branches and covered by a tarp. The rain came, simulated by a bag of water dropped on the tarp, And as quickly as it came, the storm was gone.
Campers remained dry and passed that part of Wilderness Survival Camp.
Instructor Kayla Saunders pours water on a shelter to simulate a storm as part of Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Campers were taught shelter building, first aid, archery and water and food collection. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sarah Johnson, 12, competes in archery during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Campers learned shelter building, food and water gathering, first aid and archery. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Campers are shown a California kingsnake during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Campers use a mirror to simulate a signal for help during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Instructor Kayla Saunders listens as a team explains how they constructed their camp during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Two teams competed using the skills they learned in the one-week camp. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Abby Urbanski, 12, and others lie on the ground and play dead during a mock brown bear alert at Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Campers encountered various challenges as they set up camp on the final day. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chase Richard, 12, works on a shelter during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jordan Higginbotham, 13, sets up camp during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Students were graded on their structure, securing food and water and emergency first aid. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Campers earned challenge patches during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Julia Smith, 13, has a plant checked to see if it is edible as part of Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Smith also attended the desert survival camp earlier in the summer. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Campers compete in archery during Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Campers learned shelter building, food and water gathering, first aid and archery. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jessie Richard, 12, is carried to the shade during a mock heat stroke attack at Wilderness Survival Camp at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022. Students were randomly assigned heat stroke and her fellow campers were graded on their first aid response. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The camp is put on by the City of Anaheim at the Oak Canyon Nature Center.
The week-long camp teaches first aid, food and water gathering, and shelter building using resources in nature.
The camp is geared toward getting kids out in nature, having fun, and learning about outdoor safety, said Nikki Sandusky, the community services supervisor.
Campers also learned archery during the week-long camp.
On the final day, the kids were divided into two teams and were graded on the skills they had learned and how they adapted to challenges.
“I think that being able to make a shelter without just having a tent with you is really important,” said Charlotte Olsgaard, 13, who hikes with her family.
