ELT Guru

For the past few years, I’ve been doing all I can to teach my teenage sons about the virtues of self-reliance. I find that the best venue for these lessons is the great outdoors, where nature rewards those who think quickly and logically while punishing fools and cowards. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not the sort of dad who taught his kids to swim by throwing them in the lake. However, it’s my firm belief that we learn best by doing, and that physical and mental challenges only make us stronger.

Before venturing into the woods for a fun but taxing hike with the boys, I always sit down and figure out exactly all the supplies we’ll need to bring along. Decades of experience have taught me how to survive in the wilderness, and I would never overlook the essentials of food, water and shelter. Last year, we decided to take along a GME personal locator beacon as well, vowing only to use it in case of a dire emergency.