Chenango County 4-H Youth Development and the Chenango County Youth Bureau are in collaboration offering a two part wilderness survival course from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m., June 23 and 30, at the Whaupaunaucau State Forest, located between Chenango County Routes 12 and 29, in North Norwich. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH - Chenango County 4-H Youth Development and the Chenango County Youth Bureau are in collaboration to offer a two part wilderness survival course for local youth ages 10 and older.

The two part program will be held outdoors from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m., June 23 and 30, at the Whaupaunaucau State Forest, located between Chenango County Routes 12 and 29, in North Norwich.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Chenango County Ag Economic Development Specialist Rich Taber and CCE County 4-H Youth Development Educator Nicole Starkweather will lead the program with their knowledge in wilderness survival and first aid training.

“Rich brings extensive knowledge in wilderness survival, and I am an avid hiker, trained in Wilderness First Aid course,” said Starkweather.

Starkweather said each session will cover different topics such as how to navigate with a compass, what to pack in a daypack, identifying edible plants, and more.

She said it's important to know how to survive in the wilderness because an emergency can happen when least expected.

“The skills provided in our program help build confidence, self-reliance, and can make a real difference in staying safe and helping others in the outdoors,” she continued. “Knowing which plants are edible is also important for safety and survival. It helps you avoid harmful or poisonous plants and can provide a valuable food source in emergency situations.”

Starkweather said the course covers a lot of material and requires focus and patience, so it could be challenging for younger youth but added, any aged child with outdoor experience and a strong interest in learning will be welcome to participate with their parents.

“Given the amount of material, we felt it was best to divide the course into multiple sessions to ensure participants get the most out of the experience,” she added.

She said they hope to have at least 10 to 15 participants for the event and welcome parents to accompany their children.

“Rich and I are excited to continue collaborating on future programs that help youth build a variety of outdoor skills,” said Starkweather.

For more information and to register go to reg.cce.cornell.edu.