Teen Group: Friday June 12
- Kyle Loveridge
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
The Hardest Day Ever (In the Best Way) 2.7 mi
Friday's teen class may have been the hardest day we've ever done physically, but it was also one of the most rewarding.
We started the day the way we often do—playing together as a larger mixed-age group before splitting into our classes. This time it was freeze tag, which is always a fun way to get everyone moving and laughing before the day's adventure begins.
Once we gathered our teen group, we went over the safety rules and introduced the day's challenge: a wilderness medical emergency simulation.
The kids were told that an injured hiker was stranded somewhere on the mountain, and we had been given coordinates to their location. Their mission was to use the map-reading and navigation skills we've been practicing to find the injured person, assess the situation, and get them to safety.
Of course, no adventure is complete without a few surprises along the way.
As we hiked, different medical emergencies would suddenly appear. One student would receive a scenario and immediately act it out, often with a level of drama that made everyone laugh. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, cuts, and other first-aid situations gave us opportunities to stop and discuss basic emergency care while keeping the activity fun and engaging.
At one point we attempted the Human Knot team-building challenge. Despite everyone's best efforts, we could not untangle ourselves. Not even close. But it accomplished exactly what it was supposed to—lots of laughter, communication, and bonding.
Eventually we reached the injured hiker.
Wyatt had volunteered to play the role of our patient, complete with a broken leg. The group immediately split into teams. One team worked on patient care and figuring out how to stabilize the injury. Another team began planning how to transport Wyatt to a designated helicopter landing zone.
The challenge quickly became much harder than anyone expected.
The students gathered sticks and tarp and began experimenting with different stretcher designs. Some held together better than others. Some failed almost immediately. A few creative solutions worked surprisingly well.
Throughout the entire process, Katelyn and I stayed mostly hands-off, allowing the kids to problem solve and work through the challenges themselves.
Carrying a person through the forest is no easy task.
Communication became critical. Leadership had to emerge. Frustrations showed up. There were moments when things felt unfair, moments when people were tired, and moments when everyone wished the task were easier, or if we could just stop.
At one point the group abandoned the stretcher and tried piggyback rides, only to discover that Wyatt was a lot bigger than they had anticipated. That led to even more problem solving and experimentation.
Then came another surprise.
After double-checking the map, the students realized there had been a miscalculation. The helicopter landing zone was much farther away than originally thought.
By the end of the simulation, the group had transported Wyatt .6 mile.
It was hot. It was physically demanding. It required teamwork, patience, communication, and determination. Yet through all of it, the kids continued to show kindness, humor, grace, and genuine effort.
One of the things I love most about role-playing and simulations is that even when the scenario itself is pretend, the feelings are real. The accomplishment is real. The frustration is real. The teamwork is real. The confidence that comes from overcoming something difficult is absolutely real.
When the group finally arrived at the meadow where the helicopter could "pick up" the patient, there was a genuine sense of accomplishment. They had earned it.
Afterward, we all laughed about how easy hiking suddenly felt when we weren't carrying someone.
We spent the final hour and a half of the day in a shady spot beside the river. Everyone settled into projects they had been working on, reflected on the day's challenges, and talked about the lessons they learned along the way.
It may have been the hardest day we've ever had at teen forest school.
It was also one of the most memorable.
Continue the Learning at Home
Questions to Ask Your Child
About Navigation
How did you use the map to find the injured hiker?
What clues helped you figure out where you were?
Why is it important to know how to navigate without a phone?
About First Aid
What are signs of heat exhaustion?
What should you do if someone has a serious cut?
How would you help someone with a possible broken leg?
About Teamwork
What was the hardest part of carrying the stretcher?
How did your team solve problems when things didn't work?
What made a good leader during the challenge?
About Perseverance
Was there a moment when you wanted to quit?
What helped you keep going?
What did you learn about yourself during the simulation?
Family Learning Resources
Wilderness Rescue and Stretchers
Videos:
Nature and Leadership Notes
One of the biggest lessons from this week's challenge wasn't first aid or navigation—it was learning how to work through something difficult with other people.
The group encountered:
Frustration
Fatigue
Disagreements
Communication challenges
Unexpected setbacks
And yet they kept moving forward.
In outdoor education, we often talk about resilience. Resilience isn't pretending something is easy. It's continuing to move forward when something is difficult.
Friday's challenge was a perfect example of that.
Family Challenge
Grab a blanket, tarp, or old bedsheet and challenge your family to build a "rescue stretcher" using only materials you have around the house. See how many different designs you can come up with, then talk about which one worked best and why.
Sometimes the best learning happens when Plan A doesn't work and you have to invent Plan B. 🌲🧭⛑️
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