Scott Fitterman

How to Get Out of Quicksand (It’s Not Like the Movies!)

Plus, learn how dangerous quicksand actually is & where it formsYou're hiking alone in the wilderness, lost in your thoughts, when suddenly you find yourself trapped in quicksand and sinking fast. Certain muddy death? No...

How to

Read a Map

If your GPS is on the fritz and you need to know how to get from point A to point B without getting lost, there’s no need to admit defeat by stopping to ask for directions. Just pull out your trusty map! Whether you’...

How Good Are My Survival Instincts Quiz

Let’s say you’re stranded on a desert island, or lost somewhere in the woods, or even just that your car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Would you be able to survive? Or would your instincts lead you astray? An...

Navigating by the Stars: Find North, South, & More

A beginner-friendly guide to celestial navigation Before the GPS or the compass, your main means of finding your way was star navigation. Although today’s technology makes finding your way easier, it’s still fun to l...

How to

Make a Compass

The magnetic compass is an ancient navigational tool used to indicate the four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. It's composed of a magnetized needle that aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field to ...

How to

Find the Big Dipper

Plus, where and how to find the Little Dipper & Ursa MajorThe Big Dipper is perhaps the most famous grouping of stars in the sky. It is part of a bigger constellation of stars called Ursa Major or the Big Bear, and it fe...

How to

Spot the North Star

Over the centuries, humans discovered that the North Star can function as a guiding point towards the directional north. Being able to find the North Star is a great survival skill, but spotting it can also be a fun acti...

How to

Determine True North

Did you know that most compasses don't actually point to the North Pole? It's true! In fact, most compasses point in the direction of ''magnetic north'', a spot in the Arctic that is near to (but not the same as) the Nor...

How to

Give Directions

Whether you’re telling someone how to get to your house or guiding a stranger to a local museum, you should know how to give good directions. Giving directions, though, is more complicated than just telling someone how...

How to

Make a Wigwam

A wigwam is a type of Native American dwelling, primarily used by the Algonquin Indians. Often mistaken for a teepee, a wigwam is actually quite different. While a teepee is pointed, portable, and made from hides, a wigw...

How to

Measure Distance on a Map

Maps provide you with an accurate picture of a geographic area so you can determine how far it is from one place to another. Maps provide a fractional scale that tells you the ratio between the distance on the map and th...

How to

Make a Camping Toilet

For many people, one of the roughest aspects of camping is going without the comfort and familiarity of a modern toilet. However, if you’re out in the boonies without a toilet in sight, don’t fret; you can easily mak...

How to

Learn Geography

Learning geography can be a daunting task. Geography is such a broad subject that involves many different areas, and memorizing names of places without much context can seem tedious and difficult. However, mastering ge...

How to

Survive Animal Attacks

If you frequently spend time in nature—regardless of the type of climate—you may be at risk for animal attack. The strategy you should take to defend yourself from an attacking animal will vary based on the animal yo...

How to

Chop Wood

Many people look at the sharpened wedge at the end of a handle and think there's nothing to chopping wood. You simply take your axe in hand, bring it up over your head, and swing, right? Without the right form, you might...

How to

Build a Natural Shelter in the Jungle

If you’re lost or staying out in the jungle, a shelter is important if you want to stay dry and safe from the elements. Even if you don’t have any tools, you can work with the natural resources around you to make a ...

How to

Escape from a Bear

Bears are among nature's most majestic creatures, and seeing one in the wild is an unforgettable experience. Get too close, however, and your encounter with a bear can be more terrifying than awe-inspiring. Fortunately, ...

How to

Live in the Wilderness

John Muir once said, "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity." Does anyone need more of an explanation than ...

How to

Find a Missing Person in Mexico

It can be very frightening when someone you love goes missing. Whether you’re looking for a person who went missing recently on the border or during a natural disaster, or someone who has been missing for a few years, ...

How to

Survive a Fast River Current

Swimming in lakes, rivers, and streams can be safe at designated swimming areas that are protected by lifeguards. However, drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the U.S. More skills and...