BY DANA BENNER
With more than a half-century under my belt, I think I am qualified to say that I have seen a great deal of change, especially in regards to the wilderness/survival skills being taught to our youth, and what I see is not good. Gone are basic skills like how to start and control a fire; how to build a shelter; how to signal for help (without a cell phone); how to read a map and compass and administer basic first-aid. Many of today’s youth (and adults) don’t know how to sew! In our world of microwavable prepackaged foods, our youth have never acquired the skills needed to find food on their own. Hunting and fishing have become sports and, apart from a few berries, many don’t realize the cornucopia of edibles that grows around us.