Today Sarah introduces us to her new series on adventure safety with her approach to thinking about safety. Even if you are a seasoned pro we encourage you to follow these brief articles to keep your mind fresh and disciplined in safety areas. Coming home safe means you can go out again!

Rules are for Fools...Pt 1

   Some title for my first piece on ADVENTURA SAFETY!  But I’ve never been one for rules.  I just don’t like them much.  When I was a classroom teacher I had only 2 sets of rules:  The 3R’s and the 3P’s.  Respect yourself, Respect others, Respect the environment.  BE: Punctual, Prepared and Participating.  And as I worked with gang kids, there was also the no weapons/drugs/alcohol rule.  But I had to say that one, since it was school policy.  It fit under my 2 rules anyway.

   But I’m not here to write about classrooms!  I’m here to write about the OUTDOORS!  Adventure Baby!  That’s what we want to hear about!

So, Sarah, what do rules have to do with the Outdoors?

EXACTLY!!  Point made.  It’s a wrap.

 Just kidding. Really though, this piece is not about rules.  It’s not about fools either, as I sincerely hope and believe that none of you reading this are fools.  J  It’s about coming home to our loved ones and warm showers in less than 2 pieces and still breathing.  We want to have adventure and that means at least a bit of risk, danger, elevated heart rate, sweaty palms, white knuckles.  But we don’t want to encourage any fool-hardiness.  Reading about safety or even memorizing a bunch of safety rules is not enough when the stuff hits the fan, so to speak.  Thus, leave the rule list at home with your elementary school teacher (many blessings on him or her!).

 And take some preparation and GOOD judgment with you instead. 

 I’ll break it down, so that even all my old students will know what I mean. 

RESPECT RESPECT RESPECT

 Respect yourself … need I say more.

 Respect others … you know, all those less adventurous ones back home waiting for you and counting on you!  And don’t forget about the rest of us out there with you!

 Respect the environment … This sounds kinda funny for safety, but the truth is, a true respect for the raw power of the wilderness we love so much can go a long way to keeping us within the bounds of good judgment!   

And the P’s

 Punctual:  We always defined this as:  being in the right place at the right time.  I like that definition a lot.  And it holds true for adventure.  ‘Know’ where to be and when:  know when to push the limits and go a few inches closer to that “cliff” and when to back off or when to get into shelter before a storm so you can return another day … many more days.  I know, our understanding of the word puctual doesn’t fit here… but I still like this definition better!

 Prepared:  It takes a little work, but not only can it keep you safe, it can make an adventure a delight rather than an epic … or just a frustrating drudgery.  Forgetting a map, those extra batteries, or gloves can be so irritating.  But if things go wrong, it can be dangerous.  Take the time to go over it all once more before you lock up and head out.

 Participating:  Experience, that’s how we learn to ‘know.’  For goodness sakes!  Get out there and do it!  And when it comes to those edge-of-the cliff moments, hold on to your good judgment and know when to apply it all! 

We care about you, so please read all the stuff we put up here on safety, take an adventure, be sure to come home, and to go out again!

I am stealing my title from this phrase by Paul Petzoldt, founder of NOLS … actually it wasn’t even originally his, but I guess I’m stealing his reason for using it!

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