Do you have the know-how to survive in the wilderness?

DINGMANS FERRY — "Dystopia" is the theme for the this year’s gifted course, led by Mrs. Rachel Goldstein of the Dingman-Delaware Middle School.
Students have been challenged to build an electromagnet, and will be creating homemade compasses and exploring water purification — all things needed to survive.
In a recent modified military survival scenario, students were told to imagine they’d crashed in the northern Canadian wilderness and given a list of salvaged items from the wreck. Their job was to list, in order of importance, which of the items they would need and how they would use them to survive.
Two unappointed leaders — Kinsey Cuocco and Natalia Liszka — rose naturally to the top, directing discussion. Both students mentioned minimal previous outdoor living experience, but also stated, “I only take the lead if no one else is really going anywhere with the discussion, or if it’s getting off track. Then, I help direct conversation so no one talks over the top of someone else.”
In the end, the group scored a 17 on the mock survival scenario, only two points off of the optimal score of 15 desired by military personnel.
Students found that keeping the mind sharp is imperative to survival. So Goldstein’s current challenge to the students — to design and create a mindbender puzzle using 3-D printing technology — is a natural next step. These puzzles have been made available on display through the library, where peers have enjoyed challenging themselves and classmates to solve them.
At the end of the day, no one knows exactly what the future may bring, but these students will be prepared with practical outdoor living savvy come what may.