November 2017

DON’T MISS: IMPROVING THE SECURITY AROUND YOUR HOME

STAY ALERT AND AWAKE ON GUARD DUTY

IN THIS ISSUE:

EVERYDAY THINGS TO STAY PREPARED

NOVEMBER 2017

THE SURVIVAL GEAR TO SPLURGE ON

TIPS TO SURVIVE MARTIAL LAW

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SOAP

WHAT MAY UNRAVEL YOUR SURVIVAL PLANS

SECRETS TO A GREAT CAMPING TRIP and more…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

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Contents

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FEATURED

HOW TO STAY ALERT AND AWAKE DURING GUARD DUTY It's a scary situation. Your local community has been plunged into chaos, and there's looters and rioters out on the streets, looking for an easy score or to simply destroy and damage…

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IMPROVING THE SECURITY AROUND YOUR HOME Last weekend a close friend of mine had their house burgled. It's a horrible thought. A stranger, in your home, rummaging through your most personal items. Luckily, they weren't home…

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THE SURVIVAL GEAR TO SPLURGE ON I've never been a big spender. Thinking about it, I've got my parents to thank for this. They encouraged us kids to be thrifty, often using scrap around the yard for projects, or finding…

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EVERYDAY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY PREPARED One of the biggest misconceptions about being a survivalist is that your entire life needs to revolve around prepping. It can certainly feel like it at the beginning when there's so much…

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TIPS FOR SURVIVING MARTIAL LAW We live in uncertain times. Politics. Terrorism. Severe acts of violence. There are threats everywhere, and it's only going to take a few incidents for martial law to be declared…

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SOAP This week it was time to tackle a project I've been wanting to experiment with for a while. Making my own soap. There were two reasons. First, I'd never done it before and I believe…

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SECRETS TO A GREAT CAMPING TRIP I've spent a disproportionately large amount of time in the outdoors. My parents loved camping, and some of my fondest memories are stomping through national parks to hidden waterfalls…

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HIDING YOUR VALUABLES IN A BETTER LOCATION I'm not a big believer in banks. I do have a safe deposit box, but it irks me to no end that I'm only able to access the contents during business hours. What if there's a disaster, and the bank…

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WHAT MAY UNRAVEL YOUR SURVIVAL PLANS When it comes to survival, there's only one rule to live by. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. There's a remarkable difference from…

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

HOW TO STAY ALERT AND AWAKE DURING GUARD DUTY It's a scary situation. Your local community has been plunged into chaos, and there's looters and rioters out on the streets, looking for an easy score or to simply destroy and damage as much property as they can. Often, you'll need to post a guard to keep your survival group safe. But staying awake can be a challenge. Sure, with a little adrenaline the human body is a fantastic machine, but as the late, boring hours of the night drag on it becomes harder and harder to stay awake. You tell yourself, I'm just resting my eyes for a minute. But you'd be lying. Once you nod off to sleep, you're compromising the safety of everyone you've sworn to protect. On day one, you'll be fine. A couple of cups of coffee and you should have no trouble pulling an all-nighter to keep watch over the streets. But once it's been a few weeks, and you've been struggling both with the stress of the disaster, along with poor sleeping patterns, simply staying awake is a feat in itself. The military trains soldiers to function effectively when their bodies are fatigued, and they often rely on muscle memory to push themselves far more than an average person believes possible.

But you don't need to be in the military to stay awake during your guard duty. Here's a few tricks to keep you alert. DON’T DO IT ALONE Your best option when it comes to staying awake is to use a friend. Because you can talk, and also rely that they'll nudge you awake if you happen to nod off. Plus, having a second person means you can do alternating shifts, so that you can get at least a couple of hours of sleep on a rotation through the night. This helps immensely, and is why I always recommend having a survival group. You are not effective if you're all alone when the SHTF. DON’T START TIRED It sounds obvious, but you're not going to be able to function if you're not getting enough sleep. Find a way to ensure you're able to get at least a few hours in every day. If it means adjusting your sleep schedule so you're able to rest throughout the afternoon while the rest of your group is awake, so be it. You won't be an effective guard if you're starting out tired. We've got a room in our home that's completely blacked out, so you can avoid the light and get a good sleep in, whenever you need it. I'd advise you to do the same.

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DON’T GET COMFORTABLE If you're not able to relax, you're going to find it that much harder to fall asleep. The biggest mistake you could make is to be in a comfortable chair, and expect to stay awake all night. It's just not going to happen. The trick is to force yourself to be uncomfortable. Stand up, walk around, or perch yourself on the edge of a window or a rock. The more uncomfortable the better.

“ensure you're able to get at least a few hours in every day…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017 cont. I also find that taking my jacket off so I feel a little cold helps with keeping me awake and alert. Once you get comfortable, you will sleep. DON’T STOP MOVING Another neat little trick to ward off sleep is to get your body moving. Being on your feet, or even a little light exercise will elevate your heart rate, and stop you from dosing off. If you're able to, walk around the perimeter of your home. Oh, but be careful of doing this on a regular schedule. If you're predictable you will create an opening for anyone who is watching. And if walking around isn't an option, you could also do pushups or jumping jacks for the same result. DON’T RELY ON CAFFEINE For me, I love my coffee, but when you're on guard duty this can be a bad thing. Especially if you're already tired. Because loading up on caffeine or energy drinks is simply not sustainable over the long term. It'll work on the first day or so, but eventually you'll start losing the buzz you gain faster and faster. Then once you crash, the drop in your energy levels will make it almost impossible to keep your eyes open. Use caffeine responsibly, and don't rely on it alone to stay awake. It’s not a long-term solution and too much isn’t good for you either. DON’T SHUT YOUR EYES When you're tired and on guard duty, you cannot trust yourself. Resting your eyes for a minute is a bad idea, because as soon as they are closed you will drift off to sleep. I repeat. Do not allow yourself to shut your eyes. You will fall asleep, and you'll be putting the lives of everyone you're protecting at risk. Do not shut your eyes, even for a minute. DON’T GET BORED One trick that helped me is having something to do. Whether it’s a pack of gum to chew through, or a packet of sunflower seeds to crack. It helps keep your mind alert by thinking about what

you're doing, and actually being able to do it, even if it's as simple as munching through a bag of sunflower seeds. When you need to stay up all night for guard duty these tricks will help you fight off sleep, so you can stay alert and ensure you can protect the people around you.

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And it's important you do. Because it's at night when the most dangerous people are out looking for a score, and when the police are no longer able to protect you, you've got to protect yourself.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

IMPROVING THE SECURITY AROUND YOUR HOME Last weekend a close friend of mine had their house burgled. It's a horrible thought. A stranger, in your home, rummaging through your most personal items. Luckily, they weren't home at the time, and they didn't lose a lot. A few hundred dollars' worth of belongings along with the disappearance of most of their liquor cabinet, but that's not the scary part. Imagine what would have happened if they were home. If the situation was different. Today, I want to do another post on home security. We've touched on ways that you could better fortify your home against an intruder, and in this post, I want to cover all the problems I saw when I went to console my friend. Many of these issues I see in many of my student's homes. So, pay attention, and ensure you're not making any of these mistakes. SECURE YOUR PERIMETER Most of us have a fence around our property, but that usually doesn't do much more than serve as a deterrent. It's easy enough to simply walk up and open it. My friend's property had a decent fence, but there was no lock on the gate. I'd buy a padlock for this to keep it secure, at least at night, or get a simple auto-locking deadbolt. It won't stop someone from climbing the fence, but you'll be making it a little more difficult than just walking in. Next came the light. Their backyard was pitch black at night, so we picked up about 12 of the solar-powered garden lights to place all along the inside of the fence. These come on automatically when the sun sets, and give you enough light to see what's going on without needing to shine a torch or head out into your backyard yourself. I also saw that their motion-sensor light was turned off. They had gotten used to flicking this off at night, which was a big mistake in my book. You want this to come on and scare off any potential intruder before they even get close to

your back or front porch. In my yard, it lights up like the Fourth of July, but it gives me plenty of eyes on whoever it is approaching my home. I also recommend getting a set of security cameras. There's many options, but we simply bought a set of closedcircuit cameras from a local electronics store, and installed them ourselves. For two reasons. The presence of the cameras may be enough to deter the thieves, and if not, you'll have video evidence of the thieves that will help the cops bring them in to justice. Oh, and you can also remotely connect in to check on your home when you're away. SECURE THE BASEMENT This was how the thieves had actually broken in. Their shutters were secured with just a latch, and whilst the interior door was locked, the burglars were able to hide in the space in-between to be out-of-sight while they broke through the door. Not good. We called out a locksmith to add deadbolts to the basement door, and we also bought a new latch and lock for the shutters, that can be opened from either the inside or the out. Oh, and don't forget the importance of curtains. Those tiny windows in your basement give wannabe thieves a good look into what's actually inside your home, especially if you're prone to leaving the lights on a night. So cover these up. It doesn't need to be fancy, but you should never let someone who is looking in, see what's going on inside your home. SECURE YOUR HOUSE Once the thieves were into the basement, they had access to the entire house as my friend didn't have locks on any of the internal doors. We replaced these, along with the interior door in the garage, so that they automatically lock once they close. It won't stop a determined intruder, but it adds one more layer of security to give you more time to escape, or arm yourself, if someone is trying to break in. By now I'm going to assume you've already got a cover for your peep-hole in the front door, along with the reinforced plates that stop your door being kicked in. If not, invest in these too. Next, comes the general maintenance of your home. Keeping things tidy is a good start to good home defense, as it

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shows that someone is always around taking care of your place. I'd recommend keeping any bushes or hedges nearby your home welltrimmed, so these aren't able to be used to give an intruder cover as they approach. Finally, remember to arm yourself, just in case. I don't always carry my firearm with me when I'm at home, because in almost every room of my home there's a weapon in easy reach. The last thing I want to happen is get caught out without a way to defend myself. So buy pepper spray. Extra handguns. Whatever it takes. Imagine this. You're loading the washing in your basement, and someone breaks in upstairs. The gun you've got hidden in your dresser is now useless, because the thieves are in the way. You need to always have a means of defending yourself, within easy reach. Having someone break into your home is a scary thing. They violate your one sanctuary in the world, and you'll be feeling unsafe for months on end. But often, it's the fault of the homeowner that their house was targeted. Criminals are usually out for an easy hit. The only way to combat this is to improve the security around your home, so they give up and move on to the next property. So, take a look around your home. Is there anything that should be improved, upgraded or secured today?

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017 YOUR COMPASS With smartphones and GPS, I'm amazed at the amount of people who aren't able to navigate with a compass and map. What will you do if you're unable to get cell service. Or your batter y dies? One of my most important pieces of gear is my compass. It's probably the most important item you can invest in for survival, as it tells you which way to go. If it's slightly off, you're going to be hiking off-course, which can add days to your travel time and potentially put you in a life-threatening situation. Don't be silly. Get a good compass, and I'd also recommend buying maps of the area you'll be hiking. YOUR FLASHLIGHT

THE SURVIVAL GEAR TO SPLURGE ON I've never been a big spender. Thinking about it, I've got my parents to thank for this. They encouraged us kids to be thrifty, often using scrap around the yard for projects, or finding a "cheaper" way to accomplish a task. As a survivalist, I am keenly aware of my spending habits. If I can scrimp or save a little on my day-to-day expenses, this leaves more money for my stockpile of food, gear and ammo. But as I start seeing an influx of newcomers to prepping, there's also an influx of cheap survival gear. And that's bad. When you're relying on your preps to keep you and your family safe during a disaster, or even just a weekend camping trip, you can't go cheap. Of course, you don't always need to buy the most expensive gear. But there are a few things I advise splurging on. YOUR KNIFE One of the tools you need for survival is your knife. From trimming branches for your shelter to cutting up a kill, you will be using your knife pretty regularly if you ever find yourself in a real survival situation. You don't want something that dulls as soon as you start splitting wood. Or takes forever to get the edge back after a day of use. You'll also find that you'll be able to bend or break the blade with very little

effort, and if it doesn't break you'll struggle getting it to hold an edge. Cheap steel doesn't work with knives. Ultimately it comes down to the quality of steel in the blade. I recommend not buying cheap knives, but you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars either. There's many good products around the $30 to $60 mark if you do your research. In general, you want to stick to a German or USA-made blade, although Sweden, Japan and England also make good knives. YOUR BUG-OUT-BAG Considering this is what you'll be using to carry all of your gear, it makes sense to get a decent backpack. Don't get a cheap bag. They're uncomfortable, don't breathe, and you'll be starting a saga of torn seams, ripped straps, broken zippers and will be forever complaining about your crappy bug out bag. Look for high-quality. That means durable zippers, thick and comfortable shoulder straps with enough waterproofing that the contents will stay dry if you're caught out in the rain. Triple-sewn seams. Enough pockets to keep your gear in order. Oh, and if you can find one with a padded waistband this is a big plus. It helps spread the weight from your shoulders and means you can hike further.

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Although they promise the world, a cheap flashlight just isn't worth it. They'll hook you in with promises of thousands of lumens, but if you ever get one of these tested, you'll see that's just not the case. Then they get waterlogged, and the mechanics inside fail. I've personally seen it happen, and ending up in a pitch-black camp at night because you bought a cheap flashlight is a situation I never want to be in again. It sucks. The weekend after that trip I bought a decent flashlight that has lasted me ever since with just a handful of battery changes (going on 6 years now). Buy a good flashlight. It's worth it. YOUR AMMUNITION As a survivalist, you can never have enough ammunition. And when you see cheap brands on sale it seems like it's too good to be true. I hate to break it to you, but it is. Cheap ammunition means they cut corners somewhere. It's either super old stock that's been sitting in a warehouse for decades, or it’s been mass produced in a cheap country, that lacks proper standards. I've gone through my fair share of cheap ammo on the range and I've noticed my guns jam much more frequently, and the accuracy, especially when I'm shooting long-range, is always lower with nonbranded ammo. When it comes to survival, it pays to know what you should be investing your money into. Cheap canned food is fine. But a cheap knife will probably break before you can get into the can. So spend your money wisely, and ensure you've got the right gear when the SHTF. It may just save your life.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

EVERYDAY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY PREPARED One of the biggest misconceptions about being a survivalist is that your entire life needs to revolve around prepping. It can certainly feel like it at the beginning when there's so much to do in order to "be prepared" but that's just it. The average person is severely underprepared. Should the power drop or the water get cut off, most people would be in big trouble within just a couple of days. In today's article I want to cover a few of the everyday things you can do to ensure you've got a better chance of survival when the SHTF. And that's not even the best part. These are so simple to do, you can start right away. DON’T LET YOUR PHONE DIE Invest in a few chargers for your phone, so you've always got a power source. Your smartphone is one of your most valuable assets in a disaster, as it's probably the only source of information in the initial stages of a crisis. Having a full battery is critical. You can keep in touch with your family and friends, and stay updated as the news is released. I've got chargers next to my bed, in my office, and in the car.

Plus, there's a small solar charger in my bug-out kit, along with a battery pack that's big enough to recharge my smartphone three times over. There's no way I'm going to struggle in a disaster. Oh, and don't worry about having your phone continually plugged in. Phone manufacturers today are advanced enough to stop charging when full, and you can even speed up the recharge process by putting your phone on airplane mode while it's charging. DON’T RUN OUT OF GAS The last thing that should be on your mind in a crisis is the amount of gas you've got left in your car. Stuck in traffic or an accident as the needle is rapidly approaching empty, you're going to be in big trouble if your car dies before you can make it to the gas station. To overcome this, the smartest thing to do is simply refuel your car once the tank hits half-empty. It's a practice I follow myself, and means I've always got a range of about 150 to 200 miles. Oh, and a couple of jerry cans that I keep in the back garage that are filled (and rotated) every few months. In addition, I've got a second car that we don't really use, parked in the garage that's filled up and ready to go.

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DON’T RUN OUT OF MONEY When the grid goes down and the phones and electricity aren't working, you're not going to be able to use your credit cards. You need a store of cash for emergencies, that's available no matter what. Just remember to replenish it if you're regularly dipping into it. I've got a few hundred dollars stored away in separate places in my bug out kit, that aren't easy to find. There's also a larger amount of cash sealed in a water-tight zip lock that's been sewn into the lining of my bag.

“you're going to be in big trouble if your car dies…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017 cont. And at home, we've got a safe that contains everything we need for emergencies. Just be careful. You don't want to have so much cash on you that you're a target. It's important to split it across different wallets, pockets and hiding places, just in case you're robbed. DON’T LEAVE YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY AY HOME There's a reason it's called an everyday carry. You should have it with you at all times. When a disaster strikes, it's probably going to happen without warning. And having a few key pieces of gear with you could make all the difference in surviving the initial chaos. But it's not just for disasters. Having items with you, like a flashlight, can help you get to the stairs if there's a simple blackout in your office tower, or a small canister of pepper spray to fight off an attacker. It's important you don't leave your everyday carry at home. DON’T LET YOURSELF GO It can be easy to do, but it's important you don't let yourself go and you make a genuine attempt to stay in shape. All the gear in the world isn't going to help you if you're not healthy enough to use them. In an emergency, you're going to be walking more, doing more manual labor, and may even need to resort to self-defense to keep yourself safe. It's critical you're following an exercise regime that will keep you fighting fit, no matter what happens. DON’T STOP LEARNING The final step is to remember your mind. Survival is all about being able to adapt, and you need more than gear if you want to be successful. You need the knowledge, training and experience that comes with regular practice. Spend time each week learning a new skill, a new survival technique, or gaining a little knowledge that could help in a crisis. Lately I've been learning about the edible plants in my area, and honing my skills with a firearm. What skill could you start practicing today?

Becoming a survivalist doesn't need to be a challenge. With just a few changes to your normal routine, you'll be able to be much better prepared if a disaster does strike. And when I say "if," you

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know I really mean when. It's inevitable that there will be some form of crisis you need to survive through in your lifetime, and the more prepared you are, the better your chances.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

TIPS FOR SURVIVING MARTIAL LAW

We live in uncertain times. Politics. Terrorism. Severe acts of violence. There are threats everywhere, and it's inevitable martial law to be declared. And that's not a good thing. Because martial law is the last resort. The last hope for the government to impose order. And they might not succeed. Here's how to get prepared, so you can survive during a crisis where martial law applies.. BE TOTALLY SELF-RELIANT In martial law, the government will take control of everything. Unless you want to be surviving off hand-outs and rations, you need to have your own supplies. And keep them under wraps. Anything you have stored can be confiscated by the government. BE ABLE TO GENERATE POWER Ensure you've got a number of different ways to generate power on your property, from solar panels to a quiet little generator. That way you can keep your lights, water filters, and portable devices charged. BE READY TO LEAVE THE AREA It's up to you to decide, whether or not it's safer to hunker down and ride out the disaster, or to leave and make the trek to your bug out location. My advice here is to be ready to go at a moment's notice, with your bug out bag packed and waiting by the door. BE QUIET AND UNDER THE RADAR Stay away from areas with rioting, and ensure you've fortified your home against any intruders, without broadcasting the fact you've got plenty of food and power. The more you can stay under the radar, and avoid getting noticed by the other survivors, the better. BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON Information is worth its weight in gold, so be sure to tune into the official communication channels to stay up-to-date on the latest rules and requirements. Knowing what's going on can give you an edge in planning your next move. BE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS Have an idea what you'll do if you need to find a new source of water or food, along with basic first aid techniques, and of course, self-defense. The more wilderness survival skills you have, like hunting, fishing and trapping, the better your survival chances. BE PART OF A BIGGER GROUP You need a support system, as you can't go it alone and hope to be successful. But developing trust can be hard. So start slow, start building relationships with your friends and neighbors now, that may blossom into a fully-fledged commitment to prep together. BE AWARE OF OPSEC Bragging about your supplies, your weapons, or anything else you've prepared can get you in big trouble, not only with the military who is now running things, but other desperate people who are willing to do anything for a food, or a bottle of clean water. BE READY TO GET RAIDED No matter what, you need to have a strategy in place to ensure that if your home is raided, you're not stripped of all your supplies. If the military decides to search your home, there's nothing you can do about it when martial law applies, so hide your stash. The trouble with martial law is that what helps the majority of the population survive, may not be the best for your family. So prepare now and ensure your family makes it out alive.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017 Leave the mix for at least 24 hours, until it starts to harden. If it doesn't, it's ok to leave it for another day, by which is should now be nice and firm. Pop the soaps out into a baking rack so that it can dry in the air, and let it sit for about 3 to 4 weeks to properly cure. Then, simply wrap your individual bars in wax paper, and you're good to go. For the clean-up, you want to use vinegar to neutralize anything that has contained lye, but the container you mixed it with the oils in can simply be left to sit for a week or so. Why? It'll simply turn to soap and you can wash out the bowl with warm water. But what if you're on the run and need to get your hands on some soap? SOAP ALTERNATIVES IN THE WILD It's not always possible to get the ingredients you need, or to be able to wait four weeks for the soap you've made to cure in a crisis. But don't worry, there's a number of alternatives in the wild.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SOAP This week it was time to tackle a project I've been wanting to experiment with for a while. Making my own soap. There were two reasons. First, I'd never done it before and I believe there's something fulfilling about being able to use something you've made to get clean again. Second, it's just one more step in our back up plan to being totally offgrid. I'll never need to rely on commercially bought soap again, and yet I'll be able to stay clean even once the supermarket shelves are stripped bare. Which is a very good thing. INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup of lye flakes (easiest bought and stored in your supply cache beforehand) 3/4 cup of fresh rain water 2/3 cup of coconut oil 2/3 cup of olive oil 2/3 cup of vegetable oil 1 teaspoon of salt 1 tablespoon of used coffee grounds You're also going to need some safety gear, so make sure you've got goggles and gloves, a set of kitchen scales, a saucepan and a large pot, some glass and plastic pitchers, measuring cups, wooden spoons for mixing and a mold to pour the soap into at the end. Oh and a thermometer. You need this.

To make the lye mixture is the most dangerous part. Lye is caustic, and can burn your skin if it touches, and will eat through your clothes. Be careful. Measure out the lye flakes, and mix these with the fresh rain water. Stand back, as there will be fumes as you do this. Keep stirring for a few minutes until the water clears. It'll also heat up.

Amole Soap Plant. Dig down until you find the tennis-ball sized bulb, cutting away the outer layers until you reach the white bulb. It peels like an onion, and will feel sticky and soapy as you handle it. Then simply take a few layers, add a little water, and you can lather it up in your hands.

In the saucepan mix the oils together and heat them until they reach about 120 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove from the heat. Wait until both the lye and the oils drop to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit before mixing together.

Yucca. The root is best, but I find it's often too difficult to get to if you're in a hurry, and in some states these plants are endangered. So instead, cut off a leaf, and strip it down until you're left with just fibers. Then simply add water, and rub your hands together until it forms a lather.

Use a large plastic mixing bowl to combine the oils and the lye. Pour the oils in first, and slowly add the lye, mixing by hand for at least 5 to 10 minutes until the combined form kind of looks like liquid vanilla pudding. It should start to thicken at this stage. Now it's time to add your additives. I chose salt for its exfoliation qualities and a spoonful of used coffee grinds to help keep us clean after a day's work on our homestead. Nothing goes to waste in our household! Stir these all together to combine, then pour the mixture into your molds. Wrap the entire thing in plastic wrap, then wrap it again in an old towel. This will trap the heat inside and help the combined mixture to become soap.

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Mountain Lilac. Look for the blue and white flowers, and it's as simple as collecting the blossoms in your hands, and adding water. Rubbing it together should produce a nice lather. If you've missed the flowers you can also use the sticky green fruits as a soap. When the SHTF there's no excuse not to be clean. Making soap is a process I rather enjoyed, and the soap you produce with this recipe is far superior to anything you could buy in the store. It just feels nicer. Plus, when you're camping there are a number of plants you can use to get clean, if you know where to look. And staying clean is important for both your hygiene and your survival.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

SECRETS TO A GREAT CAMPING TRIP I've spent a disproportionately large amount of time in the outdoors. My parents loved camping, and some of my fondest memories are stomping through national parks to hidden waterfalls, cracking coconuts on a secluded beach, and "playing survivor" when I was too young to know what that really meant. Once I got my first set of wheels, any chance I got, I was taking off into the wild. At first for a night or two. Sometimes a couple of weeks. These days I'm only starting to go camping again recently, after the birth of my daughter we started on our off-the-grid homestead, and now she's a little older, and the house is up and running, I'm loving being able to "go bush," as my wife calls it. But it wasn't long before I noticed just how many campers today don't seem to know what they're doing. They've seen television shows like "Dual Survival" and they head off without thinking. In today's post, I want to share my tips to a great camping trip. And no, it doesn't involve you having to build your own shelter, unless you want to of course. HAVE A PLAN This is important if you're going with your kids, or your significant other.

“many campers don't seem to know what they're doing…

I don't mind getting lost in the wilderness without much thought at all, but your kids will hate it. You need games and fun activities for them. Figure out a set of things you can do during your trip, to keep busy and ensure everyone is enjoying themselves. I've taught my wife how to read a map and navigate with a compass, so she now takes control when we're hiking to a new hotspot. Fishing gear is light and easy to store, and if you bring a book of plants your kids can help spot and collect the edible ones for dinner. We also have some traditions like burning the pine cone tower, which keeps my daughter busy collecting as many as possible, and on our last trip I showed her how to make a small trap for crawdads. The previous one we crafted a dreamcatcher out of shells and driftwood scavenged from the beach. PICK THE RIGHT SITE Camping means different things to different people. If you're wanting to enjoy your trip, ensure you're headed to a camping ground that accommodates accordingly. I'm quite happy to bury my business and bathe in a stream, while my wife much prefers actual facilities and running water. Picking the right campsite is then a critical step, just make sure that wherever you go is safe, and you're not having to fend off curious bears or other wildlife. HAVE A CAMPING KIT It takes me about 15 minutes to pack and leave on a camping trip. Which is perfect for spontaneous trips during the summer. I store everything I need for three days camping in two plastic tubs in my garage. If I'm in a rush I grab my bug out bag, otherwise I'll just throw a couple of changes of clothes and my toiletries into a duffel and I'm good to go. Inside one tub is my camping equipment, the tent, sleeping bag, mattress pads and a spare tarp. In the other is all my cooking gear and camping food. I restock the granola bars and cans in my next shop once I'm back from a trip, so I'm always packed and ready to go. Oh, and I've a large jerry can of water that I fill fresh and bring too. DON’t FORGET THE LIGHTS This goes double if you're camping somewhere remote, but having light can make all the difference when it comes to making your campsite welcoming.

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In addition to my headlamp, I've got a fixed light for my tent, and a solar lamp that gets used while we're cooking or to light up the area we're hanging out in during the evening. I usually also have a handful of glowsticks in my camping kit, so if I feel like it's not bright enough we can crack these too. PRE-PREPARE YOUR MEALS When I'm headed off alone I'm more than happy to eat tinned spaghetti and beef stew, but a little more preparation is needed when travelling with my family. Think about your meals each day, and list out everything you'll need to make these. Small things like having a little oil, or a frying pan that won't burn in the flames are important. I'd also advise pre-preparing all your meals. It's much easier to cut up the vegetables and start marinating the meat before your trip, then just wrap these in foil and pack into your cooler. We usually only have two hot meals a day to save on the cooking and cleanup, but this will depend on the activities you’ve got. If you're hanging around camp you could have a cookout every meal. PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF Finally, there's one last rule that I believe all campers should live by, and that is '"leave no trace." The whole idea is to ensure the campsite you've been staying in is clean and tidy, and you've not left trash about or any remnants from your stay. I also recommend sticking to the trail when you're hiking to avoid any damage to the bush, and only ever wash in the stream when you've no other choice, and of course use a an eco-friendly soap. I hope your next camping trip is a great one. When you get to spend any time in the outdoors, count it as a blessing. Even if the weather turns bad, it's important to keep a positive attitude, and learn from it. Next time you'll be better prepared. Smile, and enjoy it.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

HIDING YOUR VALUABLES IN A BETTER LOCATION I'm not a big believer in banks. I do have a safe deposit box, but it irks me to no end that I'm only able to access the contents during business hours.

Or would your first priority be getting home, to ensure your loved ones are safe and you're ready to pull the trigger on your bug-out plans.

WITHIN MY HOME

What if there's a disaster, and the bank decides to keep their doors closed for we e k s o n e n d ? Yo u r p r e c i o u s belongings are stuck, waiting on an employee to come unlock the branch for you, so you can get it.

I know which way I'd be heading, and it ain't to Main Street.

It's not much, and is really just a heavily fortified space you enter through our walk-in closet in case someone has broken in.

It's just not practical. Imagine if a disaster struck now. Would you even be able to get to the bank?

My valuables, along with everything I need to sur vive a disaster are strategically placed throughout my home, in hidden caches on the way to my bug out location, and inside my bug out. No matter what happens, I'll have access to firearms, ammunition, money and gold. Even if one of the caches is inaccessible or taken by force.

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The first thing I did when I built my home was to install a safe room.

It's also semi-hidden, and it's not immediately obvious that the back of the closet swings open. We had this built custom, but you could achieve a similar result by simply selecting and securing one of your bedrooms. Now's the fun part.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

WHERE ELSE CAN I HIDE MY SUPPLIES? It’s important you have multiple caches. That way, if one gets compromised or discovered, you've got a backup plan. Which brings me to mine. In our yard the tool shed is my haven. If I'm ever to return home and find that someone has taken up refuge in my property, I've got a small arsenal of supplies hidden in plain sight that I can use to either restock, or to arm up and fight back. Along the back wall is a number of tins of paint from the last renovations we did to our property. But instead of throwing out all those old paint cans, I washed out the insides and they now contain everything from canned meats to extra ammunition. They're stacked in plain sight, behind a bunch of half-empty paint cans, where no thief would even think to look. Finally, the guns. I've got a pistol strapped to the underside of a shelf, which is only evident if you're laid flat on the ground. And my gun safe is carefully hidden underneath the backseat of an old Torana that's currently a "work-in-progress." It's locked, just in case, but no thief would think to even go rummaging about in a beat-up old restoration project.

Inside the safe room is our safe, which contains a large part of our wealth, along with all of our important documents in a fire-proof container. In an emergency, I can just grab this and go, and we're all set. But I do have a few other tricks up my sleeve. In my home-office, I've made use of the space underneath each drawer. There's a small recess on the underside if you fully remove the drawer, and this is where I've secured a couple of stashes of cash. In a large, water-tight envelope I've got a couple of thousand dollars laid out flat. Which I've ducttaped to the underside of each drawer. It's easy to get to, but it's probably going to be overlooked by any thief who comes looking. One spot that I thought was pretty ingenious is my flashlights. I've got one I always carry with me, and others tactically placed in my car, my office, and around out home.

Within each there's a little bit of space to play with if you open it up, so see how much space you've got to play with. I was able to get about a hundred dollars in each flashlight, which I know is now well hidden in some easy to reach places. Because if something goes wrong the first thing you'll grab is a flashlight, right? I've also been able to use the air vents in our home as secret space to keep a firearm in each room. They're sealed in a water tight container to keep any moisture out. Just remove the vent with a screwdriver and place the items you need inside. These are then "resecured" with smaller screws, so the grate holds in place, but in a pinch, I could easily tear it off. That way, no matter what room of the house I find myself in, I've got a firearm within easy reach.

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Finally, in our basement we've got an old couch. If we were ever to lose control of our home, I've created a space in the underneath of the sofa to conceal two bug out bags that are fully kitted out, and ready to go. The only way these can be found is if the couch is flipped over, where they can be easily removed so we can get the heck out of dodge. And we can still use the couch in the meantime! When it comes to hiding your valuables around your home, my advice is to keep it simple. Yes, you could find a thousand different places throughout your home, from fake electrical sockets to immersing your valuables in the toilet cistern, but before you do, think how practical it'll be. Instead, try to find just a handful of places where you've got things in easy reach, so if you ever do need to evacuate you're not running around pulling your entire house apart before you leave.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017

WHAT MAY UNRAVEL YOUR SURVIVAL PLANS When it comes to survival, there's only one rule to live by. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. There's a remarkable difference from what someone is posting on Facebook or in a forum, to what will actually happen when the SHTF. That's why the military trains for a variety of different scenarios. They develop experience, and the ability to think on their feet to overcome whatever problem faces them. Now this is great practice, but before you get there you need to focus on understanding. Once you know the types of events or actions that could unravel your survival plans, you can develop ways to overcome them. In today's article, I'm going to cover the most common problems you will face, along with a question to ask yourself to ensure you're not making these mistakes yourself. YOU ARE YOUR WORST ENEMY Or let me rephrase this. Operational security (OPSEC) should be your biggest priority, and the person most likely to breach this is you. Every conversation we have today, everyone who knows about your disaster planning, is a wildcard.

You don't know who else they've told, and you can't be sure just how much other people know about you. Gossip travels fast, especially if you're living in a small town.

But they need to be trained. I've spent countless hours with my two dogs in proper training classes, so they can be calmed and quiet if the situation ever calls for it.

Think about yourself. Who have you told about your survival plans, and who might they have told?

Being able to hold or deter an intruder in your home may make all the difference in keeping your family safe.

THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

Would your dog be an asset or a liability during a disaster?

Even if you don't like them, your neighbors are going to be riding out any local SHTF event along with you. But they also present a risk, because they probably know far more about you than you think. They've seen the groceries you've been carrying inside, your bug out bags hanging by the door, your shelves of cans lining the garage when you park your car, and perhaps have even overheard a private conversation while you've been out in the yard, or on the phone. Is there a chance your neighbors know more than you think, and would they be helpful or problematic once the SHTF? YOUR DOGS ARE A DEAD GIVEAWAY 'm all for having dogs around your home, not only do they act as an early warning sign for intruders, they can even help deter a criminal from targeting your home.

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“Who have you told about your survival plans…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - NOVEMBER 2017 cont. YOUR KIDS NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WHAT Let's face it. Your kids are just kids, and whilst they don't usually intend to ruin your plans, that's just what they do. They haven't yet figured out the bigger picture, and don’t realize the difference between chatting and OPSEC. My advice is to keep any conversations you have with your kid's light. Of course, teaching them the basics but don't let your kids in on the full extent of your survival planning until they're old enough to understand the reasons for it. Do your kids know too much already? Who might they have told? DON'T LET YOUR PREPS GIVE YOU AWAY When everyone has nothing left, the preparations you have made are going to be a dead giveaway that you suddenly have a whole lot more than the rest of your neighborhood. If your home is the only one with the lights on, people will be interested as to why. The same goes for cooking.

My advice here would be to question how you're going to stay under the radar once the SHTF. How will you dispel the smells from your cooking or the sound of your generator, and ensure that the entire neighborhood doesn't know how well prepared you actually are. DON'T RUIN YOUR SUPPLIES WITH BAD STORAGE This is one mistake I'm sorry to say I've made myself. You need to be very careful of the conditions you're storing your food supplies in, if you want them to be edible when you actually need them. I initially had my storage in the garage, which was both cool and dry, but because my previous home was near the ocean, the salt spray seeped into the cans and ruined everything that was metal. Ensure that wherever you keep your supplies they will last, and that you're both checking on the condition of your supplies, and rotating these before they expire. Mine was an expensive mistake. Are your supplies in a safe place?

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HAVE MORE THAN ONE PLAN You should have more than one plan, so that you're ready to adapt and overcome any changes that are thrown your way. Even small things can make a big impact, and the more prepared you are now, the better your chances of survival. Think about your own plans. Then consider what could go wrong. What could you do now to overcome these problems, now? BE PREPARED FOR THEFT People will want to take what's yours. In addition to having a means to defend your home and your supplies, having back up caches of supplies will mean that you're able to feed your family even if you lose your home, or you're not able to access your main stores. Do you have any supplies stored in additional locations? Without forward thinking, it's quite easy for your survival plans to come unraveled at the first problem. But that's the trick. Once you understand the different ways that things can go wrong, you can make back-up plans for your plans, and stay one step ahead.