from a Press Release
True to its commitment to continuously upscale their competency level, the Ramon
Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) facilitators held a
jungle survival training and practical application of their Leave No Trace trainers’ backpacking program last February 11-12.
The overnight training application in Pamulaklakin Forest trail, Subic Free Port, aims to
acquire and develop proficiencies in jungle survival from the indigenous people of Zambales, the Aetas.
The program also intends to apply the Leave No Trace principles―Plan Ahead and
Prepare, Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, Dispose of Waste Properly, Leave What You Find, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.
The training includes basic mountaineering, fire building, wildlife identification, etc.
Without food and water during the overnight stay in the rainforest, the Aeta guide educated the participants on how to get water from vines, cook using green bamboo, and make insect repellant and soap from certain plants and other indigenous survival techniques. These are the same techniques taught to the US troops.
KAC hopes to incorporate some of these basic skills in its current expedition program
offerings.
The participants were KAC's Audrey Criscille Abatol, Peter Jay Alera, Daphne Dia,
Marie Sol Gonzalvo, Gabriel Lamparas, Kenneth Lim, Totits Ocampo, Franco Otero, Leomil Urpiana, and Landolf Villanueva.
The jungle survival training program was designed for civilians with the desire to
undergo military survival training, conducted by the indigenous Aeta, originally for the US military troops training for jungle warfare.
KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, one of
the five focus areas of RAFI, where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to effect
change. Its other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.
KAC is an organizational member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology-USA and Association for Experiential Education-USA. It is currently building the Philippines' first outdoor experiential learning center in Barangay Cansumoroy, Balamban, Cebu, which is set to open in 2013.
For more information about KAC, please call 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea
May Santillan, or email at
[email protected], or visit
www.rafi.org.ph or
www.facebook.com/rafi.org.phLinkback:
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