Take a Hike! Our national trail system allows Americans to visit and experience amazing natural landmarks and hidden gems. Approximately 1 million volunteer hours are spent annually maintaining the more than 50,000 miles of national trails so that we can experience and explore them today! www.thinkoutsideboxes.com
W E L CO M E Welcome fellow OUTSIDER! Are you ready for a fun and exciting journey? Over the next year you will learn all kinds of cool tips and tricks for outdoor adventure and fun! Each month you will get new gear to add yo your OUTSIDER pack as well as resource cards to take on your adventures, fun DIY activities to learn basic survival skills, and important information to support your OUTSIDER lifestyle. Whether you’re a hiker, camper, rock collector, or other kind of adventurer, there is one thing you will want to master... HOW TO BUILD YOUR PACK! Pack building is collecting and organizing different tools that serve one many purposes for your trips and adventures outdoors. Your backpack is the first piece of gear you need to start organizing the tools and items required for a SAFE and FUN trip outside. Our focus this month will be sharing some of the best pack building tactics to help you think like a seasoned OUTSIDER! Time to get started! the first step to your next adventures begins right outside your door! Keep us updated on your adventures by sending us a postcard or photo, which we may feature on our website or social media! Over & Out! Contact us at: THiNK OUTSiDE ATTN:Fellow Adventurists! 6956 E Broad St#104 Columbus, OH 43213-1517 support@thinkoutsideboxes.com
@thinkoutsideboxes
The Program ThiNk OUTSiDE Boxes is a year-long program designed to promote exploration and survival in the Great Outdoors. Every month has a new theme covering everything f rom f irst aid and outdoor nutrition to nighttime discovery and building shelters. Refer to the cycle on the right to see which themes are coming up!
Learn it!
Look for these sections in your booklet for information to learn about each month’s theme. These pages are great resources to build out your knowledge of outdoor adventuring
Try it!
Here’s where the fun happens! Theme-based activities are included in each month’s box. These activities are to help you apply the concepts you have learned as well as theach you different ways to use your gear.
Live it!
Live like a true Outsider! Read some of the important lessons that help build and shape us into a caring and respectful community of outdoor explorers. These lessons are the key to what truly make all of us Outsiders!
Gear for an Entire year! The THiNK OUTSiDE year-long program is designed with you in mind! Below are the themes that will be covered throughout the program with examples of the type of cool gear you will receive!
January
Knots - Master the basics Paracord | Water Bottle
Water Bottle
Paracord
February
Shelter - It’s in-tents! Emergency Tent | Shovel
Shovel
y Tent mergenc
E
March
First Aid - Safety first First Aid Kit | Bandage
April
First Aid Kit
Bandage
Weather - Check out those clouds! Wide-Brim Hat | Neck Gaiter at Wide-Brim H
Neck Gaiter
May
Navigation - Find your way Compass | Watch
Compass
Watch
rk
Spo
June
Nutrition - Take your cooking outdooors Campfire Fork | Spork | Collapsible Cup pfire Cam rk Fo
July
Nature - Bug out! Bite & Sting Kit | Magnifying Glass
Bit e&
Sti
ng
August
Kit
Night - Stars & constellations! Headlamp | Flashlight
September
Headlamp
ble apsi Coll p Cu
ng nifyi Mag ass Gl
Flashlight
Water - Practice your water filtration skills Dry Bag | Fishing Kit Dry Bag
October
Fishing Kit
Fire - Elements to fuel your curiosity Flint Fire Starter | Kindling Fire Starter
Kindling
November
Wildlife - Track down your local furry friends Binoculars | Waterproof Notebook
December
Binoculars
Notebook
Repair - From sweing to duct tape Duct Tape | Multi-tool Duct Tape
Multi-tool
this month’s gear Emergency Contact Tag ckpack, Keep this in your ba ploring especially when ex in the outdoors!
it is always important to have your emergency information on you in case you are ever injured. Fill out the card below with your information. Cut out the card or create your own and place it in the above emergency contact tag. This tag should be secured inside your backpack in a place that is easy and quick to find, but keeps your personal information private.
this month’s gear Your PACK!
Lightweight making it perfect for day hikes!
Emergency Whistle
It’s Foldable! Water Bottle Holder
Chest Strap
Additional Items: In each of your next boxes, look for the Learn & Live resource cards. Carry them with you through your adventures. Keep these cards together by using the metal ring we’ve included.
A little bit of paracord and a carabiner can go a long way! Throughout the THiNk OUTSiDE program, you wwill learn different uses of each of these items. And don’t worry, you’ll get more paracord in the coming months!
Changes color with heat!
HOW TO PACK YOUR BAG This may seem like a silly topic, but knowing how to pack your bag can have a major impact on your level of comfort during your trip! Learn the WOODS rule for bag packing.
WEIGHT Try to keep your pack under 30% of your body weight. Use a calculator or have a parent help you figure out that number.
ORGANIZE Place related items into smaller compartments or packs utilizing Ziploc bags, pencil cases, or other organizer. Your first aid items should be in one container, eating utensils in another, etc. Be resourceful! Look around for things you have at home to help you
ORDER Remember to put items you rarely need towards the bottom of your pack, items you will need to access often, place them towards the top of your pack or in the small pockets on the outside of your backpack. Fore example, make sure you can always get to your first aid kit fast!
DENIER Denier is a measurement of your backpack’s fabric thickness. Depending on your adventure, you will use different types of backpacks. A lightweight backpack-about 200D (denier)-is best used for short and hotter trips that don’t require a lot of extra supplies or weight. Multi-day trips require a lot of extra supplies or weight. Multi -day trips require a stronger, more durable fabric because the heavier supplies you need to pack. Choose the right backpack for your different trips!
SMILE The number one tool to help you get through obstacles on your adventures starts with you! Keep a positive attitude when challanges strike. An adventure is never as fun when you forget to pack your