Hug-A-Tree and Survive is a proactive, preventative program that teaches children invaluable outdoor safety and survival lessons.

The story is all too familiar: a family goes on vacation or out for a weekend camping trip, or just off for a day’s hike and someone gets lost in the woods or the mountains. Every year, many people become lost while hiking and camping in parks, forests, and wilderness areas; and, even worse, many of those people die before rescuers can reach them. NASAR (National Association of Search and Rescue) and Long Island Search and Rescue is committed to reducing the number of children who become lost each year and to teaching children basic techniques to aid in their survival if they do become lost. This preventive SAR program takes its name from its primary survival technique: “hug a tree.” The program was designed in March 1981 by nationally-renowned tracker, Mr. Albert "Ab" Taylor in San Diego, California after a search for nine year old Jimmy Beveridge who died in the local mountains. Ab Taylor and the rest of the group of those searchers put together an assembly program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found.

Long Island Search and Rescue has several trained Hug-A-Tree and Survive presenters who make themselves available (with or without their search dog) upon request. We will present this program to area schools, scouts, and other youth organizations. Please contact us for more information.

Chris Padden teaches "Hug-A-Tree" to Cubs from Pack 39

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