HISTORY  From time immemorial, man has needed to test himself against "the elements". In the early days it was out of necessity, but oftentimes modern man too has the need to face Mother Nature in all her wrath just to prove that it can be done. Some climb Everest; some venture into the Adirondack High Peaks in wintertime; some pitch tents in the snow at Camp Boyhaven. Whatever the level of challenge, a weekend of OKPIK winter camping and survival training is a must!

    "OKPIK" originated in the wilds of Minnesota and the idea has spread country-wide. A couple New Yawkas brought back the training plan, modified it a bit, and have been offering the weekend-long course at Camp Boyhaven for going on two decades. A half dozen winter-camping experts compose the core OKPIK training staff and their reputations have established the Boyhaven OKPIK Training Course as one of the best around. Unit leaders and senior Scouts travel from far and wide to learn wintertime camping and survival skills from the Yetis of Camp Boyhaven.

WHEN’S THE NEXT TRAINING SESSION?  January 9-10, 2010 at Camp Boyhaven.  Note that the OKPIK sign-up DEADLINE is December 19, 2009 or thereabouts.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?  Selection of clothing and equipment, dressing in layers ("onionization"), tenting at ten below, cooking skills, orienteering in a "white out", building emergency shelters, cold weather first aid, snow-shoeing, and more.  In a nutshell, how to "stay warm, dry, and well fed" …and alive.  Click to see a few photographs from OKPIKs past.  See the 2008 Daily Schedule for a sample course curriculum (it doesn't change a lot).

IT'S A CAKE-WALK!  Read Ted Brown's classic "Thirty Below is a Piece of Cake" or "What We Learned at the 1979 'Deep Freeze' at Camp Boyhaven".  

READ MORE!  Read Joanne E. McFadden's Daily Gazette article "It's Not Just Cool, it's COLD" (January 13, 2008)

OK, HOW DO I SIGN UP?  We'll have the new application form posted here in a few months...  Sorry you missed the January 3-4, 2009 session.  The weather was perfect!

WHAT ABOUT TRAINING FOR SCOUTS?  An OKPIK-GAWASA training course designed for First Class, Star, Life and Eagle Scouts in the 13-16 year age group will be held February 13-15, 2009 at Woodworth Lake Scout Reservation.   Note that the sign-up deadline for OKPIK-GAWASA is January 30, 2009, but it's a SOFT deadline.  For information and a registration form, see the Flyer.  For more details click here.  To register on-line click here 

OKPIK Training... Don't leave home without it!!