Not saying I want anything in particular to happen haha, but.... If there is a chance of something I will be excited to test my survival skills. I am a 5'2 24 yr old, that most people think is 16 but anyways, I was raised like the little boy my dad never got, haha, and I AM thankful. I am a avid bow hunter, fisher, natural herb grower for medicinal use, and love a challenge in the wilderness. My best advice is "Don't judge the outside of a package, until you know what's on the inside."

The best way to start is just be outside, spend the night out there, cook some beans in the can over the fire with a pork chop or whatever and just feel the nature. I gotta be honest though you can only learn so much inside.

This is a great thread and I'm glad you posted since there are obviously a lot of women who are interested in this topic.

Remember that knowledge is power but waiting until you are in a survival situation is the wrong time to practice. Your should train like you fight and then you will fight like you have trained. There is a wealth of books out there dealing with surviving. Some of the best that I have found are the SAS handbooks. They cover a lot of topics from how to build a fire, get clean water, what plants are safe and which to avoid. Since you're from the UK I'm assuming your access to a firearm is restricted, so also learning about fashioning weapons to protect yourself is also a must skill.

As for meeting up with a bunch of folks calling themselves survivalists, be very careful for two reasons. The first is obvious the second is that some of these groups are actually government operations to identify dissenters. People get in then get busted for being "homegrown terrorists" when the reason they joined the group was for completely different reasons.

I encourage you to do your homework, prepare then practice.

This is an awesome idea, but we're gonna need pictures! Please post pics of this awesome, all girl survival expedition! (I'll send money)

Ask your local game warden. Here in Mississippi, women hunting clubs are being formed with the help of the state's game wardens.

I learned all of my survival skills by buying the books from the 60s and 70s about living off the land and putting what read into practice down in the woods. There was no one I could ask for help and first-hand education. Trial and error a lot. Own just about everything Tom Brown, the Tracker wrote about survival and watch Survivorman and Bear Grylls when they come on TV on the Discovery Channel. Prefer Survivorman though. Bear is more action/adventure and comes across more as a knowledgeable actor. The guys over at YouTube are downright viscious in judging him, too.

Fire making skills and fresh water collecting will be the two main concerns IMHO. Shelter below ground level, on ground level and above ground level and bug/tick deterents will be next. Stealth, hunting, fishing, trapping, snaring come with lots of practice and by observing the animals. If you can't avoid being detected by the animals, you won't live very well. Keep your human scent to 0 as much as possible and this means staying clean or smoking your clothes and self, if you have no water.

Women survivalists are rare and don't normally associate in groups. I know I can't find any serious female survivalists here in Mississippi and I've looked. I'm not talking female deer hunters or fisherwomen, I mean die hard survivalist who can live off the land and do anything else it takes to stay alive and healthy. Good luck in finding them because if I'm reading the stock market trends, this country is free falling into a serious depression and that will either bring out the best in the men folk or the worst. We've all seen the movies that give examples of each when governments fail. Actually, I look forward to the fall because everything I ever learned about survival is going to be tested to the extreme and any weakness I have will be eradicated or I die with it.

yes, apple cider works well for cramps. Bugs too.

You got me, I'm interested. I'm female and I'm very aware that survivalism may be very important in the near future. I live in the middle of NOwhere- so for me, the drill is to go out there alone and face it by myself. From what I can tell, the key is self-suffiency. If I can do it on my own, I'll be okay. If I luck out and have some company? GREAT! Maybe my skills can help another- as long as I know who they are.
All of my life I have been the girl who trusts all. I have always considered it a virtue to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and if I get screwed over? At least I was brave enough to take the chance...and then there is survival...
Do you know who you really are and what you are capable of in the name of survival? If I was on an airplane, and it went down, would I be willing to step on the head of the mother with a toddler in front of me to get to the exit first? That is the question I ask myself. I know my own answer to that- so help me God...do you?

It never hurts to know that pine needle tea contains loads of vitamin C and A. You can chew them, too, just don't swallow them. That the pine tree has many uses other than wood. That the candles from pine trees are edible. That the walnut tree has an edible sap that can be boiled into syrup for a high carbohydrate source of energy. That a strong brew of green willow leaves will dry up poison ivy and that roasted pumpkin seeds can eliminate intestinal worms (may cause cramping, if too many seeds are ingested). The Internet is loaded with free survival information. All you have to do is get out and practice it. Tom Brown wrote a series of books about survival and they are small enough to carry in a day pack without taking up too much room. Good illustrations, too.

Survival is learning to accept being cold, hungry, tired, lonely, and pursued by all kinds of predators and not minding it at all because you are free. Survivalists form the deepest of friendships because of the hardness of their lives and the unspoken and deeply felt need they have for each other.

Originally posted by NorthWolfe CND
Are you not being just a little bit sexist here?
You have a problem with meeting male strangers from the Internet, but you have no problem meeting female strangers? What is that all about?

Violent sex crimes and serial murder is typically a very sexist hobby. There are very very few known female serial killers that target other women for pleasure (without sick boyfriends encouraging them), the only one that comes to my mind is Elizabeth Bathory and I doubt if she would want to rough it in the woods.

And actually I think if the OP found women in her area that were interested a real life meet could be set up without all that much worry. Just get to know people, talk to them for weeks or months, talk on the PHONE, and set up the initial meeting in a public place.

Most people online are quite nice, and the lone crazy sex offender/killer type could find easier targets that would involve a lot less hassle than a bunch of paranoid survivalist women that want to talk for weeks or months before meeting.


[edit on 5-7-2008 by Sonya610]