News Releases

AdventureSmart: how to be safe in the great outdoors

Toronto, Ontario – May 21, 2011 – The National Search and Rescue Secretariat joins Parks Canada for a camp-out at the Rogers Centre as part of Parks Canada's Centennial Celebrations.

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) will be promoting the AdventureSmart Program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to "Get informed and go outdoors". The AdventureSmart program will showcase its awareness activities to the children of Toronto and their parents attending the very large camp out at the Rogers centre. The mission of the AdventureSmart program is to educate children, teens and adults about safety and preparedness in the backcountry, and aims to reduce the number and severity of search and rescue incidents in Canada.

The Hug a Tree and Survive Program is one of the messages that will be promoted and is a great example of the search and rescue context in our vast country. Hug a Tree is an opportunity to present search and rescue prevention and education materials aimed at children from kindergarten through grade 6. It teaches children how not to become lost in the backcountry, and what to do if they should become lost. As an integral part of the AdventureSmart program, it also teaches about the importance of trip planning, outdoor training and awareness, and the 10 essential pieces of equipment needed to enhance outdoor survival.

With the 25th anniversary of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada, the NSS continues to commit itself to the promotion of survival techniques in support of search and rescue prevention and mitigation strategies on Canadian soil, in the air, inland waters or at sea.

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat is an autonomous arm's length organization within the Department of National Defence. Established in 1986, the Secretariat is responsible for the management and coordination of the National Search and Rescue Program, and works with all levels of government, police and emergency services to manage and improve search and rescue activities throughout Canada.

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For more information:
Manon Langlois
Chief, Communications
National Search and Rescue Secretariat
T:(613) 996-6411 or 1-800- 727-9414