Carry Enough Water: Plan a Day’s Water
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What you will learn
- 1Explain why heat, hills and longer trips need more water
- 2Plan where to refill water along a route
- 3Work out how many bottles a water plan needs
- 4Share the weight of water with your grown-up
- 5Explain why you turn back when water runs low
Mini Lesson
Water is one of the most important things you carry in the wild. Running out halfway through a hike can turn a fun day into a hard one. So good hikers plan their water before they leave home. In this lesson you help your grown-up plan a day’s water and carry it well.
🌿 The Wild Way (plan your water)
- THE GROWN-UP DECIDES: your grown-up decides how much water each person carries. You help by planning and packing.
- MORE FOR HEAT AND HILLS: hot days, steep climbs and longer trips all need more water. Always plan extra for hot days.
- DRINK A LITTLE OFTEN: take small sips at every rest stop instead of a lot at once.
- KNOW YOUR REFILL SPOTS: look at the map for streams, lakes or water points where you could refill on the way.
- REFILLED WATER MUST BE MADE SAFE: wild water is never drunk untreated - the grown-up makes it safe, as you learned in Grade 4.
🌿 The Wild Way (carry it well)
- STRONG BOTTLES: use strong bottles with lids that close tight, so they don’t crack or leak.
- SHARE THE WEIGHT: water is heavy. Your grown-up carries the bigger share, and you carry what feels comfortable.
- PACK IT CLOSE: put heavy water near your back in the middle of your pack, so it is easier to carry.
- CHECK AS YOU GO: at each stop, check how much water is left.
- TURN BACK IF LOW: if half your water is gone and you are not yet halfway, tell your grown-up - it may be time to turn back.
Never drink water from a stream, lake or puddle unless your grown-up has made it safe first. Your grown-up decides how much water each person carries and when the group turns back. If you feel very thirsty, dizzy or unwell, tell your grown-up at once.
Words to know
water plan
A plan of how much water to carry and where to refill it.
e.g. Our water plan had two refill spots.
refill
To fill a bottle again.
e.g. We stopped at the lake to refill, and our grown-up made the water safe.
liter
A unit for measuring how much liquid there is.
e.g. Each of our bottles holds 1 liter.
untreated
Not yet made safe to drink.
e.g. Never drink untreated stream water.
sip
A small drink.
e.g. I took a sip at every rest stop.
turn back
To go back the way you came instead of going on.
e.g. Our water was low, so we chose to turn back.
🧠 Survivor’s Trick: use the "half rule". When half your water is gone, check the map. If you are not yet halfway along the route, the plan needs to change - talk to your grown-up.
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