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Hug-A-Tree and Survive Program

Aim And Purpose

"Hug-A-Tree and Survive" is a children's Search and Rescue (SAR) prevention program administered under the auspices of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is aimed at children (ages 5 - 14) from kindergarten to grade six, and has as its purpose the goal of teaching them:

  • how not to become lost in the woods,
  • what to do if they do become lost,
  • how not to come to harm, and
  • how they can help searchers find them.

Program Administration

Only "qualified presenters" may present the Canadian "Hug-A-Tree and Survive" program. A "qualified presenter" is a person who, as a minimum,

  • has basic knowledge of Search and Rescue,
  • has read and follows the direction provided in the program documentation
  • has signed an agreement provided by his/her department or agency certifying agreement to comply with all program requirements.

The History Of The Program

The Hug-A-Tree and Survive program was developed in San Diego, California, in response to the loss of the life of a young boy, nine year old Jimmy Beveridge who went missing during a camping trip in 1981. Later that same year, Ab Taylor, a retired Border Patrol agent and renowned tracker, and Tom Jacobs, a freelance writer and photographer, collaborated to create the "Hug-A-Tree and Survive" program. This is a copyrighted slide presentation and hands-on demonstration designed to teach, at their level of understanding, basic survival principles to children aged 5 - 12.

Since then, the "Hug-A-Tree and Survive" presentation has been credited with saving many children's lives.

Hug-A-Tree and Survive (Canada) was subsequently developed in 1996, after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police applied for and received a licensing agreement with the US copyright holders.

Although the "Hug-A-Tree and Survive" presentation has been adapted for Canadian usage and prepared in both English and French, the message and order of presentation are the same as the US version. The Canadian "approved" program and supporting materials are copyright to Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, on behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Teaching our Children Safety

Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue has several trained Hug-A-Tree and Survive presenters who make themselves available to present the program free-of-charge to area schools and youth organizations.

In the past three years, over 4,000 Greater Moncton area school children have learned how to avoid being lost, and what to do if they become separated from family.



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