Homesteading & Survival Skills

Rooted in Catholic tradition and inspired by the virtues of Saints and Our Blessed Mother, these activities invite girls to grow in faith, friendship, and real-world skills. From homesteading crafts to outdoor survival challenges, each experience is designed to nurture a deeper connection with God’s creation while building confidence, resilience, and stewardship.

Through these projects and hands-on learning, Firelily troops discover how ordinary tasks—gardening, foraging, shelter-building—can become extraordinary paths of holiness. If your troop creates any new activity ideas please share and we will be sure to review and add to the list!

Activity Ideas

1. St. Brigid of Kildare — Firecraft & Hearthkeeping

Skill: Advanced fire-making, fire safety, and using fire for warmth and cooking. Why St. Brigid? Brigid’s connection to hearth fires and hospitality makes her a perfect patron for learning how to tend a fire responsibly and use it for communal gatherings.

2. St. Teresa of Avila — Wilderness Shelter & Inner Fortitude

Skill: Building debris shelters, tarping techniques, and creating safe resting spaces in the wild. Why St. Teresa? Known for her spiritual “Interior Castle,” this activity connects physical shelter with cultivating inner spiritual resilience.

3. St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) — Mental Preparedness & Crisis Calm

Skill: Mindfulness, situational awareness, managing stress in survival scenarios. Why St. Edith? Her profound writings on suffering and peace amidst trials encourage inner strength during difficult outdoor challenges.

4. St. Genevieve — Community Leadership & Emergency Readiness

Skill: Organizing community resources, basic emergency planning, leadership under pressure. Why St. Genevieve? She led Paris through crisis with courage and prayer, inspiring scouts to step up in times of need.

5. St. Rose of Lima — Foraging & Medicinal Plants

Skill: Identifying wild plants for food and simple medicinal uses (with expert guidance!). Why St. Rose? Known for her garden and care for the sick, St. Rose’s life connects to nurturing through nature’s bounty.

6. St. Macrina the Younger — Simple Living & Resourcefulness

Skill: Improvising tools from natural materials, minimalist survival techniques. Why St. Macrina? She embraced simplicity and self-sufficiency, making her a fitting guide for learning to “make do” with what’s at hand.

7. St. Barbara — Storm Safety & Weather Awareness

Skill: Reading weather patterns, lightning safety, preparing for sudden storms outdoors. Why St. Barbara? As patroness of protection against storms and sudden death, this badge ties faith to practical storm survival knowledge.

8. St. Mary of Egypt — Solo Survival & Desert Skills

Skill: Solo hiking safety, desert survival basics, spiritual solitude in nature. Why St. Mary of Egypt? Her life of repentance in the desert ties beautifully into learning how to navigate and endure harsher environments with spiritual focus.

9. St. Joan of Arc — Fire & Courage

Activities: Teach safe fire-starting methods (flint & steel, tinder bundles), and how to build a safe campfire. Faith Tie-In: Reflect on Joan’s bravery and discernment. End with a fireside prayer or storytelling about saints who stood for truth.

10. St. Joseph — Shelter Building & Carpentry Basics

Activities: Construct a simple lean-to shelter or practice basic carpentry (like assembling a raised garden bed). Faith Tie-In: Meditate on St. Joseph as protector and craftsman, emphasizing providing shelter and care for others.

11. St. Zita — Outdoor Cooking & Service

Activities: Cook a simple meal over a fire or using a Dutch oven. Teach outdoor food safety and resourcefulness. Faith Tie-In: Share the story of St. Zita’s charitable kitchen work, connecting feeding others with acts of mercy.

12. St. Gianna Molla — First Aid & Life Skills

Activities: Teach essential first aid (splints, bandaging, CPR basics) and emergency preparedness. Faith Tie-In: Discuss St. Gianna’s sacrificial love as a doctor and mother, focusing on the dignity of life and caring for others.

13. Pilgrim’s Path — Orienteering & Wayfinding

Activities: Teach map reading, compass use, and basic navigation without electronics. Faith Tie-In: Reflect on pilgrimage traditions (like Camino de Santiago) and spiritual navigation — “finding your way with Christ as your compass.”

14. St. Kateri –Foraging

Activities: Identify safe edible plants, berries, and basic foraging guidelines (with expert guidance!). Faith Tie-In: Tie into Kateri’s connection to nature and how God provides through His creation.

15. St. Elizabeth of Hungary — Natural Dyeing & Crafting

Activities: Use plants to create natural fabric dyes or simple basket weaving with found materials. Faith Tie-In: Reflect on St. Elizabeth’s generosity and how beauty in simple things glorifies God.

16. Our Lady of Guadalupe — Native Plant Gardening

Skill: Planting drought-tolerant, native plants that honor the land and conserve water. Why Mary? As Patroness of the Americas, this honors indigenous ecology while reflecting her care for all people and places.

17. Our Lady, Star of the Sea — Water Safety & Navigation Basics

Skill: Learning water safety, basic swimming survival, and simple navigation techniques. Why Mary? Mariners have long invoked her for guidance. Teach how to “navigate” both water and life with Mary’s steadying hand.

18. Our Lady of Sorrows — Crisis Readiness & Emotional Resilience

Skill: Preparing emergency kits, learning calming techniques for stressful situations. Why Mary? She teaches how to stand firm amidst suffering. Scouts learn practical preparedness while reflecting on spiritual fortitude.

19. Our Lady of Fatima — Solar Energy & Light in Darkness

Skill: Using solar ovens, basic solar-powered devices, and understanding renewable energy. Why Mary? Fatima’s apparitions emphasize the “light of Christ.” These skills reflect caring for creation and using God-given resources wisely.

20. Our Lady of Lourdes — Water Purification & Healing Practices

Skill: Filtering and purifying water, learning the symbolism of healing springs. Why Mary? The Lourdes spring reminds us of both physical and spiritual healing — connecting practical skills to the sacramental nature of water.

21. Our Lady, Queen of Peace — Conflict Resolution & Leadership in Community

Skill: Teaching active listening, peacemaking strategies, and group leadership. Why Mary? As Queen of Peace, she models servant leadership and harmony, vital for team-based outdoor survival situations.

22. Mary, Undoer of Knots — Knot-Tying & Shelter-Building Skills

Skill: Learning essential knots, lashing techniques, and using them for survival shelters. Why Mary? Symbolically ties to her role of “untying knots” in our lives — practically teaching skills to secure and shelter.