Above: O.Z.O. DRONE RECCE: SITE B
OUTERZONE MAIN
The Concept and the Misconception
THERE IS A STORM COMING...
Some misinterpret Outer Zone Overnight(TM) Adventure Treks as just a road trip and party in the ( insert geographical classification here ) Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Yes, the events are themed, and seem almost a game at times with the scavenger hunts, contests, group activities and nighttime celebrations, however there is a deeper meaning.
O.Z.O., for many, is actually an educational community outing, providing some with their first exposure to short notice camping (urban evacuation), map reading (Way Point destinations) and quite honestly, survival.
With the recent onslaught of natural and man made disasters, it is increasingly apparent that people are not as prepared as they could be. The first part of preparedness is awareness, and education. The second is physical experience. Outer Zone Overnight, through themed events, actually provides preparedness for people who otherwise might never consider having to leave urban areas on short notice for safety. O.Z.O. provides to people who otherwise, because of lack of empirical experience, could in no way survive on their own for 24 to 72 to 96 hours do to never even considering that they may have to at some point.
By conducting periodic adventure treks, drawing interest in survival by enactment of fun scenario themes, literature, exposure to art, music and other forms of entertainment related to the themes in combination with practical programs stressing skills of survival, people from 18 to 50 who have never left the the comfort of their urban life and camped in a tent are drawn into a a new world... One where they must consider the basic aspects of survival needed to vacate unsafe areas.
Is it All Work?
No, it is all accomplishment and celebration.
The themed adventure trek provides exposure to a community with members of varied experience and talents, who share their knowledge and experience with others. After a long day of following way points, deciphering maps, meeting up with the community, setting camp, learning new skills and doing some exploration, night falls quickly.
The celebration of being alive begins, kicking off at sunset.
Program participants are rewarded with recognitions, music, light entertainment, visuals and most importantly, interaction with their newly found community.
Though some had thought it a challenge to survive the day, others find it a challenge to survive the night. Celebratory dancing commences under an open sky as the public announcement system finds a CD and a wandering mix master. The compounds are lit with the flicker strobes of torches and camp fires. Some launch into impromptu musicianship and tribal cries and howls. Others display their more exotic talents with fire spinning or gymnastics, or exhibitions of future sport.
Above: Jim "Goose" Howard, O.Z.O. Founder @ Mini Nuke 1, toasting a program participant's successful day and good health.
Night tours are provided for those who wish to participate in the elective activity, providing further adventures in edutainment, and exploration.
Campfire discussions tackle the problems of the world while leading to-great laughter and comradeship.
At some point, people find their way-into their sleep state and dream, somewhere between two and four AM, in this theme based world where clocks no longer have meaning, and time is perceived and obeyed only by the position of the sun in the sky.
The morning after yields the smell of cooking, campfire coffee, and the rising sun. Activities will vary for all on the second day, some make their last voyage to the springs, some go for that last hike, guided or independently. Some go strait to bugging out of their camp site, as speed drill or at leisure pace.
Most begin their trek back to their cities by mid afternoon, with a fresh perspective on the world, and their abilities to survive outside the confines of their fragile centers of mass population... Thinking all the way home about what they will do next time, at the next Outer Zone Overnight Adventure Trek, and what they have learned about their skills to survive.
