By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— With so many opportunities to explore the outdoors in Shelby County, there’s also the chance to take a wrong turn and get lost out in the woods. To educate residents on how to survive out in the elements, wilderness skills instructor Tim Morgan is teaching a survival class at the Pelham Public Library March 12.

“I thought it would be something very useful,” Pelham Public Library adult services coordinator David Smith said, noting he’s even gotten lost on the trails before.

The program is a basic skills class where Morgan will teach attendees how to survive if they get lost in the woods. Smith said he’ll explain how to make a shelter, build a fire, find water and more.

“You’ve got a number of places within this vicinity: Oak Mountain State Park, Ruffner Park, Red Mountain Park off of Oxmoor,” Smith said. “There are several places you can get lost. This would be good for anyone that is a hiker or just a walker in the woods.”

Matt Griffin, reference librarian over the young adult genre, said Morgan will also be bringing small survival kits for door prizes.

Morgan is the owner and instructor at Endurance Martial Arts in Pelham. He was a Boy Scout and has always spent time out in the woods, according to Griffin. He’s also used his wilderness survival knowledge to rescue people lost in the woods.

In addition to training students in martial arts, Morgan hosts survival and protection courses through his school.

Griffin said this introductory wilderness survival course at the library might be one of several. Because there is so much information to convey, he said it might be more beneficial to make the classes a series.

At the library, Griffin said many people have inquired about the wilderness course, showing an interest in attending.

“It’s going to be an awesome talk,” he said. “There’s all this popularity of being a survivalist… just being prepared is so important these days.”

The course begins at 2 p.m. March 12 and lasts until 3 p.m. There is no charge for admission. For more information, call the Pelham Public Library at 620-6418.