Fundamentals of Wilderness Survival

Fundamentals of Wilderness Survival is a course designed to help beginners and experts alike become more self-sufficient in the remote backcountry, and be adequately prepared for an unexpected wilderness emergency. The only way a person may gain a realistic outlook on the rigors of wilderness travel is to spend a good deal of time in the outdoors, and a great number of nights sleeping in the woods. Therefore, this course requires active participation in the outdoors, including hiking, starting fires, and at least a few nights of camping, unless the students are unable to do so due to a medical condition or other special circumstance. This course won’t turn you into a competent woodsman, but it will give you all of the knowledge, resources, and skills you need to confidently turn YOURSELF into one!!!

Because I want fathers and sons to be able to take this course together, attendance to the live lectures will not be a requirement of the course for those fathers (or any adult) that have to work during class hours.

Course Objectives

Understand the primary causes of wilderness survival situations throughout history
Understand the physiology of the human body as it relates to wilderness travel
Know the proper clothing for every environment in the world
Learn how to select and safely use a knife for wilderness survival
Be able to confidently start a fire in wet, windy weather
Understand the construction and principles of common wilderness shelters
Be familiar with common water contaminants and water purification methods
Learn how to read a map and compass
Tie at least 7 common outdoor knots

Course Price:

Individual price: $400
Father/son discount price: $600

Course Overview

Lesson 1

Course Introduction and Expectations
Intro to Wilderness Survival and Exposure

Lesson 2

Understanding Principles of Heat Exchange as it Relates to Wilderness Travel

Lesson 3

Fire Making for Beginners

Lesson 4

Identifying and Using Trees and Shrubs for Wilderness Survival
Conservation and Bushcraft Etiquette

Lesson 5

Choosing and Using a Wilderness Survival Knife
How to Use a Saw

Lesson 6

Dehydration- Routes of Water Loss, Symptoms, Avoidance
Water in the Wilderness: Common Water Contaminants and their Purification

Lesson 7

Hypothermia- Causes, Prevention, and Emergency Field Treatment

Lesson 8

Introduction to Tying Common Bush Knots
Bindcraft- Primitive Cordage and Binding Materials

Lesson 9

Dressing for Wilderness Travel and the Physics of Clothing

Lesson 10

Wilderness Shelter Concepts and Construction- Site Analysis and Heat Exchange Principles

Lesson 11

Using a Map and Compass

Lesson 12

Recommended Minimum Equipment for Short Term Wilderness Travel and Safety
Outfitting Your Vehicle for Wilderness Travel

Lesson 13

Preparing for Wilderness Travel
Signaling for Rescue

Lesson 14

Wilderness First Aid Kits, Wound Management, and Common Backcountry Injuries

Lesson 15

Preventing Heat Illnesses + Acclimatization to the Heat

Lesson 16

Travel and Survival in Extreme Heat

Texts:

Basic Safe Travel and Boreal Survival Handbook by Mors Kochanski
Desert Survival Skills by David Alloway
Secrets of Warmth for Comfort and Survival by Hal Weiss
National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America by Bruce Kershner

Optional for those near deep snow:

Snow Caves for Fun and Survival by Earnest Wilkerson

Equipment:

Fixed blade knife with a scandi grind, preferably orange

Recommended:

Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty orange model carbon steel(cheapest)
Morakniv Bushcraft orange model (stainless)
Condor Terrasaur orange model(my personal favorite, ambidextrous sheath)
Morakniv Garberg (poly sheath option is ambidextrous)

Baseplate compass with rotating ring

Recommended: - Sunnto A-30 NH USGS Compass