Class Length: 6 days
Class Dates:  Oct 24-30, 2010
                     May 22-28, 2011

Location: Southern Ohio 
                  
Instruction Fee: $595 (2009 prices)
Supplies Fee for this class: $30
Total Class cost: $625

Register for Survival 1: Click Here
Student Testimonials: Click Here


Summary: This class will teach you how to survive in the wilderness without tons of expensive equipment or backpacking gear.  It takes a more "primitive approach" to obtaining the basics of Survival - Shelter, Fire, Water, and Food.  There will be no extensive hiking or physical exertion needed to complete this class since learning survival is the learning of easy  ways to do what is necessary to stay alive. 

We plan to teach you how to work with Nature rather than fighting Nature.  Survival is not a physical challenge of "You vs Nature" since you would lose every time in that match up.  Rather, survival is about living in a cooperative effort between you and the world around you.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NEED
This class is designed to teach both the inexperienced person and the moderately experienced person to become a competent, self-reliant survival woodsman or woods-woman. (about 40% of our students are women). No prior outdoor experience is necessary to take this first step towards developing a closer relationship with your environment.

WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS
Bring everything you would normally bring for a week-long camping trip (tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, eating utensils, etc.) and we will supply the rest.

FOCUS OF THE CLASS
The focus of the class will be more of a non "high-tech" approach to surviving in the woods.  Despite the impression that this will be a "primitive approach," a very effective and comfortable base camp can be built with all of the essentials of survival - Shelter, Fire, Water and Food.  During this first class we will supply all of the meals and you will be sleeping in your tent each night.  Remember the purpose of THIS class is to TEACH you all of the skills you need to know.  Future classes, if you decide to take them, will put these skills to the test.

WHAT WE WILL COVERED
Fire - 1-match fires, Fire Lays, Flint and Steel, Bow Drill

Water - How to obtain water where it appears none is readily available, and how to treat it for safe consumption, both naturally and with modern chemicals and equipment.

Shelter - Principles of shelter and shelter building, natural shelters, tarp and poncho shelters, debris huts.

Traps - Principles of trapping animals in a survival situation, including making basic, effective traps and snares such as the "Figure 4" deadfall and the spring snare.

Food - How to prepare, cook, and preserve food in a survival situation.  You will have the opportunity to learn and then correctly filet fish (optional).

Plants - Become comfortable with using popular plant identification books.  Then we will identify both edible and medicinal plants found in the area.  We will then cover how to use and prepare the plants back at camp.

Navigation - Learn the secrets of Natural Navigation as well as the basics of modern navigation.  Discover how to REALLY use a compass, understand topographic maps, take bearings both from maps and in the woods, and accurately measure distance without tape measures or other equipment.

Simulated Survival Situation - At week's end, you will have the chance to put what you learned into action with a supervised "survival situation."  Our staff will be monitoring your progress as you put together a complete base camp as if you were suddenly thrust into an emergency survival situation.  This has been consistently the part of the class that past students have had the most fun with and which gave students the most personal satisfaction.

Our goals as instructors are:

1. Have you learn the skills you want well enough that you can demonstrate and teach them to your friends when you get home.
    
2. Insure you have a good time.
    
3. Make you begin to think as a "survival person" ...assessing a situation, determining what resources you have on and around you, deciding on a plan of action, and carrying that plan to successful completion.

Again, this class is not PHYSICALLY challenging but it definitely will open your awareness to what's available to you in the woods and how you can take advantage of every resource so you CAN survive.

Register for Survival 1 : Click Here      
 

Weather Forecast (at location of the class)