Essential Survival Skills Bootcamp (9-Week)

Upcoming Lessons:

April 20-26 wild foods
April 27-May 3 wilderness clothing
May 4-10 cutting tools
May 11-17 navigation
May 18-24 survival psychology
May 25-31 emergency rescue
June 1-7 natural shelter
June 8-14 friction fire
June 15-21 water purification
June 22-28 ** NO CLASS
June 29- July 5 ** NO CLASS
July 6- July 12 wild foods
July 13-19 wilderness clothing
July 20-26 cutting tools
July 27- August 2 navigation
August 3-9 survival psychology
August 10-16 emergency rescue
August 17-23 natural shelter
August 24-30 friction fire

Have you ever been lost? Have you ever been injured away from help? Do you feel confident outdoors?  

This class will dive into the critical survival skills everyone should know: How to stay calm, how to address our body’s needs, how to form a rescue plan, and how to act decisively. This class equips learners with vital skills they can draw from the rest of their lives. They will be more confident heading outdoors. If a challenging circumstance arises, learners will have the preparation and confidence to take leadership roles. 

Come learn from a Wilderness Guide and Wilderness Medical First Responder who’s been through it all!

During these lessons, there is a lot of opportunity for learners to participate as we journey through exciting presentations woven together with video tutorials. These presentations facilitate group discussion and critical thinking. I encourage learners to ask questions and share their outdoor experiences. 

This lesson list will repeat after the final 9th week, so feel free to jump into class when you’re ready to learn.

1. SURVIVAL PSYCHOLOGY: A calm prepared mind makes better decisions than a distressed unprepared mind. Learn how to avoid panic and precede thoughtfully in a survival situation. 

2. EMERGENCY RESCUE: Can an extended survival situation be avoided completely? Can a challenging situation turn into immediate rescue? Learn the steps we can take to avoid a worsening situation.

3. NATURAL SHELTER: Our human bodies don’t do well when our core temperature fluctuates even a few degrees beyond normal. Learn how to protect ourselves from temperature extremes by building effective shelter with materials we find in the wilderness.

4. FRICTION FIRE: In much of the world, fire is crucial for fending off hypothermia during nighttime temperatures. It’s also a primary natural source of light after the sun goes down. Learn how to start a fire with nothing but sticks.

5. WATER PURIFICATION: Water is life. We can’t last long without it. Learn ways of finding water, assessing its  contamination, and how to make it safe to drink.

6. WILD FOODS: After a few days without food, a lot of questionable things begin to look edible. Learn what our basic nutritional needs are and how to practically source foods in the wilderness.

7. WILDERNESS CLOTHING: Our first layer of shelter is clothing. If we prepare and manage our outdoor wardrobe wisely, we can set ourselves up for effectively protecting our body. Learn the fundamentals of dressing for extreme environments.

8. CUTTING TOOLS: Tool-usage is seen as one of the distinguishing features that makes us human. Learn practical cutting tools and safe ways to use them.

9. NAVIGATION: When we are lost, the worst things we can do is travel in the wrong direction. Learn tools for understanding our surroundings and how to make an intelligent navigation plan.
 
This class is appropriate for all ages 7 and over. If you miss a session, there is a recording available to watch, assuming there were other learners that attended that session. 

If your learner attended my “Earth Skills” classes prior to October 2024, they may recognize some of this content, which may be a nice review for them.  

Curious about my classes? Try your first class for $5! Use coupon code: HOWELJ8NFD10

Tags: Wilderness survival, primitive skills, rewild, bushcraft, homeschool, girl scout, boy scout, resilience, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, DIY.