As a former member of a Marine Corps Sniper Team, I spent many months in forests, deserts, and unpredictable environments.  The military survival instruction I received was critical to my success. And I want to share that knowledge with you! 

This course is geared towards 8-13 year-old students (though the content is appropriate for students of all ages).  All students are welcome to attend!

This 15-week course will include instruction in fieldcraft (forest/desert survival), urban survival, and overall situational awareness.   

The format of this course will be lecture, photographs, diagrams, and demonstrations--as well as discussion.  I will engage students by soliciting their experiences and by presenting "what if" scenarios for their consideration.  I will also include a skills lab to be completed by the student between classes using the skills learned should they desire.  The skills lab is optional.

During this course of study students will learn to master the following areas:  

FIRST SEMESTER TOPICS:--- You can do the semesters in any order or concurrently if you wish.  

Week 1:  Survival mindset.  Without the right mindset, you will have a tough time dealing with your surroundings.  I'll show you how to be safe in any environment/situation.  This requires some forethought and planning on your part.  We will also learn three knots in this class.  
 
Week 2: Water.  Without water, you will not survive long in the wilderness or in a survival situation.  I’ll show you how to find and treat water for drinking.  We will also make a water filter.   
                
Week 3:  Fire.  Fire is crucial for survival.  We will discuss how having a simple fire can save your life many times over.  I’ll show you how to start a fire with, or without, fire starting gear.  
              
Week 4:  Shelter.  You must know how to build a shelter in order to survive in the wilderness.  I’ll show you the best and easiest methods.  One takes less than 5 minutes to build!
               
Week 5:  Survival Site.  If you set up your survival (camp) site incorrectly, you’re asking for disaster.  I’ll show you how to do it right. 
                
Week 6:  Map reading.  A good map—and map reading skills—can get you out of trouble.  I’ll show you how to decipher a map so you always know which way you are headed.  Navigation.  If you are lost in the wild—how will you know which direction to go?  I’ll teach you how to read natural navigation signs so you’ll get where you need to be.  
          
Week 7:  Things to eat in the wilderness.  Will it taste good?  Probably not!  Will it save your life?  Yes!
 
Week 8:  Survival tools.  I’ll show you how to make several life-saving tools from something easily found in the wilderness.

Week 9:  When you are lost, there is one thing you must do.  Do this, and your chances of survival increase dramatically.  

Week 10:  I’ll show you the best fire to build in any survival situation.  I’ll also cover alternative ways to start a fire….even if it’s raining.
              
Week 11:  Was that a bear?  A cougar?  A wolf?  How you respond to predators is crucial.  I’ll show you exactly how to respond to predators. 
            
Week 12:  Survival knife—your best friend in a survival situation.  
               
Week 13:  Paracord—your other best friend in a survival situation.
             
Week 14:  Signaling—what it is and how to do it.  This is one of the most important survival topics. 
             
Week 15:  Go bag.  Do you have one?  Do you know what this is?  If not, I’ll show you how to build your own.

              
For this course, no prior experience or knowledge is required.  My goal is for students to be empowered to overcome any obstacle or situation they may face in the wilderness.  

My teaching style is casual, humorous, friendly, positive, and socially neutral.  I understand students come from many various backgrounds.  I want the students in my class to be prepared to survive and thrive if things go bad--or if they experience a difficult situation.  I want to share my experience and training with them so they can take care of themselves and their loved ones.  With the know how presented in this class, they will be able to do so.

Students will be encouraged to ask questions or seek clarification at any point during the instruction.  Such interaction is the best way for this specialized knowledge to be understood and absorbed.  

I solicit friendly participation from all students and have found that even the most stand-offish students eventually join in the weekly conversations with enthusiasm.  

I allow time during and after class for student questions.  If I go over the allowed time, no problem.  

Tags: 
Survival class 
Survival training 
Survival school 
Survival basics 
Survival education
Survival skills