All of our survival courses - Wilderness, Cold Weather (snow), Primitive and Desert, will provide you with enough skill and knowledge to properly take care of yourself on all future backcountry endeavors, regardless of weather, location, or available equipment. The extensive individual skill-building focus of each event will dramatically increase your confidence level as you progress through a series of exciting courses. If you are unsure how much training you need for specific applications, we can help you identify which courses will best meet your needs.


Wilderness Survival Seminar: 6:30pm-9:30pm
This is an informative pre-trip seminar that will provide an overview of a variety of important survival topics.
Content of training:
Pre-trip planning and prerequisites.
Determining priorities in emergency settings.
Establishing clear and concise plans that work.
Hypothermia: prevention, recognition, and treatment.
Fire skills for adverse conditions.
Emergency shelter basics.
Rescue signal devices.
Water procurement and disinfection.
Survival kits, clothing, and equipment for multiple environments.
A slide show and equipment will supplement this training.
Prerequisite - None.

Standard Wilderness Survival I: Field Training - 2 days/2 nights
Content of training:
Selecting a safe site to build a shelter or set up base camp.
Shelter construction: the wickiup – a great group shelter - adapting it to your environment (natural and manmade materials may be utilized).
Fire skills: fire pit placement, fuel types, reflectors, windbreaks, finding dry materials in severe weather, and proper extinguishing methods.
Cooking method: spit cooking and hot coals.
Knots and lashings for multiple uses.
Basics in water procurement, filtering and disinfection.
Wild edibles: an introduction to identification, habitat, seasons, preparation, edibility, and medicinal or other uses.
Prerequisite - None.

Standard Wilderness Survival II: Field Training - 2 days/2 nights
Content of training:
Shelter construction: lean-to’s (open and closed) - natural and man-made materials.
Rescue signaling: attracting attention when you need it.
Fire skills – multiple methods with natural "sure-start" fire aids.
Knots and lashings (continued).
Cooking method: rock frying.
Nature observation – developing your senses to see and hear the silent and the unseen.
Throwing-stick construction and use (a very effective hunting weapon).
An introduction to animal stalking.
Prerequisite - Standard Wilderness Survival I.

Standard Wilderness Survival III: Field Training - 2 days/2 nights
Content of training:
Shelter construction: debris huts – staying warm and sheltered without fires.
"Open-air" shelters for clear, cold nights.
Using "hot rocks" to keep warm.
Cooking method: baking in rock ovens.
Water procurement, filtering and disinfection: sink holes, natural water catches, solar stills, dew and vegetation.
Fire starting by friction: bow and drill (with manmade and natural materials).
Navigating with the sun and stars.
Prerequisite - Standard Wilderness Survival II.

Standard Comprehensive Wilderness Survival: Field Training - 6 days/5 nights
Content of training:
The same as the Standard I - III Wilderness Survival Courses.
Prerequisite - None.

Extended Backcountry Survival: 6 days/5 nights
Content of training:
This is an unforgettable advanced course that takes place in the beautiful backcountry around the base of Mt Hood. Participants transition from teamwork to solo techniques and will review all previously learned skills. Quality, individual time with each person will be a primary focus of this event as each person learns to depend more and more on his own skills while carrying only a wool blanket, knife, throwing sticks, and a fanny pack with emergency gear.

The course begins with a pre-trip briefing, where each participant will receive a copy of a map designating the remote meeting location in the backcountry where the field training actually begins. Each student must plot his own routes, travel, find and set up his own "camp" within 100 - 200 yards of the designated base camp.
Prerequisite - Advanced Comprehensive Wilderness Survival or NWSOS equivalent and Advanced Comprehensive Map and Compass/GPS or NWSOS equivalent

Helicopter Drop Survival Course: 6 days/5 nights
Content of training:
Join us for a memorable experience as we fly by helicopter to a remote location in the Oregon Coast Mountain Range. From our landing site, participants learn a wide variety of skills as they make their way as a team cross-country to a predetermined rendezvous point several days later. Teamwork and individual skills will play major roles on this backcountry trek. Skills will include shelter building, map and compass techniques, fire skills, wild edibles and cooking with open fires. Participants must be in good physical shape for this course. Cost includes helicopter flight.
Prerequisite - None.

Instructor Certification Training: 6 days/5 nights
Content of training:
Consider this course a vital prerequisite for a career that involves backcountry travel. The training covers the content of the Comprehensive Wilderness Survival, yet also provides a format for every participant to instruct others in the group on a rotating basis. Strengths of this event – extensive hands-on training, instructional experience and virtually nonstop learning experiences. Participants become certified in this specialty only after successfully completing and teaching all aspects of the training, as well as written and oral exams.
Prerequisite - Comprehensive Survival Training for Each Level.