Basic Wilderness Survival
Overview
The goal of Basic Wilderness Survival is to provide you the skills and knowledge to respond with confidence to emergencies in remote or austere environments. We will accomplish this by teaching you the same approach to survival that is taught in the U.S. military to bring home its valuable personnel - emphasizing proper preparedness, adaptability, and a realistic approach to improvisation. We will also help you to make better decisions by showing you how to best manage the Seven Priorities of any wilderness emergency.
You will learn wilderness survival in an active and hands-on way. After a short hike to our base camp, you’ll immediately jump into learning: from basic knots and lashings to building an emergency shelter to discovering the Kearns Method to confidently starting a “knee-high fire in five minutes in the pouring rain.” Trust us, it can be done!
And don’t worry, you’ll get the best of military survival training without the hardships! You will sleep in your own tent using a sleeping bag. You can bring plenty of food and snacks. You can cook using your stove, or, if you are feeling adventurous, learn to cook over open coals with your instructor. All while having some fun while learning.
This course is geared towards participants of all skill levels and backgrounds so no particular experience, prerequisites, or athletic ability is necessary. We only require that you bring the necessary equipment, your sense of adventure, and your Positive Mental Attitude. From there, we will work together to take care of the rest. Please check out the “Level of Physical Difficulty” description down below for this course so that you can get the most out of your wilderness survival experience.
Course Overview
Description of the Level of Physical Difficulty – Moderate: This course involves hiking with laden backpacks, walking, and other activities over varying distances at a steady pace over varying terrain that will include off-trail sections, rough spots, unexpected obstacles, and low to steep inclines and declines. This course is conducted in varying weather conditions, including hot, cold, humid, rain, wind, and snow, or a mixed combination. This course is best suited for those in good physical condition. If you have any questions, or would like some guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Start/End Times: 9:00 a.m. Day One / 1:00 p.m. Day Two
Minimum Age: Children 15-17 years old are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. In our private courses, there is no set age requirement as it depends on the specific group’s needs and goals.
With all of our wilderness survival courses, you’ll get the best of military survival training without the hardships!
What should you bring?
Items to Bring
- Sturdy closed-toe footwear (ideally with ankle support)
- Appropriate Clothing (for season and conditions, non-cotton recommended)
- Appropriate Outerwear (for season and conditions)
- Backpack
- Tent (or hammock with tarp)
- Sleeping bag and liner (appropriate for season)
- Water - 4L Minimum
- Flashlight or Headlamp (and spare batteries)
- Meals and Snacks
- Trash Bag
- Toiletries / Toilet Paper
- Any necessary medications
- Whistle (standard type that you can put in pocket)
- Blaze Orange Headwear (e.g., hunting-type hat)
Optional Items
- Extra under/outer garments
- Water Purification System
- Cooking Pot or Cup
- Camp Stove
- Eating Utensil
- Knife (fixed or folding)
- Fire Starter (“flint and steel” type)
- Gloves
- Trekking Poles
- Pencil and Notepad (“Rite in Rain” type recommended)
- Insect Repellant
- Personal First-Aid Kit
- Soap (biodegradable only)
- Hand disinfectant/wipes
I just completed the Advanced Wilderness Survival Course this past weekend. It was everything I had hoped it would be.
Course Gallery
This 2-day / 1-night course is designed to teach the fundamentals of wilderness survival so that you can expedite your rescue and return home with pride.
We’re often asked these questions about this course...
We will personally follow up with you with three quick and easy forms for you to complete and return. We will send you a detailed course information sheet which will contain all of the applicable details that you’ll need to prepare and arrive for your training.
We will provide you with a list of recommended equipment prior to your course. However, since one of the course goals is to teach you about gear and offer you a chance to “test drive” it before you buy it, if you don’t have an item, don’t feel compelled to buy it right away (especially if it’s expensive). Instead, either contact us to see if we can loan or share an item, make a suggestion for what to purchase, or use one of our numerous equipment rental partners that previous clients have happily used.
Quebec Run Wild Area is a 7,441 acre reserve within Forbes State Forest, located roughly 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh along the West Virginia border.
Yes, there are bathroom facilities at this location, which will be available throughout the day.
Ready for an Adventure
Because Mother Nature doesn't care about your skill level. And She doesn't just give up because you've had enough. Get the skills you need to survive and conquer any situation!
