Starting A Survival School? Whats Needed? How to Go About It?

Hi I am 21 and from Texas and before I get into this let me give you my back ground. Since 18 I have gained a great deal of knowledge and experience with Wilderness survival skills both in practice and teaching. I was hired and have taught at 2 Boy Scout Camps for 2 months at a time for each camp. I have also taught survival and first aid to numerous Boy Scout Troops for back country High Adventures and also 2 Wilderness survival High Adventures. My skill set includes but not limited to: Primitive fire starting, Basic survival skills, Shelter building, land navigation with and without compass, traps/snares, water purification, hunting & gathering, Wild edible and medicinal plants, CPR & Wilderness First Aid (but is now EXPIRED).

So with that comes my question. In working towards starting a school (Down The Road Some Where) what would be the best steps in order to create a good background to let people know you're knowledge and skills are worth their money and time? Also what areas or parts of the US would be a good area to consider? I think getting more knowledge will definitely help me especially from other schools, and possibly working at some would create contacts. Anyone who has done this what would also be the cost of starting one up?

Thanks

Here is a very similar thread. See post 2 and 4

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...urvival+school

I don't know where in Texas you are located so here is a search on Texas business incubators.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ators&safe=off

It's two-parts; experience is one thing, business savvy is the other. You will also need to carry liability insurance to cover the risks involved, which may put it into the "high-risk" category. You might be better off getting a job as an instructor at a school that is already established...:cowboy:

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Originally Posted by Rick

Here is a very similar thread. See post 2 and 4

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...urvival+school

I don't know where in Texas you are located so here is a search on Texas business incubators.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ators&safe=off

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Yep - these are good answers and a good place for you to start. Please feel free to ask anything if you come up with questions about the process or something specific about a step.

I thought we went over this last week.....................................
can we move on to important things like
the best survival knife or gun.....................
or I'm moving to the woods
you know the good stuff................................

Sorry I wasn't aware this happened last week I'm new to the whole forum thing, but thanks for the help that definitely gives me a direction on where to start. Rick I'm located in the Dallas Fort Worth area right now, it is where I grew up so I have access for rooming with friends and family. I can't seem to find to much on what is required to instruct and teach at some schools. Would taking courses at one of them be the best way to become a instructor at one of them? I imagine it would also give me an idea of how the business and school would work in trying to establish my own if I went that route.

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Originally Posted by Canoetripper

I thought we went over this last week.....................................
can we move on to important things like
the best survival knife or gun.....................
or I'm moving to the woods
you know the good stuff................................

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Covering things that have been discussed previously happens often on forums. Some forums have members that will try and be helpful (this one I like to think) others do not, and is why I am not a member of those forums.

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Originally Posted by woods4ever

Sorry I wasn't aware this happened last week I'm new to the whole forum thing, but thanks for the help that definitely gives me a direction on where to start. Rick I'm located in the Dallas Fort Worth area right now, it is where I grew up so I have access for rooming with friends and family. I can't seem to find to much on what is required to instruct and teach at some schools. Would taking courses at one of them be the best way to become a instructor at one of them? I imagine it would also give me an idea of how the business and school would work in trying to establish my own if I went that route.

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No worries on asking a question that has been discussed before. Happens all the time. The teaching part is a big part of it, but no more important than the business part of it.

As far as "learning to teach"........for some people it comes naturally and for others it does not. I was a Master Training Specialist in the military and taught many different technical type classes. For that - a good rule of thumb was for every hour of instruction, I had a week or more of preparation and practice. My college degree is in education. I consider myself pretty good at "teaching". I say these things, not to give a resume, but rather to point out that these things do not "qualify" me to run a wilderness survival school. Running a successful business is so much more involved than just teaching.

I think you need to look at the whole picture and not just focus on the teaching. All aspects are important.

As far as some tips on teaching........

Video tape yourself teaching a topic or subject - bow drill for example. Then watch the video. When you watch it, come at it from the point of view that you know nothing about the topic. You will - in time - be your own worst critic. You've got to be honest in your assessment.

Did you communicate effectively?
Any ums or errs?
Any distracting movements?

You probably get the picture.

+1 on this one. I've done this very thing when teaching a class I have not taught before. This exercise will convey very quickly which areas you need to brush up on. Your confidence and command of a subject are displayed in body language so it's important to be aware of what your body is saying. You will also want to study the different types of learners and how best to reach out to them. It's important to engage all types of learners or you will leave some students in the dust.

The business piece of it cannot be overstated. You may be the best survival instructor in the world but if you have no knowledge of how to run a business you won't be an instructor very long. At least not in your school.

Ok thanks allot. This has been very helpful and the idea of video taping while teaching a subject is a great idea. I think becoming a instructor at a already established school might be the best route for now. Thanks for all your input and advice.

I don't know if you checked out this thread....
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...urvival-School

Guy posted it about a year ago....and has come back to say he is successful.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

I don't think you have enough experience. My advice....take a survival course (or several) from reputable schools. Then try and be an instructor with one. Only after being an instructor for several years at a reputable school will you know what it takes to run your own school. Well, at least you will get a taste.

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Originally Posted by woods4ever

Ok thanks allot. This has been very helpful and the idea of video taping while teaching a subject is a great idea. I think becoming a instructor at a already established school might be the best route for now. Thanks for all your input and advice.

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One of the most intelligent answers that we've received yet! We get quite a few on here that want to be the next best survival school owner. Most are impatient and/or are rash! One of our members not only has a school in New York, but is the author of "Build the perfect Survival Kit." John D. McCann..... :cowboy:

You might also attend a Survival School yourself, see how others are doing it.

Film yourself out in the wild trying to survive for 2 weeks to prove your knowledge. Being 21 means the older guys that are in the class won't think you have as much wisdom. If I was you, I would go with the younger kids. You already have background for it. Also, if your a kid teacher, kids lookup and think cool of someone 15-25 years old.

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Originally Posted by Mason

Film yourself out in the wild trying to survive for 2 weeks to prove your knowledge. Being 21 means the older guys that are in the class won't think you have as much wisdom. If I was you, I would go with the younger kids. You already have background for it. Also, if your a kid teacher, kids lookup and think cool of someone 15-25 years old.

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One thing that you will learn as you get older and if you ever decide to go into business is that you need to not only have a client base that has the desire to take your classes, but you also need them to have the money to do so.

Sent you a PM

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Originally Posted by woods4ever

Hi I am 21 and from Texas and before I get into this let me give you my back ground. Since 18 I have gained a great deal of knowledge and experience with Wilderness survival skills both in practice and teaching. I was hired and have taught at 2 Boy Scout Camps for 2 months at a time for each camp. I have also taught survival and first aid to numerous Boy Scout Troops for back country High Adventures and also 2 Wilderness survival High Adventures. My skill set includes but not limited to: Primitive fire starting, Basic survival skills, Shelter building, land navigation with and without compass, traps/snares, water purification, hunting & gathering, Wild edible and medicinal plants, CPR & Wilderness First Aid (but is now EXPIRED).

So with that comes my question. In working towards starting a school (Down The Road Some Where) what would be the best steps in order to create a good background to let people know you're knowledge and skills are worth their money and time? Also what areas or parts of the US would be a good area to consider? I think getting more knowledge will definitely help me especially from other schools, and possibly working at some would create contacts. Anyone who has done this what would also be the cost of starting one up?

Thanks

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Hello guys,
I'm a 41-year-old ex-teacher (12 years of teaching experience in a private military school in Virginia) looking for help organizing a survival school. Are there any tips and tricks from amateurs here (those who started from the beginning without any experience in leading a business)? I also worked in a Boy Scout Camp last year.




Forum > Survival > General Survival Discussion > Survival techniques and a business plan ************ to download the schemes >> Starting A Survival School? How to Go About It?

I found a couple of schools in Virginia (like Advanced Survival Training or Mountain Shepherd Wilderness Survival School) and I'm afraid of the competition, because it's not so easy... Should I just get employed as an instructor in one of the schools and give up the idea of my own school? Thanks.