Weekend Wilderness Survival Class Curriculum

**DOGMAN** · 04-04-2011, 11:28 AM

So, I have been asked by a local group to put-on a weekend long "wilderness survival" clinic this August. I am going to do it. But, I want to have a well thought out, and smooth flowing curriculum. I have taught all the basic skills individaully over the years in various clinics, but I have never taught, lead or taken a weekend long clinic.
The students don't have to become proficent at any of the skills, its more just exposing them to various bushcraft and survival techniques in a structured format- almost like a guided camping outing with a wilderness survival focus.

So, what are your thoughts...what all should I go over, and in what progression....thanks

**Aurelius95** · 04-04-2011, 11:53 AM

I took a class a few years ago (you can probably find the post), but the instructor started it in a good way, I think. The first thing we did was to make cordage. He had already gathered the inner bark of the tree we used (don't remember the type) and had soaked it. Once we made the cordage, he asked us to construct "rakes" or some sort of sweeping tool to gather leaves. From there, he led into the debris hut. Using our new tools, we gathered leaves to construct the shelter, once the all of the sticks/branches had been added.

He tended to have all the different scenarios bleed over into the next one. In my opinion, it was a good way to do it. I guess you will need to decide what to go over. I think shelter, fire and foraging for edibles might be a good place to start.

In the class I took, we discussed the above, as well as making a rock oven, using coals to make a water container, snares and other animal traps.

Good luck, I am sure you will do a good job.

**BENESSE** · 04-04-2011, 12:58 PM

IMO, a good place to start and commit to memory are the basics.
1. What to pack/carry on a wilderness outing
2. Making fire a few different ways
3. Building shelter a few different ways
4. Obtaining/purifying water the old fashioned way (sand/charcoal, etc)
5. Reading a topo map/compass
6. Signaling for help
5. Foraging for wild edibles
etc.

**crashdive123** · 04-04-2011, 12:58 PM

I think, given the theme of the class, it would be could to set up your course with the same priorities you would have in a "wilderness survival" situation. Outline the goals - staying alive and getting rescued - then structure the weekend to achieve those goals. As an example - Shelter building might be the first thing you want to cover, followed by making fire, finding and making drinking water safe, signaling, basic navigation, food procurement.

You may not be able to go into as much detail as you would like, but as an introductory course you may not need to do so. With shelter building you need to cover not only the materials to use, how to use them, but also where your shelter should be. This topic alone can spin off into many other learning opportunities. As Aurelius95 said making cordage is something that they covered. I would probably start with using pine roots for cordage (much quicker) and then expanding on different types of shelters and cordages as time permitted.

A weekend sound like quite a bit of time, but really - if you can cover a big picture over view and teach them how to think outside the box - your weekend will soon be over. Sounds like fun.

**NCO** · 04-04-2011, 01:08 PM

I agree with crash, think what are the priorities of short term survival in the bush, choose the most universally correct methods to meet the needs(fire, etc) and teach them. Mention or show some alternative methods so that they have an IDEA on what else can be done IF the method they know does not work in that given situation. Outside the box thinking and the ability to improvise/adapt are the things that matter in a real situation, imo.

**hunter63** · 04-04-2011, 02:09 PM

I would suggest 'The Rule of Threes" as a general starting point.
http://www.survivaltopics.com/surviv...ule-of-threes/

**DOGMAN** · 04-04-2011, 08:37 PM

these are all great...keep the ideas flowing....maybe we can really iron this curriculum out, then make this a sticky so others can use it, and reference it for themselves or to lead/ teach a group for a weekend

**kyratshooter** · 04-04-2011, 08:43 PM

I have taught several weekend and week long programs.

This group has enough common sense and knowledge to have just about hit the nail on the head.

Start with the rule of threes. Then build a camp.

1. Spend the first hours with shelter building. Next hours with firemaking as an extension of shelter. (that is good for one whole day)

2. Water processing; boiling, filtering, chemicals (second day morning)

3. Food acqusition; simple traps, fishing line sets, snares (second day afternoon)

At one on-going camp I attend I did one week on each topic over several years. We got into some real intense work with that group, year four developed into atal-atal work and building bows and arrows. We have also done flint knapping, cordage, tracking and some other skills. We get more advanced each year. I had one kid start with that group when he was twelve and two years ago he joined Special Forces. Not sure I had anything to do with that but it was a good feeling to think I might.

Now we have branched out and the students have become the instructors of their specialty areas as new people attend the camp.