All About The Operation
What is survival training? What does a “survival school” do?
Survival training is all about learning what it takes to act as your own first responder. When you enter the backcountry, when you are in a natural disaster where a large population is affected, when you are in a remote country; if disaster strikes, help may be very far away. Sometimes days.
Survival training should focus on the many skill sets it requires to do several very important things in these circumstances;
To use field craft techniques to both prevent exposure and provide for basic needs, in order to extend life; locating and treating water sources, constructing improvised shelter, producing fire in adverse conditions, securing and/or rationing foodstuffs, the use of survival gear, forming improvised tools from the environment, and navigation.
To provide effective pre-hospital emergency care to; stabilize common injuries and illness, maintain extended care, and be able to improvise in field conditions while doing so.
To provide the knowledge and skills necessary to secure rescue; be it initiating a professional rescue response or executing self-rescue.
Prepare appropriately in order to enjoy remote areas without having to execute any of the skill sets mentioned above.
do I need experience to take one of your courses?
We have a saying here; “we are experts at making you the expert”. Most of our courses require no prior experience. Some courses require you to be 18 and up, some require you to have no serious medical conditions, but rarely will one require prior experience. Any and all attendance restrictions are listed on each course page. If there are no restrictions listed, anyone and everyone may attend!
The longer the course, the more advanced the material will progressively become. So if you want a basic course; choose something 1-2 days. For more advanced training; 3 or more. For the most realistic, and demanding; choose one of our Alaska Field Courses (3 day and 7 day) and live off of what the land provides while training with little more than a knife.
I see that you’ve trained military personnel. Do you have a military approach to training? Will our instructor have a drill sergeant type attitude?
We have provided official training to all four branches of the United States military, however; the military comes to us for our specialized skill set, not because we have the same approach. Instructors do not wear military style clothing and they do not yell commands at students. They will challenge you and expect you to try hard, but they will support and encourage you to do so. We are a civilian training school.
Where are you located?
We offer courses primarily in Southern California, though we do have courses in Nor Cal and Alaska. Each course page will list the exact location, as well as the nearest airport when appropriate. We currently operate in; Angelus Oaks, Ca, Santa Ana, Ca, Loma Mar, Ca (The Redwood Coast south of San Francisco and north of Santa Cruz), Riverside, Ca (Route 66 gun range), and southern Alaska (outside of Anchorage), depending on the type of course.
Do you have courses for all ages?
We currently offer two all age courses; The All Ages Skills Course (single day, occurs monthly), and The Family Bushcraft Weekend (2 days, occurs twice annually). Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
What is the difference between skills and field courses?
Our skills courses are designed to be accessible to the general public, but still challenging. You are able to drive your vehicle to the course, and you can pack food and sleeping gear. These courses are still 100% hands on, all weather, and include scenarios. Some are all ages.
The field courses are 18 and up only. You live off of the land with little more than a knife and a water bottle, all while training. With guidance from our staff, you will construct a shelter to sleep in, build a fire for warmth (no sleeping gear allowed), boil drinking water from the creek, harvest wild edible plants, and much more. They are extremely challenging, expect to suffer the entire course.
What is the background of your instructors?
Our instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds and professional experience. From Fire/Rescue, to military, to backcountry guiding. For more about our instructors visit our About Us page.
What gear do you recommend?
This is a question we take seriously! When the student is required to bring gear to a course, we always list gear recommendations on the course page, we even include links for some. You can check out our larger GEAR PAGE for our pics on everything from performance socks to survival knives.