Developing our skills through life experience is a valuable way to improve over time. Trail and error comes with many of failures which are just opportunities to grow in disguise. This process is a long game, but thankfully we have a tremendous amount of resources available to us to put us on a fast track to developing our outdoor and self reliance skill set.
Training with experienced individuals is an important aspect of enhancing both our skill set and our mindset. It is not just about learning new skills, it is about exposing ourselves to different viewpoints, strategies, and experiences.
Below you will find some of the individuals and organizations we have trained with and trusted over the years. Each of these groups have either robust in person offerings and/or comprehensive online platforms to help you give you the skills and confidence you need to navigate your outdoor and self reliance journey.
Nature Reliance School
Nature Reliance School was founded by Craig Caudill, Master Naturalist, Best Selling Author, and one of the leading authorities on wilderness skills and survival. Craig’s expertise has been utilized by numerous news broadcasts and major networks, including the Discovery Channel and the History Channel. Craig and his Nature Reliance School’s training programs have been utilized by many of the nations leading law enforcement agencies, colleges and universities, outdoor professionals, and passionate outdoor enthusiasts.
The Nature Reliance School has a number of in person and online course options designed to teach both basic and advanced skills in a format that is easy to understand and relatable for both novices and seasoned outdoors people
Beyond the course work, Craig’s books are very educational and easy to read, providing not just knowledge but the exercises needed to practice the skills discussed. The Nature Reliance Websites has a host of valuable resources available, including Craig’s blog, which covers a variety of topics from skills to great gear options.
SURVIVAL MED
Gold-standard clinical content & latest treatment updates taught by ER and wilderness medicine physicians. Thorough and personalized instructor attention skills coaching and easy access for questions. Interactive online courses help you quickly master key concepts at your own pace. Enhanced video simulations and innovative practical skills training teach you to assess & treat patients in real emergencies. Survival Med’s certification courses are accepted by National Park Service, Forest Service, National Association for Search & Rescue, Boy Scouts of America, and many others.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a non for profit organization that offers a number of in person and online courses designed to give every person the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of first aid and emergency preparedness. They offer courses that range from basic first aid to specialized courses for life guards, coaches, and first responders. If you are new to first aid this is a great place to get some hands on practice for a price that won’t break the bank.
THE HERBAL ACADEMY
The mission of the Herbal Academy is to empower people with the art and science of herbalism through accessible, affordable herbal education that represents many points of view and honors our intrinsic connection to nature.
The Herbal Academy offers a number some of most comprehensive courses and programs to help you develop your knowledge of plants and fungi and how they can be used to increase your wellness. They offer programs on basic herbalism to help those interested in learning and benefiting themselves and their family as well as advanced programs for those who are interested in developing a career as a professional herbalist. They also have a number of workshop style courses that focus on specific topics including foraging, wildcrafting, mycology, botany, specific condition treatment short courses, and more.
VARGOLD
Vargold is a new online based survival skills training program founded by Patrick Diedrich, and lifelong outdoorsman with military and search and rescue experience. Patrick’s mission is to develop an easily accessible training platform to help people who live in urban and suburban environment develop essential survival and wilderness skills. Patrick’s approach to training involves bridging the gap between mind and body, focusing on the importance of both physical and mental fitness as the basis to survival while also teaching valuable skills.
Like all great instructors, Patrick acknowledges he is not an expert in all areas. This is why he will be partnering with a number of outdoor professionals to develop additional courses to further enhance his students mindset and skill set.
GORUCK
GORUCK started back in 2008 when the Founder Jason and Emily created their first pack that was built tough, but would look good and for everyday carry in an urban environment. Since then, GORUCK has exploded into a wildly successful company to make hard use packs for practical, tactical, and fitness applications.
In the early days GORUCK was looking for a way to test the durability of their packs, and Jason tapping into his Special Forces roots created the GORUCK challenge. That first challenge was what birthed a thriving rucking community. Many individuals soon wanted to not just see how durable their new pack was, but also challenge themselves in extreme fitness and team building events. These events evolved into a variety of types incorporating extreme fitness, tactical, and survival elements.
Today these events are still going strong allowing people of any background to challenge themselves physically and learn new skills as well as developing develop strong team work and leadership skills.
PATHFINDER Ruck Training
The PATHFINDER Ruck Training Program was designed to help prepare people who were interested in partaking in GORUCK challenges. Each program includes rucking miles, work outs, and physical challenges to prepare your body and mind to take on extreme endurance events. PATHFINDER has since grown to not only prepare people for challenges, but also allows for stand alone guided ruck fitness programs, personal training, and personal nutrition programs.
These program is designed to be completed independently over the span of three months, however independent does not mean with out support! Each class is divided into levels and lead by an experienced “rucker” who keeps you motivated and accountable through online forms and forum based communication. The combination of having a motivated guide as well as regular communication with your fellow participants makes not just helps keep you motivated, but gives you a community to connect with.
Black Flag Survival 