If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like me, winter can be a difficult time as we await the return of summer and warmer temperatures. To beat the winter blues, now might be a good time to begin thinking about enrolling in a wilderness survival program. Wilderness survival programs are courses that instruct participants in basic survival skills, and this often means classroom lessons as well as first-hand, experiential learning in the outdoors. These survival programs teach you skills that could potentially save your life.
Many different kinds of people enroll in wilderness survival programs in order to learn outdoor skills. There are courses for all ages including couples, at-risk youth, college students, veterans, and families. Moreover, wilderness survival programs vary in what they offer. Instruction and hands-on learning might last a few days while others last for a semester or even up to a year or more. Some of the most popular wilderness survival schools are Outward Bound, the National Outdoor Leadership School, and the Boulder Outdoor Survival School.
Wilderness survival programs come in a wide variety of flavors. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when looking for one that suits your needs:
Location – One of the first factors to consider is the location of the wilderness survival program. Obviously, one that is located in different areas of the country will focus more on learning how to survive in that kind of terrain and climate. For example, a wilderness survival program in Colorado and Utah will focus more on how to adapt in desert environments, and those located in the northeast U.S. will help participants survive in heavily forested environments. Of course, you can always select a program in another part of the country, or if you even more adventurous, set out around the world!
Cost – Cost is always a consideration for wilderness survival programs. It’s a good idea for find out what the program costs and factor in other extra costs that might not be included in the stated price. These could include costs involved in traveling to and from the program and purchasing necessary clothes and personal items.
Instructors – You will be placing a large amount of trust in the instructors of the courses so you want to find out the qualifications of that person and what experience they have in outdoor survival. It never hurts to contact the instructors beforehand to get an idea of what kind of leader they are.
Preparation – Most wilderness survival programs will recommended some sort of mental and physical preparation before the course begins. Find out what is suggested and get started weeks or months in advance. Learn what items the school requires you to bring and what you’ll need to leave at home.
Courses – The most difficult part of finding a wilderness survival program has to do with determining what kind of course you want to enroll in. Some schools offer courses by the activity (backpacking, rafting, climbing, etc) while others offer courses by length or by specific type of person. Discover all your options before narrowing down the list in order to choose the best program for you.
Whichever school or program you choose, it is the experience of a lifetime!