Anyone ever go to a survival school?

[Celt]

The thread about being prepared and "whats next" got me thinking about starting a thread about training. The biggest part of being prepared for bad situations IS training, imo. Its awesome to have supplies of all sorts, gadgets, gear, etc... but being able to actually survive on your own is another thing.

Growing up in a big army family, and out in the sticks where you cant see neighbors, no cable tv or other electronic distractions was amazing for me. My brother and I grew up building shelters, setting traps, hunting, fishing, cooking in the woods, esentially bushcrafting. We lived in camo, with knives on our hips from our single digit years. Playing war games for endless years helped us learn real camouflage, stealth, etc... So I feel better prepared than the average person, but not as much as I would like.

However, there are many skills I know Im lacking. My tracking skills are weak, as well as trapping, and long term food storage just to name a few. I love doing my firearms and fitness training, but real survival training is something Id really like to do.

Im curious who trains in all the basic survival skills, has been trained, self trained, attended training schools, etc..

The point of this thread is to get more people thinking about training and to really assess your own skill level honestly, see where you need improvement and do something about it.

For me, Ive been watching youtube vids on some of my weak points and trying to learn more. Once my kids are a bit older maybe I can find the time to attend a survival school. Perhaps something like this below.

Advanced Survival

The Advanced Survival Course focuses on advanced skill sets like self-rescue, food procurement, friction fire & advanced land navigation. Sign up online!

coalcrackerbushcraft.com

 

[TJ12010]

The thread about being prepared and "whats next" got me thinking about starting a thread about training. The biggest part of being prepared for bad situations IS training, imo. Its awesome to have supplies of all sorts, gadgets, gear, etc... but being able to actually survive on your own is another thing.

Growing up in a big army family, and out in the sticks where you cant see neighbors, no cable tv or other electronic distractions was amazing for me. My brother and I grew up building shelters, setting traps, hunting, fishing, cooking in the woods, esentially bushcrafting. We lived in camo, with knives on our hips from our single digit years. Playing war games for endless years helped us learn real camouflage, stealth, etc... So I feel better prepared than the average person, but not as much as I would like.

However, there are many skills I know Im lacking. My tracking skills are weak, as well as trapping, and long term food storage just to name a few. I love doing my firearms and fitness training, but real survival training is something Id really like to do.

Im curious who trains in all the basic survival skills, has been trained, self trained, attended training schools, etc..

The point of this thread is to get more people thinking about training and to really assess your own skill level honestly, see where you need improvement and do something about it.

For me, Ive been watching youtube vids on some of my weak points and trying to learn more. Once my kids are a bit older maybe I can find the time to attend a survival school. Perhaps something like this below.

Advanced Survival

The Advanced Survival Course focuses on advanced skill sets like self-rescue, food procurement, friction fire & advanced land navigation. Sign up online!

coalcrackerbushcraft.com

That looks pretty enticing. I may have to look into a class like that. Thanks for posting!

 

[GOPerfect]

Early in my Army career, hell, 1992 I believe; I went to a Survival school in Fort Polk LA.

It was three days, two nights. They inspected our packs prior to going into the course. We went in as two man teams. We were given two filled canteens and one MRE. Prior to going into the woods, we had classroom training for 2 days.

I learned a lot, I hope if the time comes, I can remember at least half of what I learned. It was a great course. I drank out of puddles and ate grubs and worms and beetles.

 

[GOPerfect]

What I got out of this type of training was an understanding of limits.

Kind of awesome realizing that your limits that you have in normal life, are not going to be the same limits if SHTF!

 

[dsdmmat]

Does an Escape and evasion course count?

 

[GOPerfect]

Does an Escape and evasion course count?

I would think so. Hell, I think of the schools that we were all able to attend; PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC and the like.

All that we learned can be beneficial. They were not just about Leadership, those courses taught us how to steep out of ourselves, step out of comfort levels.

Advanced schools like Airborne and Air Assault, same thing.

 

[Celt]

Does an Escape and evasion course count?

I actually had a paragraph about SERE school and my own desire to have done it, but since I tied in my ownvregret for not joining the military I removed it.

SERE school is freaking badass training.

 

[GOPerfect]

While not as good as the real life training, there are a few guy, normal guys, that I follow on YouTube for their bush craft knowledge.

Everyday people that grew up doing all of that kind of stuff. Some of the best experts are the ones that learned from birth through the teachings of their fathers and grandfathers.

I read a lot of history books a well to see how people survived in the long ago past.

Much of the possible future, people dread... Our ancestors and distant relatives lived that life naturally.

 

[livingston]

https://www.youtube.com/user/Nativesurvival/videos

Perhaps this would interest you
Mitch is a passionate bushcraft gear designer and a craftsman of hand carved items. He's been featured on The History Channel's award winning survival show ALONE, and has written articles for outdoor magazines such as Self Reliance Illustrated. Mitch's Native Survival School also provides woodland living and survival classes in Massachusetts.

 

[livingston]

The thread about being prepared and "whats next" got me thinking about starting a thread about training. The biggest part of being prepared for bad situations IS training, imo. Its awesome to have supplies of all sorts, gadgets, gear, etc... but being able to actually survive on your own is another thing.

Growing up in a big army family, and out in the sticks where you cant see neighbors, no cable tv or other electronic distractions was amazing for me. My brother and I grew up building shelters, setting traps, hunting, fishing, cooking in the woods, esentially bushcrafting. We lived in camo, with knives on our hips from our single digit years. Playing war games for endless years helped us learn real camouflage, stealth, etc... So I feel better prepared than the average person, but not as much as I would like.

However, there are many skills I know Im lacking. My tracking skills are weak, as well as trapping, and long term food storage just to name a few. I love doing my firearms and fitness training, but real survival training is something Id really like to do.

Im curious who trains in all the basic survival skills, has been trained, self trained, attended training schools, etc..

The point of this thread is to get more people thinking about training and to really assess your own skill level honestly, see where you need improvement and do something about it.

For me, Ive been watching youtube vids on some of my weak points and trying to learn more. Once my kids are a bit older maybe I can find the time to attend a survival school. Perhaps something like this below.

Advanced Survival

The Advanced Survival Course focuses on advanced skill sets like self-rescue, food procurement, friction fire & advanced land navigation. Sign up online!

coalcrackerbushcraft.com

Have been following his you tubes.

 

[camper4lyfe]

If Coal cracker's courses are anything like his youtube videos, I think you'd get a lot out of them.

 

[4WHLDRFTN]

Been since 6yrs old

 

[Celt]

Been since 6yrs old

What are your stong and weak points?

 

[holdover]

When I was younger I self taught to track using , Tom Browns tracking books. Im not as good at it anymore , its a skill set you have to use a lot.

But his books on tracking are excellent. He learned from an old Apache Indian. (stalking wolf His son was in the Army or airforce in NJ and lived with him) He taught him how to survive in woods . taught him about Plants medicines . He has a ton of books on Amazon , He been around since the 80's

He's the real deal, He teaches how to spot partial prints, pressure releases , which dictate what the target was doing. standing resting turning, distance of gait and what it means , skip tracking, anticipating where target is headed. He has done work for the FBI US Marshalls, law enforcement all over the country. He runs a survival and tracking school in NJ

He was supposed to be the guy Tommy Lee jones played in The hunted. His knife was featured in the movie.


Heres his survival school , teaches everything you need , bow drill , shelter, plants, ect.. he also teaches on to walk in the woods without making a sound , called fox walking . It works . I can even run quieter.

Tom Brown, Jr.'s Tracker School

www.trackerschool.com

Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking: Brown Jr., Tom: 9780425099667: Amazon.com: Books

Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking [Brown Jr., Tom] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking

www.amazon.com

Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival: Brown Jr., Tom: 8601400472170: Amazon.com: Books

Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival [Brown Jr., Tom] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com

 

[MilesTeg]

I did full fledge SERE school with the seals back in 03-04(I cant remember the exact year). It was eye opening for a 19-20 year old. It was by far the best school I ever attended. It taught me more about myself and the world then anything else. I hope I never have to use the training.

 

[livingston]

I always thought they taught many skills that you are looking for.

Outdoor Education & Adventure Courses for Adults

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www.outwardbound.org

I understand perhaps not as intense ... But a toe in the water

 

[GOPerfect]

I did full fledge SERE school with the seals back in 03-04(I cant remember the exact year). It was eye opening for a 19-20 year old. It was by far the best school I ever attended. It taught me more about myself and the world then anything else. I hope I never have to use the training.

I had mentioned this bit earlier in the thread, so many schools and classes that I have taken taught me more about myself.

So many have little to no idea what they are really capable of

 

[Celt]

I did full fledge SERE school with the seals back in 03-04(I cant remember the exact year). It was eye opening for a 19-20 year old. It was by far the best school I ever attended. It taught me more about myself and the world then anything else. I hope I never have to use the training.

What an awesome experience that must have been.



Has anyone taken any civilian survival training classes, or does anyone plan to?

 

[GOPerfect]

What an awesome experience that must have been.



Has anyone taken any civilian survival training classes, or does anyone plan to?

I have not and I do not plan on it.

If something right came up, I may try it out.

I do not have a lot of faith in many of these trainers.

 

[Karpteach]

Early in my Army career, hell, 1992 I believe; I went to a Survival school in Fort Polk LA.

It was three days, two nights. They inspected our packs prior to going into the course. We went in as two man teams. We were given two filled canteens and one MRE. Prior to going into the woods, we had classroom training for 2 days.

I learned a lot, I hope if the time comes, I can remember at least half of what I learned. It was a great course. I drank out of puddles and ate grubs and worms and beetles.

Was that SERE school?

 

[GOPerfect]

Was that SERE school?

No, SERE is weeks long. This was a rather basic course that I went through.

I applied for SERE and was never chosen.

 

[MilesTeg]

What an awesome experience that must have been.



Has anyone taken any civilian survival training classes, or does anyone plan to?

It really was. I still rave about it to people. I currently am not planning on a civilian courses. I have a wife and 3 little kids and if I'm pushed into a mobile survival setting no amount of training will make that possible. I would be way more open to an off grid consultant coming to my property and helping make my place more self sufficient. Now mind you my play is off the beaten path and attached to 100 acres of family land. So I have a a lot of advantages to staying that most people do not.

 

[Celt]

It really was. I still rave about it to people. I currently am not planning on a civilian courses. I have a wife and 3 little kids and if I'm pushed into a mobile survival setting no amount of training will make that possible. I would be way more open to an off grid consultant coming to my property and helping make my place more self sufficient. Now mind you my play is off the beaten path and attached to 100 acres of family land. So I have a a lot of advantages to staying that most people do not.

Sounds like a solid plan. Like you, I have a wife and 3 young ones at home so going mobile is not ideal. Im hoping my kids will at least be older teenagers if things do go south, thats another 5 or 6 years.

 

[MilesTeg]

Sounds like a solid plan. Like you, I have a wife and 3 young ones at home so going mobile is not ideal. Im hoping my kids will at least be older teenagers if things do go south, thats another 5 or 6 years.

My oldest is 6 and my youngest just turned 2 so I have a long way to go myself. I have may perps in place but many more to go. Most of the stuff I have left to go cost a lot of money and will be phased in when funds are available. The good news is I got the green light to max out my garden space and build a chicken coop this spring.