Wilderness Survival Instructor Training
Created for professional outdoor leaders and backcountry enthusiasts, the Backcountry Survival Instructor Training is an intensive 5-day course.
Overview
This comprehensive 5-day course is designed for professional outdoor leaders and backcountry enthusiasts that want to learn to teach wilderness survival skills. This course is perfect for scout leaders, wilderness therapy instructors, camp program coordinators, and medical professionals who operate in remote areas.
This course is designed to solidify your backcountry skills and to enhance your knowledge of wilderness survival, allowing you to teach others the basics of survival skills. Participants will utilize critical thinking and group management skills to organize teaching opportunities. Following successful completion of this course, students will receive a certificate for Wilderness Survival Instructor.
Our elite team of instructors demonstrate group management skills and teach you how to organize and lead groups and demonstrate wilderness skills. No prerequisites are required, but previous backcountry experience is recommended.
What You’ll Learn
How to organize and lead groups and demonstrate wilderness skills.
Skills You’ll Acquire
- Group Management Skills
- Teaching Skills
What to Expect
This course begins at 8:00AM and concludes at 5PM each day. Wilderness Survival Instructor Training begins in NOC’s SOLO Classroom in Relia’s Garden Restaurant. The majority of this course will be held outside, rain or shine, so participants should dress accordingly. This course includes two overnight campouts that students should be prepared to participate in.
All participants must be at least 18 years of age and are recommended to have previous overnight backpacking experience.
Dates
Upcoming Dates
| Dates | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25-29, 2023 | Bryson City, NC |
Location
Before You Visit
- All necessary course equipment
- Experienced Certified Instructors
- Lodging & Meals are not provided but are available on NOC’s campus
NOC Provides the primary gear needed for each course.
Course participants should plan to have seasonally appropriate clothing as we will spend a significant amount of time outside. The following list is to supplement the clothing you will be wearing. If you have trouble locating some of these items please call us as we have a limited amount to loan.
Necessary Items (for All Classes)
- Backpack to put everything in (medium to large)
- Rain gear (tops and bottoms)
- Layers of clothing (for splinting exercises and to keep yourself warm during scenarios)
- Warm hat or sun hat
- Water bottles (at least 1 qt/litre)
- Some snacks
- Pen and notepad
- Wrist Watch (cell phone is not sufficient)
- Footwear appropriate to the terrain (closed toes, no flip flops)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
Additional Items
(Optional for WFA, Required for AWFA, WFR, WEMT, WEMT Module)
- Old Sleeping bag or blanket
- Footwear you don’t mind getting wet
- Knife
- Plastic tarp or groundsheet (min 6’X6’)
- Headlight
- Sleeping pad (ensolite or thermarest)
- Personal first aid kit (Band-Aids etc)
- Trekking Poles (Useful, but not required)
No prerequisites are required, but previous backcountry experience is recommended.
Lunch is included in the course fee. Additional meals, snacks, and beverages can be purchased at NOC’s two onsite restaurants or the General Store.
Reviews
I learned a lot and got very inspired to learn more about plants (especially trees) and how this knowledge can help in survival situations. It was neat to observe, learn about and try various fire starting techniques that I know I will cherish for the rest of my life.
