Taking a class

[Grady]

Have you ever considered taking a class to learn about survival tactics? Or did you just learn by trial and error? I've read a lot of books and done a lot of research, but I saw that a local club is offering a wilderness safety class and I was wondering if it might be worth taking.

[northernbushape]

I have taken training, been mentored, have used those skills in employment, and I now mentor other people. I would highly recommend that anybody who is seriously interested in wilderness survival and bushcraft, consider getting some training from a pro, or someone very experienced.

Even with the experience I have, I still turn to others who's knowledge is greater than my own in some areas. Nobody can know everything.

I would however "audit" the course content and make sure it is not a rehash of what you already know. Compare it to some of the bigger schools in Britain and the US. They can be very costly - especially multi-day courses, and some so-called instructors are simply regurgitating what they have read themselves.

You will see a trend where courses will offer all kinds of crafts and skills that are centered around wood and plant species that don't even exist in your area. I would avoid these guys as they are the regurgitators and likely are not qualified to teach others to think outside the box and be creative.

Talk to your local guides and outfitters, and even S.A.R. and see if they can steer you in the right direction.

So, yes - get some training, but be wary of who is doing the training and what they are teaching.

[Newanderthal]

before spending money and signing up for a wilderness class, talk to the instructor and ask lots of questions, especially about the material being taught.

I've looked into some of these 'survival' classes and found them to be little more than basic Boy Scouts classes. I'm not paying a few hundred bucks for someone to teach me the basics of finding north. The money would be better spent buying a season of Survivor Man.

Make sure the material is what you're looking for before you take the class. Edible plants, overland navigation, direction orientation, primitive first aid, etc.

[Adam]

Finding a number of different ways to learn survival skills is the best way to go. This isn't something I would want to learn by "trial and error", it sounds too dangerous.:]

[KeikoOka]

Oh yeah I have thought about it. I would love to take a class or get some mentoring in survival. I just have not found the time to do it yet. I am hopping next summer will open that option up for me.

[limaker]

I have thought about it a few times but some of the places that advertise local for my area seem a little on the shady side. Does anyone know what to look out for?

[southerngal]

My husband and I have recently joined a survival group where we can all teach each other the skills we know and learn from others. We are doing our first campout/class at the end of September.

[faye]

I am planning to take classes about survival during wilderness camping. It is recommended especially that I am somewhat a beginner when it comes to outdoor camping (I only camped twice).