Adult Survival Immersion + Series Options
Are you interested in diving into skill-based naturalist knowledge? Curious about wilderness survival skills? Ever wanted to know how to start a fire with just sticks and are you just as curious about the trees from which the sticks came? Want to go on a Survival Trip to practice your skills?
Courses on this page focus on a variety of survival and natural history topics, including plant and animal identification, herbal medicine, survival shelters, friction fire, water purification, foraging and edible plants, stone and bone tool making, wildlife tracking, outdoor leadership and safety and more. Some of the "SURVIVAL"-titled options below will culminate in a survival trip, where participants will use all the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the course. See options below.
We strive to make these courses accessible for folks who want to learn more and get their hands dirty, but also have a busy schedule.
ENROLLMENT
See the titles below for Survival-Based Series Courses and more series types that are available for the upcoming year. Any available Survival Immersion (10-month programs) options appear under the "Adult Survival Immersion" tab below.
ADULT IMMERSIONS + SERIES COURSE FAQS
WHAT DOES MY TUITION INCLUDE?
Tuition includes the cost of instruction for all of our teachers, their time, class materials, class prep and planning, access to instructor help and materials outside of class, multiple weekend trip considerations, public land permits for land use and camping, firewood for our camping trips, group camping and cooking gear, skillshares, and business operations that make this course possible.
CLASS LOCATIONS?
We will change locations each weekend. Classes will be held on public and private lands in the greater Bend area, including East Lake, Alfalfa Market Rd BLM land, public land west of Sisters, and the Ochocos. Most weekends will be located within a 30-min radius of Bend. Some weekends, we will travel further (eg: Oregon Dunes Wildlife Tracking weekend). All participants will be informed of exact locations and meet-up spots via email weeks before each class.
TRANSPORTATION?
We will carpool for our classes, using teacher and participant vehicles. We'll coordinate carpooling and rendezvous locations well before each month's class. Students are responsible for their own vehicle expenses and liability.
ARE THERE PREREQUISITES FOR THIS CLASS?
Please see your course option for any pre-requisites. Instructors craft this course to cater to each group of participants. We are practiced in meeting students where they are at and challenging them appropriately.
CLASS SIZE?
Our classes are typically 10 students or less.
DO I NEED A HUNTING LICENSE TO ATTEND THIS SURVIVAL SERIES COURSES?
No. However, in order to participate in the hunting day in the spring, you will need one. These are issued through ODFW and are relatively inexpensive. When the time comes, we're happy to help you through this process.
HOMEWORK?
Homework is not a requirement for courses, but we will give optional challenges to take home. We recommend continuing the learning outside the classroom. We believe this is the only way to truly do many of these skills well. Life-long learning in community is one of our strongest values and we encourage students to practice these skills outside of class with other students, roommates, friends, and family!
DO I NEED ANY GEAR FOR THIS COURSE?
We recommend being prepared with a daypack. Weather-appropriate layers (non-cotton base layers, mid-layers, and waterproof layers) for inclement winter weather and mountain weather are recommended. We recommend bringing your own camping gear for any camping weekends. If you have a favorite fixed-blade knife, you're welcome to bring it as an essential, though we have loaner knives. Other educational gear is provided by Nighthawk. We have some loaner outdoor gear, as well.
IF I'M ON A PAYMENT PLAN AND MISS A CLASS, CAN I SKIP THAT PAYMENT?
No. If you choose this option, you must pay each payment and complete the payment plan by the final course date, regardless of whether you choose to miss any of the classes.
Instead of paying a lump sum up front, students who choose this option pay a portion of the tuition on a plan. This option is provided as a way to make the class accessible to those who cannot pay the full cost up front.
You pay for a class even if you miss that class because you are not paying just for that class with each monthly payment. You are paying for the work the instructors put into the full course, their time, prep, location considerations, supplies, materials, planning, instruction for the whole course, access to instructor help and materials outside of class, multiple extended weekend trip considerations, skillshares, and business operations that make this course possible. We appreciate you all and we couldn't do it without you.
Sign up for Our Email List or Ask a Question!
See our individual programs' pages for more details! Links above and in the dropdown menus. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions, comments, or ideas! We'd love to hear from you if you're wondering about courses or are curious for more information. Fill out the form or contact the number below and one of our instructors will get back to you ASAP!