OUTDOOR EDUCATION BASIC SURVIVAL CRASH COURSE

Your hosts would like to challenge you to challenge yourselves - - PARTAKE IN A WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CLASS.  Your education in one weekend can make you feel at ease as your hosts guide and help you with the beginning basics of surviving the outdoor wilderness.

Surviving the wilderness is an adventure that the vast majority does not wish to experience in life, but basic survival skills are a must for the outdoor enthusiasts, the outdoor beginners, and each individual.   Consider some survival situations; not all do pertain to the outdoors, but all pertain to survival in any means.  The object is skills that will keep you healthy, strong, and attentive until civilization can be regained;

NO ONE PLANS FOR ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN, HAVE YOU THE AVID OUTDOORS PERSON PREPARED FOR THE WORST?

THE OUTDOOR BEGINNER DECIDES ON A DAY HIKE, THE FOG ROLLS IN, ARE YOU PREPARED TO STAY OR WORSE - - WANDER?

YOU INDIVIDUALS SITTING AT HOME DURING THAT MAJOR ICE STORM AND ALL OF THOSE PLEASANT LUXURIES DISAPPEAR IN AN INSTANCE, WHO DO YOU THINK IS BETTER PREPARED AT HOME, YOU OR US (MIND YOU WE ALSO DIDN'T RUN LIKE RAVING LUNATICS TO THE STORES).  THE POINT BEING YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED, NO ONE EVER CHOOSES TO BE UNPREPARED.

JUST A FEW ITEMS FOR BRAINSTORMING.  WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PANIC ANYONE, BUT JUST WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT PREPAREDNESS IS THE MEANS TO SURVIVAL IN ANY SITUATION.   

Humans are not without the tools to forge a home in the wilderness, but our species does require the knowledge on how to use those tools, and how to use them correctly.  Would you know what to do?

Your survival education focuses on a second way of thinking, the mind needs retraining for such a task.   Your hosts will teach you a few tricks of the trade while also catering to your every question.  Your wilderness crash course will be held completely in the field with hands-on experience.

What To Expect During Your Crash Wilderness Class

Upon arrival (the earlier the better), you will be guided to a private location on Back To Basics property.  Here you will set up camp for the evening.  You will also receive a package that will contain important information for your wilderness journey.  It will contain maps, instructions, outline of events, and a logbook.  You are expected to look this information over, you will have a briefing before bedtime regarding tomorrow's excursion into the unknown.

Once the work is done, you will have time to tour the grounds and kick back.  Due to the time restraints of this class you will be using tents as a means of shelter.

SLEEP WELL, TOMORROW BE THE DAY

At 6:00 am, camp has been packed and all will meet at the lean-to behind the main house for a hot hearty breakfast.  During breakfast we will run through an equipment check, meal check, and the destination plan.  You will not know of your final destination, until departure at 7:15 am, it is a secret?????????????  Only your guides and proper rescue personnel will know the location to which you are headed.

This photo was taking in November it depicts ice forming over an Adirondack ledge. One area your survival classes will be presented.

Breakfast done, gear, equipment and meal check complete.

OFF TO THE WILD BLUE YONDER!!!

The only thing that will stop your survival trip is unsafe environmental conditions (i.e., northeastern snowstorm).  This will also be based on our discretion.

LOAD IT ALL, WERE OFF

As you wring your hands, the adrenaline builds, and your mind races a mile a minute, we do realize that you have no clue of what they have been talking about all morning.  IT'S GONE!!!!!!!  In one ear - out the other.  Don't worry it will come back.  

It is now time to begin the physical and mental challenge, don your pack, and prepare for the hike to base camp.  When we arrive: camp and chores are the main priority, this is a team effort.  All safety and high priorities must be meant before the exploration and introspect begin.   Time to work as a team while also taking in what you are learning about self.  Don't think of it as work; think of it as how to apply.  There is method beyond our madness.

Your hosts have learned that no two hikes are the same, each individual and class process in different ways and in different time frames, but team-building and work is a must.  If you cannot work as a team, safety will always remain a higher concern.  Your knowledge is different from your teammate; all can learn and experience something from another, including your hosts.  Cultural diversity does not exist in team, but does aid in experience when taking from different viewpoints.   After the needs are meant, it is time to explore deeper into the vast surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the knowledge, the team, and the inner self.  

It is time to taste the wilderness by search, discover, and explore, how far you are willing to reach is based on you the individual.  This basis by no means prepares you for your own venture into the wilderness.  This is only achieved with extensive training and experience, time and time again, but does however; introduce you to the basics, provide for your safety, give you an unforgettable experience and a sample of what the wilderness has to offer.  We will maintain a high level of supervision to insure your safety.  Safety is your first path in any education, especially during survival, under any means.

TOPICS COVERED DURING YOUR OUTDOOR EDUCATION COURSE

Introduction & What to Expect
We will begin your course with an overview of basic survival and expectations of your class.  These expectations are what you can expect from them and what they can expect from you in the team-building process.  

The Basics
This class will cover your basics needs, leave no trace, and impact on the wilderness.

Dressing for the Outdoors
During this class, dressing for the current weather conditions will be covered.

Water
Water topics will focus on proper hydration, water sources of the area, and water purification.
Picture taken by scjack33. Learning to properly filter your water on the trail is very important.

Signaling
Signaling will focus on audible, mirror, and fire.

Shelter
Shelter techniques will include your basic shelter for the night, and selection of your campsite.
 Dennis shows an excellent imagination when building his natural shelter in the wilderness.

Sanitation
Proper sanitation will be reviewed in regard to washing cooking and eating utensils, human waste, and water supplies.

Fire Skills
Topics covered under your class objectives in regard to fire skills will be inclusive of:  fire safety, choosing a fire site, and wood selection.  You will also be shown different fire lays that are needed during your excursion.
Campfires were started every evening during Karen and Krishna's stay.

Safety
Safety is high priority during your class;  we will provide you with a base for safety techniques in regard to animals, water, fire, and your equipment.

Gear Selection & Packing Your Pack
Review of  your gear that you are currently using will be addressed.  Proper gear selection and proper packing will only be touched upon in this course, it comes with more extensive training and experience.   If you have already obtained some outdoor gear, we ask that you do bring it.  You must use your gear to become comfortable and familiar with it.
Gear selection and packing is very important prior to a survival trip.

First Aid
First Aid in this course will be addressed as signs and symptoms with basic treatment.
To know some basic first aid prior to any trip is important. Always carry a first aid kit with you.

Weather
During your Outdoor Education your hosts will address weather safety.
The weather in the Adirondacks changes frequently, please be prepared.

Cooking
Cooking will be basic; how to use your equipment and some good food suggestions.
Outdoor cooking does take practice in a wilderness setting.

Navigation
Proper navigation skills are a necessity to any venture whether it is a day hike or an extensive thru-hike.  You will begin to familiarize yourself with map reading and proper compass techniques.
Picture by summittherock. Navigation is essential for planning your survival.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

Field experience during this course consists of an overnight camping stay at Back To Basics and two-night wilderness trek.  Your skills will be reviewed and critiqued from start to finish during your outdoor experience.  You will be receiving positive and negative feedback from us during your skills training.  It is not presented to you as a "you know nothing" aspect, but is presented as you do learn from your mistakes.  You will recall more from your mistakes than your accomplishments.  Also remember that at Back To Basics there is never a stupid question, or an irrelevant question.  We at Back To Basics do not claim to know it all, we learn from our mistakes also.


Wilderness preparedness begins in nature. You must experience it all touch it, taste it, smell it, take it all in and begin to discover the wilderness along with your inner self.

Total cost for your course includes your survival course, MRE's, and gear:  $285.00/pp

"The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn."

- Gloria Steinem -


© Back To Basics Adirondack Wilderness Adventures 2004








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