Basic Survival Class

Build the essential skills, practical experience, and mental resilience needed to face a wilderness emergency with confidence.

The Pathfinder School Basic Survival Class is an intensive three-day, two-night field course focused on practical, proven survival techniques. Using the Pathfinder School system, students receive hands-on instruction in fire craft, shelter building, water procurement, navigation, first response, and the mindset required to remain calm and effective under pressure.

This is not a classroom-based seminar. You will spend most of the weekend outdoors, learning and practicing skills in real wilderness conditions across our 4,500-acre training facility.

Basic does not mean easy. It means learning the essential skills that form the foundation for every level of Pathfinder School training.

Course Details

• Price: $500 per student
• Duration: 3 days and 2 nights, Friday through Sunday
• Class Size: Limited to 20 students
• Registration Deadline: Two weeks before the class start date
• Minimum Age: 13 years old
• Location: Pathfinder School training facility
• Physical Intensity: Moderate to intense
• Required Gear List for each student - CLICK HERE

If you have any other questions not covered in the information below please contact our Lead Instructor, Ty Barker at (304) 237-2173 or email at tybarker73@yahoo.com

What You Will Learn

Fire Craft

Learn multiple methods of starting and maintaining a fire in varying weather conditions. Instruction includes tinder preparation, fire-lay construction, and using fire for warmth, cooking, signaling, and water purification.

Shelter Construction

Build emergency shelters using natural materials and basic tools found in the landscape. You will learn how to select an effective shelter location and construct a protective structure suited to changing weather conditions.

On the second night, you will sleep in a temporary shelter you build using the techniques taught during the course.

Water Collection and Purification

Learn how to locate, collect, and safely purify water from natural sources. Students will practice multiple purification methods and discuss hydration strategies for emergency and long-term survival situations.

Self-Aid and First Response

Develop practical first-aid skills for wilderness emergencies. Learn how to assess injuries, address immediate medical concerns, and make critical decisions when professional assistance may be hours or days away.

Navigation and Terrain Assessment

Build confidence moving across varied terrain using traditional navigation principles. Students will complete navigation exercises over ground that may be muddy, steep, or uneven while developing greater situational awareness and decision-making skills.

Mindset and Mental Resilience

Survival is as much mental as it is physical. Learn how to manage stress, remain focused, think clearly, and make effective decisions during difficult or uncertain situations.

Class Format and Instruction

The course follows the Pathfinder School EDI teaching method:

• Educate students on the skill or concept
• Demonstrate proper execution
• Guide students as they imitate and practice the skill

The pace of the course is influenced by the students. Our instructors are committed to helping every participant who continues to put forth genuine effort.

If you do not give up on yourself, we will not give up on you.

Physical Activity Level

Students should be prepared for moderate to intense physical activity throughout the weekend.

You may be required to:

• Hike approximately 3–4 miles total while carrying your gear
• Carry a pack weighing approximately 35 lbs
• Walk segments of 1–2 miles throughout the day
• Gather sticks and natural materials for fires and shelter projects
• Navigate muddy, uneven, or challenging terrain
• Train in heat, cold, rain, or snow
• Complete timed exercises individually and as part of a team

Students should arrive physically prepared and capable of safely carrying their required gear over uneven terrain.

The Challenge Night Experience

During the second night of the course, students will sleep in a temporary shelter they construct using the skills learned during training.

You will have access to limited equipment to help simulate a real emergency situation. Participation in Challenge Night is a required part of the course. Exceptions will not be made unless the student leaves the course entirely.

What Is Provided

Your registration includes:

• Access to our 4,500-acre forested training facility
• Professional instruction from trained wilderness survival instructors
• Training materials and course curriculum
• Potable water at base camp
• Port-a-Pots located approximately 400 yards from base camp
• Emergency medical support from EMTs and paramedics on staff
• AED and epinephrine available on location
• HAM radio and satellite emergency communications
• Certificate of Completion or Certificate of Training, as applicable
• Continuing Education Units upon course completion

What You Need to Bring

A detailed class gear list is here - CLICK LINK. Each student is responsible for bringing all of those items on that list:

• Appropriate clothing for three days in the field
• Personal medications and first-aid items
• Sleeping gear for two nights
• Food for three days
• Water containers for refilling
• Personal hygiene items
• Required survival and training equipment
• A pack weighing approximately 35 lbs when fully loaded

Need help assembling your equipment? Self Reliance Outfitters offers a collection of recommended gear for Pathfinder School courses. Students may also contact us for assistance building an appropriate training kit.

Instructor Credentials

Each class is led by trained and professional outdoor and wilderness instructors authorized to teach the Pathfinder School system developed by Dave Canterbury.

Instructor backgrounds may include:

• Military service
• Emergency medical services
• Law enforcement
• Search and rescue
• Wilderness first aid
• Traditional outdoor skills

Most instructors are certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid through the American Red Cross.

Dave Canterbury is NASAR Advanced Search and Rescue certified, a Certified Expert Trapper through Fur Takers of America, and a Certified Intermediate Herbalist through the Herbal Academy International School of Herbal Arts and Sciences.

Instructors are equipped and licensed to use HAM radio and personal locator beacon satellite communications for emergencies away from the primary training area.

Instructor assignments may vary by class.

Certification and Graduation

Patch Qualification: 80% or Higher

Students who complete all course requirements with a proficiency score of 80% or higher will receive:

• Official Pathfinder Basic Survival Class Patch
• Certificate of Completion signed by instructional staff
• 2.5 Continuing Education Units
• Eligibility to enroll in intermediate-level survival training

Course Completion: Below 80%

Students who complete the course but do not achieve the required 80% proficiency score will receive:

• Certificate of Training signed by instructional staff
• 2.5 Continuing Education Units

These documents will note the Continuing Education Units awarded.

Non-Patch Qualification Policy

Students enrolling in the Basic Survival Class are expected to attempt patch qualification.

If you fall behind but continue to make a genuine effort, our instructors will support, encourage, and assist you in completing the course to the best of your ability.

If an injury, medical issue, or physical limitation prevents you from keeping pace, staff may assist with mobility, hydration, and encouragement. If those efforts are unsuccessful and you can no longer safely participate, you may be required to leave the school grounds.

Students who voluntarily quit the course will be assisted with packing their equipment and will be required to leave the property.

It is acceptable to complete the course without attempting to qualify for the patch. Students choosing this option should notify their instructor.

Please Note: The Basic Survival Class is the foundation for advanced Pathfinder School training. Students who do not successfully develop these foundational skills may have difficulty completing higher-level courses.

No refunds will be issued for classes a student does not pass or voluntarily leaves before completion.

Preparing for Success

Pathfinder School training is physically and mentally demanding. Students are strongly encouraged to begin preparing one to three months before attending, depending on their current fitness level.

Recommended preparation includes:

• Walking at least 3–5 times per week
• Completing regular 5K-distance walks
• Hiking over uneven terrain
• Gradually increasing pack weight
• Working toward comfortably carrying a 50 lb pack before class
• Spending time outdoors in varying weather conditions

Physical preparation can significantly improve your safety, performance, confidence, and overall experience.

Medical Considerations

Students who require prescription medications must bring an adequate supply and keep those medications accessible throughout the course.

Critical Safety Notice: Do not attempt this course if you have undergone surgery or experienced a hospital stay within 30 days of the class start date.

Regardless of your current experience or skill level, this is an intense course. Students should honestly evaluate their health and physical ability before registering.

Age Requirements

• Students must be at least 13 years old
• Students under 18 must attend with a registered adult
• Students ages 13–17 are charged the full course price
• Minors may not be repeatedly left alone at camp or placed under the supervision of staff
• A parent or guardian may be asked to leave the course if a minor is repeatedly left behind
• Anyone bringing a minor who is not their child must provide a signed Emergency Care Authorization form from the child’s parent or legal guardian

The required authorization form will be referenced in the registration confirmation email.

Property and Safety Policies

Due to property insurance restrictions:

• Camping is not permitted before the class begins
• Camping is not permitted after the class concludes
• Students may not remain at camp without an instructor present
• All personal equipment must be removed at the end of the course

Items left behind cannot be shipped and will be considered abandoned.

Additional Class Information

Please review the following before attending:

• Class meeting location and arrival instructions
• Complete required gear list
• Recommended survival gear guide
• Cabin rental information
• Cancellation and rescheduling policy

Your safety and learning experience are our highest priorities. Self Reliance Outfitters is a division of The Pathfinder School, LLC, and is committed to providing professional, practical training designed to develop confidence, self-reliance, and dependable outdoor skills.