Survival Training Courses
Survival isn’t theory. It’s skill, mindset, and muscle memory. And the best way to build each one is through hands-on training that takes you from the basics to true field confidence.
Self Reliance Outfitters’ Survival School teaches practical, proven techniques through immersive wilderness training — no gimmicks, no hand-holding, just clear-cut skills you can put to the test immediately. Every lesson is taught by instructors who’ve lived what they teach, so you won’t just learn what to do, you’ll learn how to stay calm, think clearly, and act with purpose no matter the scenario.
We’ve been American owned and operated since 2010, and our training courses reflect the same no-nonsense grit that built this company. Whether you’re brand new to the woods or ready for advanced challenges, you’ll find courses designed to build real self-reliance. From bushcraft to 72-hour survival scenarios, every class gives you skills you can trust when the stakes are high.
If you’re ready to build confidence that lasts a lifetime, you’re in the right place. Browse our survival courses below and start training for the unknown.
Why Survival Training Matters
Life feels predictable until it isn’t. One wrong turn, a dead battery, or fast-moving weather can turn a simple outing into a real challenge. Wilderness survival training gives you the confidence and clearheadedness to handle those moments, not with panic but with skill.
In our courses, you can learn how to do the essentials:
- Build shelter from natural materials
- Make fire in almost any condition
- Find & purify water
- Navigate with maps, compasses, or by natural cues
- Treat injuries when help isn’t available
You’ll also understand:
- What foods are safe
- How to signal for rescue
- How to keep yourself & others calm under pressure
But the real value goes beyond technique. Survival training builds a mindset of readiness and self-reliance. It teaches you to stay focused when things go wrong and to trust your abilities when comfort disappears. These are practical, life-saving skills that change the way you move through the outdoors and in the world.
Choose Your Path
Every path to self-reliance looks a little different, so Self Reliance Outfitters offers a wide range of hands-on survival courses that help you build the necessary skills at your own pace. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned survival pro, there's a class designed for every step of the journey. Explore the options below and find the training that fits your next step.
Courses By Skill Levels
Our survival school programs are designed for every experience level from weekend warriors to wilderness veterans.
Beginner Survival Courses
If you’re new to the outdoors or just want a solid skills foundation, our beginner courses are the best place to start. You’ll learn the core four of survival: fire, water, shelter, and food. These classes focus on building confidence, using simple tools, and understanding how to stay safe in any terrain. They’re perfect for newcomers, families, scouts, or anyone looking to sharpen basic skills.
Courses include: Bushcraft 101, Intro to Survival, and Basic Survival.
Intermediate Survival Courses
Once you understand the basics, our intermediate courses are there to help you apply those skills in realistic scenarios. You’ll work through hands-on challenges that require planning, endurance, and resourcefulness. Expect to learn advanced firecraft, edible plant identification, natural navigation techniques, and practical problem-solving. These courses bridge the gap between comfort and true field readiness.
Courses include: Intermediate Survival, Edible and Medicinal Plants, and Navigation Intensive.
Advanced Survival and Instructor-Level Courses
For those who want to push their limits or step into leadership roles, our advanced programs offer full immersion. You’ll face long days, minimal gear, and situations that feel close to real emergencies. These courses build mastery, confidence, and the ability to teach others. If you want to operate at an expert level or become a certified instructor, this is where you go next.
Courses include: Advanced Survival and Advanced Bushcraft.
Course by Category
Every path to self-reliance is a little different. Choose the one that fits your goals, or try them all.
Survival Training
Our survival training courses focus on the core essentials of staying alive in the wild. You’ll learn how to build strong shelters, keep a fire going in challenging conditions, find safe water, and make smart choices when weather or circumstances turn against you. This is the right path for hikers, campers, preppers, and anyone who wants real-world readiness that goes beyond theory.
Bushcraft Training
Bushcraft is the art of living with the land instead of fighting against it. These classes teach you how to carve tools, build natural shelters, craft durable cordage, set simple traps, and work with wood and natural materials. Bushcraft helps you understand the environment on a deeper level and gives you skills that make long-term outdoor living possible.
Blacksmithing
For those who love working with their hands, our blacksmithing courses let you forge your own tools using classic fire-and-steel techniques. You’ll shape metal into blades, hooks, stakes, and camp tools while learning heat control, hammering methods, and safe handling. No experience is required. Just patience, focus, and a willingness to learn.
Instructor Course
If you want to share your knowledge with others, our instructor course will prepare you to lead with confidence. This training covers communication, field safety, teaching methods, and advanced survival techniques. Graduates walk away ready to guide students through their own survival journey with skill and professionalism.
Survival Eating
These courses teach you how to identify edible plants, prepare small game, and cook with primitive skills training and techniques. You’ll learn how to discern between safe & unsafe food sources and understand the calorie needs required for long-term outdoor survival. It’s a practical and eye-opening look at living off the land.
Navigation
Knowing where you are and where you’re going is one of the most important outdoor skills. Our navigation classes cover map and compass comprehension, terrain association, natural cue following, and rescue signaling. Whether you’re hiking off-trail or preparing for emergencies where GPS isn’t available, these skills keep you oriented and safe.
First Aid and Wilderness Medical
When help is hours away, you become the first responder. These classes teach you basic first aid, like how to treat wounds, stabilize injuries, manage hypothermia or dehydration, and make safe decisions while waiting for evacuation. It’s practical training that can make a life-saving difference.
Youth Survival Training
Confidence starts young. Our youth courses give kids a chance to learn in an environment where they’re fully supported. They’ll practice teamwork, outdoor safety, problem-solving, and hands-on skills that make time in nature safer and more enjoyable. These sessions are designed to build memories as much as they build skills.
Gear Checklist
Below is everything you should bring to your course. We’ve organized it to make packing easier and to help you double-check your kit before arriving.
Cutting Tools and Knives
- Full tang knife (6 inch max)
- Swiss Army Knife or multitool
- Small carving knife (Mora 510 recommended)
- Folding saw
- 21 inch buck saw blade
Fire Starters and Ignition
- Three Bic lighters
- Two ferro rods (minimum ½ x 5 inches)
- Magnification lens (5x, 2 inch diameter)
- Flint and steel kit
Shelter and Comfort
- Two tarps (minimum 6x8; at least one 8x10)
- Wool blankets: two twins or one queen
- Three 6-mil contractor bags
- One reusable emergency space blanket
- 30L dry bag
Water and Cooking Gear
- A water filtration device or system
- Two 32 oz water bottles with nesting cups
- Two 64 oz bush pots
- Camp stove and fuel (MSR Rocket recommended)
Cordage and Hardware
- Two rolls of #36 bank line
- One roll of #6 bank line
- 100 ft of paracord
- 20 ft of rope or 1 inch tubular webbing
- Six tent stakes
Navigation and Notetaking
- Compass (Sunto MC2 recommended)
- Pace beads
- Map protractor (scaled 1:10,000)
- Two waterproof notebooks
- One pack of 8.5x11 inch write-in-the-rain grid paper
Lighting and Small Tools
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Two sail needles
Clothing
- Two shemaghs (one should be orange)
- 100% cotton T-shirt in XXL (orange)
- Leather work gloves
- Hat with a wide brim
- Seasonal clothing and daily changes
Bags and Containers
- Backpack (minimum 40L, 65L recommended)
- Five-gallon bucket with lid
- Six quart-size freezer bags
- Two gallon-size freezer bags
Personal Items
- Food and snacks (you can resupply if needed)
- Any daily medications
- Personal hygiene gear
- Spare glasses
Books and Miscellaneous
- “Identifying Trees” by Williams
- Two-inch three-ring binder
- Box of #2 pencils
- Two rolls of duct tape (2 inch and 1 inch)
Quick Essentials Snapshot
If you want to double-check the bare minimum, here are the core items every survival student should have ready: Knife, tarp, fire kit, wool blanket, paracord, compass, dry bag, multitool, cookware.
Pro Tip: Every item you pack teaches you something, and every item you forget teaches you more. All recommended gear is available through Self Reliance Outfitters, the same tools our instructors trust in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prepare for a survival training course?
The best way to prepare is to show up with an open mind and a willingness to be challenged. Survival training is part mental and part physical, so expect long days, hands-on lessons, and plenty of time outdoors. A little conditioning goes a long way: take regular hikes, practice carrying a pack, and break in your boots before you arrive. You don’t need to be an athlete, just determined and ready to learn. Our instructors will guide you through every step, and you’ll leave stronger and more capable than when you started.
Here is a clean, consolidated, non-repetitive, user-friendly FAQ section that keeps all the value but removes every duplicate and unnecessary overlap. It also groups related questions so the page feels organized and easier to navigate.
What should I expect from a wilderness survival course?
Expect hands-on instruction, outdoor challenges, and real-world scenarios. You’ll spend most of your time outside practicing skills with guidance from experienced instructors.
Do I need experience to take a survival skills course?
No experience is required. Beginners are welcome, and every course is structured by skill level so you can start with the basics and work your way up.
What’s the difference between bushcraft and survival training?
Bushcraft focuses on living comfortably with the land using natural materials and simple tools. Survival training focuses on staying alive in emergencies by building shelter, finding water, making fire, and signaling for rescue.
How long are your outdoor survival classes?
Course length varies. We offer one-day workshops, weekend survival courses, 72-hour survival immersions, and extended multi-day programs for advanced students.
How do I prepare physically for a survival course?
Basic fitness is helpful. Light hiking, endurance training, and practicing with a loaded pack can make your experience more comfortable. The most important factor is mental toughness and a willingness to learn.
Can kids participate in survival training?
Yes. Many instructors encourage kids to start young. Youth survival classes help build confidence, outdoor appreciation, problem-solving skills, and friendships with other students.
Can I become a certified survival instructor?
Absolutely. You don’t need to start as an expert. Through tiered training, you’ll progress from student to instructor, learning advanced skills, safety, leadership, and teaching methods. Certification takes commitment, but once completed, you can work with survival schools and programs nationwide.
What makes Self Reliance Outfitters different from other survival schools?
Our focus is real-world readiness, not classroom theory. All lessons are field-tested by seasoned instructors with extensive outdoor and survival experience. Training is hands-on, practical, and designed to work in any environment.
The Self Reliance Promise
Preparedness isn’t something you can fake, and confidence isn’t something you can buy. You earn it one skill at a time. Our courses are built to help you become the kind of person who stays calm when things go sideways and ready when comfort disappears.
Self Reliance Outfitters gives you the skills and mindset to stand steady when the world gets unpredictable. Real freedom comes from knowing you can handle yourself anywhere.
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