About Our Survival Skills Class - Intermediate Level
By your own hand or through Self Reliance Outfitter's Basic Survival Class, you have the essential skills and knowledge for short-term wilderness survival.
Take the next step toward long-term survival in remote environments with our Intermediate Survival Class. Our expert survival instructors will push you to your limits while teaching you the skills you need for long-term living in the wilderness.
Advance from the basics to learning the methods for living and exploring the wild like a seasoned explorer. Join the SRO's wilderness survival intermediate course.
Please Note: The registration deadline is 2 weeks prior to the available class start dates.
Who this class is for:
This class is primarily for individuals who want to improve their survival skills from a basic level. These include:
- Graduates of Our Basic Survival Courses: Our course is designed as a continuation for graduates of our Basic Survival Class. In this course, you’ll build upon core skills like fire building and basic shelter construction, now learning how to craft complex shelter systems and use longer-term survival skills.
- Outdoorsmen with Foundational Skills: This class is also for those who understand the basics of camping, backpacking, and hiking from years of experience, but want to sharpen their skills and learn some new ones on the way.
- Preparation-Focused Individuals: For those who value self-reliance and independence in every scenario, this class is for you. Our instructors will ensure you learn long-term survival techniques you can use to sustain yourself for extended periods.
What you'll learn during our survival courses:
Advanced Firecraft
Many can build fires easily with the right tools and under the right conditions.
Through advanced firecraft instruction, you'll learn how to create a fire in adverse conditions, with limited resources at hand.
We'll explore various fire-building methods that work even in wet, windy conditions, as well as ways to maintain your flame long-term.
Shelter Systems
Discover how to design layered shelter systems suitable for various locations and weather conditions.
Your instructors will show you how to construct shelters using designated gear as well as the materials you find around you.
You'll quickly understand how to build shelters with effective drainage, insulation, and durability. By the end, you will know how to make a shelter that lasts weeks and can sustain you, not just for a few hours.
Water Procurement
Water is vital in any survival situation. Our intermediate course shows you how to find clean sources and purify water that is safe to drink long-term.
Your instructors will teach you how to identify water sources in different terrains, from flowing streams and still ponds, along with other natural collection points.
You'll learn and practice several purification methods, including boiling, filtration, and pre-filtering techniques.
Land Navigation
Travel long distances with confidence in the direction you're in and the destination you're headed for.
Your instructors will teach you how to navigate using a map and compass, as well as by the terrain and celestial bodies.
They will also show you how to plan routes and move efficiently through difficult terrain without losing direction. Poor navigation wastes precious time and energy. Proper navigation ensures survival without any constraints.
Fieldcraft
When it comes to surviving in the wilderness long-term, the details matter.
In addition to a variety of key skills, students will learn important elements of bushcraft and outdoor survival that will make them far more competent in emergency situations and for long-term outdoor adventures than basic courses might.
We'll teach lessons in specialized skills such as:
- Calorie management
- Food and resource conservation
- Camp discipline
- Tool maintenance
- Environmental awareness
Through disciplined learning and heightened focus, our intermediate survival class will ensure you'll understand how to live and survive in the wilderness with all the tools and skills necessary.
If you're interested in more specialized skills, consider our other survival training courses.
Our prerequisites/recommended experience level for this class:
Please Note: This is NOT a beginner's course.
Participants are expected to have a strong understanding of basic bushcraft and outdoor survival skills, such as:
- Fire starting
- Basic shelter building
- Knife safety
The course is primarily recommended for graduates of our Basic Survival Class, but it is also suitable for individuals with extensive experience in backwoods camping and outdoor survival.
If you are unsure whether this course is for you, ask yourself: Can I confidently spend a night outdoors with minimal preparation and gear? If you can, you're more likely to be prepared for this course.
Gear requirements and recommendations:
Students are instructed to bring these pieces of recommended survival gear:
Mandatory
- (1) 6 mil contractor bag
- (1) 30 L dry bag
- (1) Shemagh
- (1) Orange T-shirt (100% Cotton 3XL)
- (1) Flint & Steel Set
- (1) Fresnel Lens
- (2) Water Bottles & 1 Cup OR (2) Canteens and 1 Cup (Stainless Steel 32 oz minimum)
- (1) Rapid Deployment Ridge Line System
- (2) 6-foot pieces of 550 paracord
- (1) Headlight with Spare Batteries or Charging Brick (Headlamp must have a red light mode)
- (1) Compass with Sighting Mirror
- (1) Map Protractor 1-10,000 Scale
- (1) Sail Needle
- (1) Notebook
- (2) Pencils
- (1) pair of Leather Gloves
- (1) Spare pair of socks
- Camping Knife
- Swiss Army Knife or Multi-Tool
- Folding Saw
- Cold Steel Shovel
- 8x8 Silnylong Tarp (Minimum 7'8" x 7'8")
- 6 ABS Tent Stakes
- Poncho
- Swagman or Poncho Liner
- MilBank Bag
- 100' Bankline #36
- 30' of Tubular Webbing
- Pace Beads
- Analog Watch
- Accordion Style Sleeping Mat
- 1" Roll Duct Tape
- Ohio Fishing License (for Summer and Fall Classes)
- Haversack
- "Just Add Water" food and trail snacks for 2 days
Optional
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Bug Spray
- Sunscreen
- Prescribed Medication (only)
Please Note: If you want to order your gear from Self Reliance Outfitters, you must complete your order at least 2 weeks before the class begins so you receive it on time. Also, orders cannot be shipped to the school property for pick-up.
Why you can trust our intermediate survival training:
Instructors With Decades of Survival Experience & In-Depth Knowledge
The instructors at Pathfinder School bring a wealth of real-world survival experience to the table. Our founder and co-owner, Dave Canterbury, is a well-known figure in the survival and bushcraft community. His contributions to wilderness skills education and his writing have made a lasting impact on thousands of students.
Our survival school is also made up of seasoned experts who have dedicated years to honing, testing, and teaching these essential skills. They don’t just share theories; they teach what truly works in the field.
This approach is in perfect harmony with our goals at Self Reliance Outfitters: to provide quality outdoor gear at great value. We pride ourselves on being specialists who offer both top-notch gear and practical training.
Real-World Wilderness Survival Training Scenarios & Conditions
Training takes place outdoors, right in the heart of nature.
As a student of our survival school, you'll encounter changing weather, tricky terrains, and the physical challenges common to outdoor survival. This class prepares you for real-world scenarios, so that the skills you learn to overcome them will be as much instinct as they are knowledge.
Those who focus on preparedness will learn how to create and maintain systems for living in the wilderness. Bushcraft enthusiasts will hone their skills and uncover new ways to be efficient. Graduates of our Basic Survival Class will expand their knowledge and push their boundaries.
The outcome? You'll walk away feeling more capable, more confident, and ready for whatever comes your way.
Intermediate Outdoor Survival Class FAQs
Should I complete the SRO Basic Survival Class first?
It's highly recommended to take the Basic Survival Class before joining the Intermediate level. In order to attend the intermediate class, you are required to have knowledge and practice in basic survival principles, as well as how to use the relevant tools.
Is this class physically demanding?
Absolutely! If you're planning on long-range trekking, building shelters, or spending extended time in the field, you’ll need to be ready for some moderate to high physical activity. It’s important to be in decent shape for these adventures.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Training goes on regardless of the weather. Getting used to working in the rain, cold, or heat is essential for realistic survival training.
Will we be camping overnight?
Absolutely! At the Pathfinder School, our training is all about immersion and learning through real-world-like simulations.
When you sign up for our class, be ready to spend time living in the field from beginning to end. Once completed, you will know you’ve learned to become a more experienced survivalist and outdoorsman.
What is the progression after this course?
After our survival training course, intermediate students often take our Advanced Survival Class and specialty courses focused on specific skills.
This class is definitely a few steps above the Basic Class. That said it is certainly worth taking. The instructors were great. Dave, Bart, Ty, Alexander and Eric were very professional and patient. They will not give anything up to give you an edge, but they will not stop helping you. I watched them help several students at even 2am get their bow drill fires. It was a solid class, with solid instruction from excellent instructors. If you’re going to take this class, do yourself a favor and practice your bow drill fire in advance. It is a requirement to get the patch. I did and it paid off.
This class was exactly how they describe it on the page. It was an incredible experience, one that I will remember fondly with a chuckle at how unprepared I was. I had never executed one of the tasks that was required and boy did I pay for it. BUT, while I was struggling, the instructors were right there next to me. They never gave up me, even at 3 AM. I will forever be greatful for the quality of people at the Pathfinder School. I look forward to learning and attending more classes with them.
Didn't go yet not till March.
I heard multiple people say, "Basic doesn't mean easy." in regards to this class, and they were right. While it requires some physical exertion and endurance, and there is a lot of information transfer, it is extremely rewarding to have been able to attend the class, complete the deliverables, and come home with the patch! The skills and information learned in this course could easily save your life. The weekend that I attended, it rained frequently. We learned how to start fires despite the weather that we were experiencing, and while it was a struggle at times, the experience taught me that it is possible with the right knowledge and tools. The instructors are world-class, and their desire to have students succeed is evident. Take the jump, learn some valuable skills, prepare and go with a 'Don't Quit' attitude, and you won't regret it!
The stress itself is almost addictive. Intermediate demands a high level of performance in an overwhelming environment. The certificate of completion by itself commands respect
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