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Local training directory

Find in-person survival and preparedness training

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10 providers foundTrack: Survival & Bushcraft

Sigma 3 Survival School

Mountain View, AR

Multi-day survival courses in Arkansas and Missouri. Covers primitive skills, trapping, navigation, and wilderness living.

Why it stands out

  • Ozark wilderness provides diverse terrain and conditions
  • 2-day to 14-day course options

Before you book

  • Arkansas location requires travel for most
  • Multi-day courses are physically demanding

Thomas Coyne Survival Schools

Los Angeles, CA

California-based survival training covering desert, mountain, and coastal environments. Military and civilian programs.

Why it stands out

  • Desert and arid climate survival specialization
  • 1-day to 5-day course options

Before you book

  • Southern California location only
  • Desert courses run in extreme heat — physical fitness required

Sierra Club Outings & Wilderness Skills

Oakland, CA

Volunteer-led outings teaching navigation, camping, and backcountry basics. Affordable group experiences nationwide.

Why it stands out

  • Available in nearly every US state
  • Very affordable ($20-$100 typical)

Before you book

  • Volunteer-led quality varies
  • Not structured survival courses — more recreational outdoors

Pathfinder School

Beverly, OH

Dave Canterbury's survival school. Multi-day bushcraft and wilderness living courses in Southeast Ohio.

Why it stands out

  • Taught by internationally recognized survival instructor
  • Hands-on field training, not classroom lectures

Before you book

  • Southeast Ohio location requires travel for most
  • Multi-day courses require camping on-site

Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS)

Boulder, UT800-335-7404

Primitive living and wilderness survival immersion in southern Utah. One of the oldest survival schools in the US.

Why it stands out

  • Operating since 1968 — one of the oldest US survival schools
  • True primitive skills immersion, no modern gear crutches

Before you book

  • Extremely demanding physically and mentally
  • Not beginner-friendly — requires solid outdoor fitness baseline

Wilderness Wild Survival School

Genola, UT(385) 233-1280

Utah-based fieldcraft school focused on hands-on fire, shelter, water, navigation, and self-reliance training.

Why it stands out

  • hands-on outdoor reps in the exact skills that make bug-out and backcountry gear matter
  • strong fit for people who need field judgment, not just more survival content

Before you book

  • travel, weather, and time commitment are part of the real cost
  • the value drops fast if you do not keep practicing after the course

Mountain Shepherd Wilderness Survival School

Catawba, VA540-261-3072

Virginia-based survival school with courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Family-friendly programs available.

Why it stands out

  • Family-friendly courses — parents and kids learn together
  • Blue Ridge Mountain terrain, accessible from East Coast metros

Before you book

  • Virginia location — best for East Coast residents
  • Family courses are lighter than dedicated survival programs

Wilderness Awareness School

Duvall, WA425-788-1301

Pacific Northwest nature connection and survival skills. Programs from single-day workshops to 9-month immersions.

Why it stands out

  • Pacific Northwest forest environment
  • Programs from single day to 9-month immersion

Before you book

  • Nature connection focus — less tactical than pure survival schools
  • Duvall, WA location best for Pacific Northwest residents

REI Outdoor School

Seattle, WA

Nationwide outdoor classes from the co-op. Affordable intro courses in fire-starting, navigation, and camping fundamentals.

Why it stands out

  • Available in 150+ locations nationwide
  • Beginner-friendly at $30-$80 per class

Before you book

  • Introductory level only — not deep survival training
  • Class availability varies by store location

NOLS — National Outdoor Leadership School

Lander, WY800-710-6657

Gold-standard wilderness education since 1965. Field-based courses in backcountry skills, leadership, and Leave No Trace.

Why it stands out

  • Field-based learning in real conditions, not classroom simulations
  • 60+ years of wilderness education experience

Before you book

  • Multi-week courses require significant time commitment
  • Premium pricing ($2,000-$6,000+ depending on length)

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