Description:
This course is designed to introduce you to basic earth living skills
(i.e. fire by friction, shelter building etc.) to help one live
comfortably in a back country setting. This course combines both hands
on learning and classroom instruction.  Most of the course will be
spent in a wilderness setting using experiential education components
and the portion will be taught from readings, presentations, and lecture.

Class Objectives
The overall class objective is to teach the student basic wilderness
survival and living skills.  This will be accomplished by students
understanding the following topics:
Survival shelter construction
•	Identify proper shelter site location
•	Demonstrate the ability to assemble a sturdy ridgepole for shelter
building
•	Show knowledge of the appropriate dimensions of the debris hut shelter
	Water location and purification
•	Demonstrate the knowledge of at least three primitive methods of
purifying water
•	Identify areas that are considered unsafe for water collection
•	Demonstrate knowledge of two primitive containers
	Friction fire making
•	Be able to create fire using the bow-drill fire method
•	Show knowledge of correct fire structure construction
•	Identify at least two native trees for friction fire use
•	Identify and label the elements of a bow-drill fire set, including
the proper dimensions
•	Demonstrate proper knife safety techniques and carving methods
	Hunting techniques
•	Demonstrate knowledge of three primitive hunting methods
•	Identify five animal tracks
•	Show knowledge of animal diseases and necessary precautions
	Wild edible plants
•	Positively ID three plants in a field test situation, using field guides
•	Demonstrate knowledge of the most common wild food plants of the region
•	Participate in a wild foods dinner by helping with the preparation
and cooking of wild foods

Method of Course Instruction
This course combines both hands on learning and classroom instruction.
Approximately two thirds of the course will be spent practicing
specific skills both inside and outside of the classroom. The other
third will be taught from readings, presentations, and lecture.