Statistics show that 80% of those lost in the wilderness will resign themselves to die after only 6 hours!! What a frightening statistic! Our goal is to make sure our students will be among the 20% who know how to deal with the unexpected and “learn to return” safely.

Our Wilderness Survival Programs typically last 3 to 5 days but they can vary in depth and degree depending on the desires, needs and abilities of our students. As examples, a program might be a 3-day campout for a group of 50 friends and family, or a 10-14 day extreme survival experience for several individuals. Each program can be customized specifically for the participating group. Our programs are open to men, women, and children of all ages and are appropriate for church groups, families, home school groups, neighbors, and just about anybody with a desire to know the wilderness better. Certificates and school credit are also available (please make arrangements in advance).

Wilderness survival training covers the following skills:

• Prioritizing the seven basic needs for survival
• Building a foul weather fire using a “metal match” and wet wood
  
• Making a fire using friction methods – “rubbing two sticks together”
  
• Signaling using mirrors, pyrotechnics and natural methods
  
• Constructing a waterproof shelter using natural materials
  
• Identifying and eating indigenous wild edible plants
  
• Improvising traps, snares and hunting weapons using natural materials
  
• Locating and purifying drinking water
  
• Navigating using a map, compass, GPS, and natural aids

Wilderness Way Adventures also conducts specialty survival training such as the following:

Jungle Survival covers shelter, fire, food and water needs in the jungle setting. It includes instruction in identification and avoidance of dangerous plants and venomous creatures and also covers search and rescue techniques, and in-depth navigation.

Coastal Survival includes the same topics as the Basic Survival course with a special emphasis on a coastal environment situation. Students learn how to find fresh water as well as how to successfully obtain a wide variety of foods. Fire-craft, shelter building, signaling and all other topics from the Basic Survival class are reviewed. While emphasis is placed on the coastal environment, discussion includes how to adapt the skills for any environment.

Ocean Survival focuses on survival of a downed aircraft or capsized boat. It includes: how to use a life raft; how to survive in an aquatic environment; helicopter rescue; practical use of signaling devices; meteorology; and medical emergencies. Students spend 24 hours in a survival scenario on a life raft with survival gear.

Upon request, Wilderness Way Adventures also provides a very specialized type of training, most commonly taught in the military environment, but of increasing value to missionaries and others traveling abroad in unfriendly political or religious environments:

(E&E) Escape and Evasion Training is designed to make students more aware of terrorism and protective measures against it, and provides instruction in how to avoid capture or exploitation by the enemy. The training is geared to what an evading soldier might need to know to be able to return to friendly control and, at the same time, not be detected by the enemy. This approach gives the students the skill and confidence to evade through enemy-controlled areas while surviving under varying environmental conditions.

And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences: fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.—Luke 21:11, 26

With natural disasters increasing, thousands of people are lost and stranded every year. What an opportunity for Christian outreach! Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Being a rescuer of someone in need can be an extremely gratifying experience. Of course, we also hope that those who are found and saved will learn to love Jesus too.

Our Search and Rescue program meets or exceeds the national standards required for certification and qualifies students to volunteer on search and rescue teams throughout North America. Former Wilderness Way students have volunteered at a number of disaster sites, both abroad and in the U.S.: the most recent being the Katrina and Ike hurricanes and the Haiti earthquake, for example.

Depending on the proficiency desired, a Search and Rescue class can last from one day to several weeks and can cover the following skills:

• High and low angle rope rescue
  
• Canyon gorge mid-point drop rope rescue
  
• Rock climbing and rappelling techniques
  
• Lake and calm water Seadoo rescue
  
• Swift water raft and rope rescue
  
• Raft and cataraft paddling techniques
  
  
  

Certification is available in Swift Water Rescue Technician I/Advanced and Rope Rescue Technician:

Swift Water Rescue Technician I/Advanced:

SRT-I meets NFPA 1670 and 1006 standards for swift water rescue. SRTA is an NFPA 1670 standard and the NFPA 1006 standard at the technician level for water rescue. The initial emphasis is on self-rescue skills. Other objectives include an in-depth look at water dynamics, handling hazards and obstacles, using basic rescue equipment, setting up technical rope systems, and controlling in-water contact rescues. Certification also covers pre-planning; rescue and recovery management; specific problems which arise with floods; rescue from class IV-VI whitewater; raising/lowering systems; stokes litter management; cliff picket anchors, “A” frames, tripod setups; a night mock Search and Rescue (SAR) problem, and other subjects.

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Rope Rescue Technician:

Students are trained in pre-planning and size-up of rope rescue operations; knots, hitches and anchor systems; belay operations; ascending and descending; raising and lowering systems; and patient packaging and litter attending. Also covered are advanced problem solving and highline systems. Safety of the rescuer, rescue team, patient and bystanders is stressed at all times.

At the conclusion of both the water and land rescue courses, students participate in scenarios that exhibit their learned skills to rescue “victims.” Students handle all phases of the search and rescue, from Command Center Operations to Searcher/Rescuer. Local SAR teams also participate in the scenarios.

Searching for and rescuing someone lost in a snow or ice-covered environment can be especially challenging for the rescuer. Our ice-climbing specialists will teach you glacier travel techniques; crevasse rescue; prussik use; self-arrest, and ice wall climbing. You’ll learn how to use ropes, crampons, ice axes, and other technical gear to rescue missing adventurers. You will also learn the unique art of orienteering using a map, compass, natural aids, and electronic devices. 

Hometown, tailor-made outdoor programs are available upon request throughout North America. Just let us know what, when and where you’d like to schedule training and we’ll provide the instructor. It may be cheaper for us to work with you in your area than for everyone in your group to come here. Plus, you’ll learn how to survive or save survivors in your own neck of the woods. You can also use the training as an outreach program by inviting people in your community to participate.

In addition to our outdoor training programs, instructors are also available for special event speaking such as youth rallies, senior survival outings, camp meetings and “week of prayer” gatherings. Contact us at 970-560-0509 to arrange your event.