Ok first off. Where would one learn to survive on their own out in the wilderness? I think I've heard about survival schools, but I'm sure that would cost a lot of money, which I don't have. Obviously I could read books, but I'm talking about a hands on sort of deal. Are their career opportunities knowing survival skills?

Just out of curiosity. Is their some sort of "under ground" military type force? Something separate from the U.S. military, like an organized group of possibly ex-military guys or something?

I ask these questions because I'd like to be able to survive. It's like when the native americans let some of their kids go to the white man's school and the kids return from their schooling. The chief says something along the lines, "They know your math, science, and what not, but they don't know how to kill a deer and have troubles enduring the winter."

I guess what I'm saying is the military looks appealing just for the fact you learn things like navigation and being dropped in the jungle and you have to survive. But, personally, fighting for the politicians and corporations is a turn off.

That's why I'm looking for an alternative, if one exists at all. Thanks!

p.s. Hopefully you understand what I'm trying to get across

I'm sure there are many courses/schools that one could take to get survival training, there are also many videos/books on the web with many tips and know-how to do with survival and bushcrafting that are great as well.

The best thing would be to go camping and start to learn from there, it's mainly all to do with practice, the knowledge of plants and materials you might find or have at hand and what their uses can be,what items are necessary and where to find the basics such as water or food, how to build shelter, trap animals and what not. experience is the key to survival.

I can recommend a couple of books for you.

"SAS Survival Handbook, Revised Edition: For Any Climate, in Any Situation"
Thats a good start, and the basics that are covered are pretty solid.
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"Primitive Skills and Crafts: An Outdoorsman's Guide to Shelters, Tools, Weapons, Tracking, Survival, and More "

This one is a hit or miss, but you can gain alot of knowledge and try some stuff out by yourself at home. You can find what works and doesnt work, and develop your own skill set.

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The best way, is to just get into the wild. Get used to being out in nature, if youre not.
I would recommend also, getting in shape. But then again, I got in shape by hiking and climbing, but that was the hard way.

Buy yourself clothes needed for whatever climate you plan on being in.
sierra trading post is a good place to find discount equipment.

I always pack a waterproof jacket, and an extra pair of socks.

The way i started, is I learned about the marshes where I live. I learned about the plants and animals. Then I started camping out on the islands, with a tent and some amenities.

Then I traveled north, and camped in the mountains. I read books about North carolina, and the mountains there. I took a book of indigenous plants and birds with me on day hikes, and compared pics with the real thing, until I could identify quite a few. You train yourself... kind of. Like when you pass that tree/plant, you say it to yourself "Thats a fir tree" or "That is hemlock".

If you want to learn to camp without a tent, once again start by reading about it, then go out and try what you have learned. same with building a fire. I find that with alot of things that I read, I end up using my own variation of whatever subject is at hand.

Its about becoming comfortable with your environment, not knowing "tricks" or tips. If you are out there alone, and your environment is scary to you....well, tricks and knowledge isnt going to matter, now is it?

This is a lifestyle choice. Once outdoor adventure like survival, hiking, kayaking, mountain climbing and caving gets into your blood, you either love it or hate it.

So go out there, and get familiar. Thats as general as I can be. If you want to know anything specific, ask away. T

Some of the very best survival teachers are there in kansas but I think they've retired, John and Gerry McPherson (prairie wolf productions). You also have the BOSS (boulder outdoor survival school) in Colorado which is excellent, but expensive. Most weeklong courses are going to run you about a grand, something I think you said you don't have.
I teach survival skills and if you can make it to Virginia I'd spend a week teaching you if you can make it here (no joke). I'm retired and have lotsa time on my hands and I'm always willing to teach people who really want to learn. Besides that I'm always looking for an excuse to go camping.

I can recommend some good books but I don;t know of any good video series that you can get your hands on.

Field guide to wilderness survival, by Tom Brown Jr.
Petersons Field guide to edible wild plants
Northern Bushcraft or Bushcraft (new title) by Mors Kochansky

There;s some pretty poor books out there and even worse videos where these people get out there with a video camera and basically teach others how to do everyhting wrong Another way to learn is watching others make mistakes.
Survival skills can take a lifetime to master, a week to learn the basics.
Good luck!

I think you might actually be underestimating your own human brain. The human brain is programmed to figure out different situations that arise in the case of survivalism. Our human brains allow us to compute when we are cold "make a shelter". When we are hungry, "pick, collect, kill, harvest food. When we need to replicate. "you know"..

What I am saying as that it takes a human minimal experience to get the hang of survival. It is hardwired into our brains, and if one pays attention to the instincts it will come naturally.

dbl post srry

[edit on 7-1-2010 by wiredamerican]

Originally posted by doped00
Ok first off. Where would one learn to survive on their own out in the wilderness?

Boy Scouts should be a good place to start

The best way to learn survival is to try it.

In stead of reading books about survival. Try to visualize your self in survival mode somewhere in the wilderness. Then try it out.
What you experiance from the first trip will make the next one easier.

Great information!

Thanks for the posts

Speaking from my past experiences, I found the best way to learn life skills (that’s what we are taking about here) is to network. I grew up hunting, fishing and camping and it has bin a big part of my life over the years. I gained most of my knowledge associating with people who loved doing these things as much as I do and made some great life long friend along the way.
I would recommend you buy a gun and join a gun club. Buy a fishing rod, preferably fly rod and just do it. Don’t worry about looking foolish, the more you practice the better you will get and you will meet some of the friendliest people on the planet down on the stream.
Also the one thing every one seams to forget about here on the survival site is gardening. Start a garden and store seeds. You can survive hunting, fishing and gathering but living after TSHTF will require the ability to know how to grow produce and store it over the winter. You need to think long term just in case.
Good luck and have fun.

Originally posted by murfdog
Speaking from my past experiences, I found the best way to learn life skills (that’s what we are taking about here) is to network. I grew up hunting, fishing and camping and it has bin a big part of my life over the years. I gained most of my knowledge associating with people who loved doing these things as much as I do and made some great life long friend along the way.
I would recommend you buy a gun and join a gun club. Buy a fishing rod, preferably fly rod and just do it. Don’t worry about looking foolish, the more you practice the better you will get and you will meet some of the friendliest people on the planet down on the stream.
Also the one thing every one seams to forget about here on the survival site is gardening. Start a garden and store seeds. You can survive hunting, fishing and gathering but living after TSHTF will require the ability to know how to grow produce and store it over the winter. You need to think long term just in case.
Good luck and have fun.

I like the cut of your jib murfdog. What species of fish do you go for? Looks like a trout of some kind in your avatar. My Dad introduced me to fly fishing (for sea trout), fly tying and hunting at a young age. Some of the nicest people I know, I met through these activities. What a thrill when we caught one fish, opened it up and found a hatch of insects in its belly, most still alive. Dad says we need some of these, hands me a little jar with these tiny mosquito larvae. Off to the tying shop to make these tiny little flies, then back down to the fishing hole. We returned with our limit. I now keep my Dad in a steady supply of Brown Hackles, his favorite fly.

To add to these benefits, hunting and fly fishing build patience, awareness, and character. Things that will help build other outdoor skills.

I am now trying to carve out a bow from a piece of white ash I cut from the bush. Not many primitive archers, or bow makers around my neck of the woods, so I am kinda on my own. If nothing else I am getting to know the hand tools from the old days, draw knife, wood rasp, wood scrapers.

Coolio, and good luck with all your outdoor pursuits