FAMILY SURVIVAL SKILLS COURSE

The Family Survival Skills Course is a fun and exciting family-oriented program set in the beautiful West Virginia Appalachian Mountains only 50 miles west of Washington DC and just minutes from Winchester, VA.

This course is designed to provide critical life skills and basic survival knowledge for adults and children in a fun campground environment.

Taught by hand-selected Special Operations veterans and various subject matter experts, this unique course is designed for every person who would like to be self-reliant and have the basic skills needed to survive isolating events or emergencies.

This is a great family bonding event and a chance for kids to learn new skills and be exposed to confidence building situations they won’t get to experience anywhere else!

This is intentionally NOT hardcore training. This course is appropriate for ages 6 and up.

Cost: $249.00 per person with discounts for groups of 3 or more.

Family Survival
Book a Course Course Calendar
  • Survivor’s Mindset
    1. Survival Blueprint
  • Planning and Preparation
    1. Contingency Planning
    2. Prevent Emergencies
    3. Control Your Environment
  • Water Procurement and Purification
    1. Prepared
      • Recommended Water Purification Products
    2. Improvised
  • Fire Building
    1. Prepared
      • Recommended Fire Starting Equipment and Supplies
    2. Improvised
  • Food Procurement and Preparation
    1. Prepared Food Recommendations and Preparation
    2. Wild Food Procurement and Preparation
    3. Edible Plants
    4. Animals
  • Shelter Building
    1. Shelter considerations and types based on conditions
    2. Prepared
      • Commercially available ready use shelter systems
      • Use of tarps, cordage, duct tape to construct shelter out of basic, easily packed materials
    3. Unprepared
      • Shelter construction out of natural materials
  • Vehicle Emergencies
    1. How to change tire
    2. How to jump start a vehicle
  • Firearms Safety
  • Practical Use of Firearms for Food Procurement & Defensive Purposes

Prerequisite Courses:

None

Other Prerequisites:

  • Ability to stay in an outdoor environment for 2 days and 2 nights.
  • Ability to physically handle shelter building, do basic manual labor, and hike up to a half mile on uneven terrain.
  • Desire to learn, accept instruction, and be part of a team in a learning environment.
  • Willingness to accept and take an active role in food procurement and preparation.
  • Ability to take and follow basic instructions.
  • Have fun!

What to Bring:

This course is 100% outdoors. Please consider the weather and climate for the time of year and for the West Virginia mountains.

Mandatory Items Recommended Items
2-6 Person Tent Non-Toxic, biodegradable toiletries
Tarp or ground-cover (the footprint of your tent) Air mattress/sleeping pad and/or hammock
Climate appropriate sleeping bags or blankets 4-6 Inch foldable or sheathed knife
Reusable water bottle (do not bring disposable bottles) Personal items or comfort items you wish to bring (within reason)
Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries Mess kit for cooking over fire, utensils, cup
Notebook and writing instruments Insect repellant, bug net, long sleeves and long pants for insect protection
Sunglasses Shorts for hot weather
Appropriate Footwear (Boots, Hiking Shoes, etc.) Folding saw like a Silky
Camp/Beach folding chairs Hat and/or Bandana
3-4 Changes of clothing, undergarments, and socks  

Helpful Tips:

Unscented Baby Wipes are great when there are no showers (Unscented doesn’t attract insects) Toilet Paper (leaves can sometimes be too rough)
It is critical when in a camping/field scenario to take extra measures to ensure high levels of hygiene. Plan and pack accordingly. Porta-Potties will be available for use.

Fall, Winter and Spring course participants must bring adequate cold weather clothing including hats, gloves, scarves, and footwear. Wool or Polypropylene is highly recommended in all weather and essential in the winter.

Spring and summer course participants should plan for sun and insect protection and bring sunblock and a hat.

Students should bring anything they may need to feel comfortable.

All meals will be provided. Please feel free to bring any additional snacks or other foods you would like to enjoy. As with any camping experience, there is no available electricity or refrigeration.

Meals provided include:

  • Friday – Dinner (cookout style hamburgers & hotdogs over a campfire)
  • Saturday – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Meals will be camping style dehydrated meals)
  • Sunday – Breakfast & Lunch (Meals will be camping style dehydrated meals)

Please let us know if there are any food allergies or considerations we need to accommodate. If you have special dietary needs, please bring your own food, just be aware the cooking methods are limited.

If you have questions, please ask. If you are missing an item or some other necessity, there are stores nearby. We know this course is the first time for some people to camp or be outdoors overnight and want this to be a fun learning experience. We know people will forget or not consider certain items, conditions, or situations… No problem! We got you!

Looking forward to training with you.