Survival & Earth Skills Courses
First you need to know how to stay alive (survival), then you can learn how to live with nature. (earth skills) Science education in school can only take you so far. To truly understand our place in the world we need to start from scratch, and learn what it takes to live without modern technology.
Most of our courses take place in far north Wisconsin on private property or forestry lands.
Modern Survival (survival 101)
2 Days - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
These are the practical everyday survival skills everyone should know. What if you get lost in the woods or stuck in the middle of nowhere in the middle of winter? Emergency shelter, fool-proof fires, signaling, and psychology will be covered. This course covers what you should be doing the first hour to 72 hours of a survival situation. You will get the chance to build your own emergency shelter and stay the night in it.
Tuition: $230 covers food, materials, camping.
Wilderness Survival
2 Days - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
What happens if you lose key items such as your stove or tent while traveling deep in the wilderness? What if you get injured and can't walk out? What physiological factors affect how you should think, move, and act? Wilderness Survival assumes that you will be out for an extended length of time. (More than 3 days) We'll add to the topics covered in our Modern Survival course, looking at options for clean water, food, and primitive methods of making fire and other necessities.
This course is great for those who have taken our "Modern Survival" course or for those with some survival experience but want a taste of more primitive survival options.
Tuition: $230 covers food, materials, camping
SNOWCAMP (Intro to Winter Camping & Survival Skills)
January 10-12, 2025 (Dates have been updated)
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
This is an introduction to winter travel and camping, in a small group atmosphere. Read more about Snow Camp here
Earth Skills Series
Sometimes referred to as Traditional skills, aboriginal skills or primitive skills, this is the knowledge and skills of our ancestors. Learn how to gather raw materials from nature and make what you need to live comfortably outdoors with minimal technology.
Earth Skills are what you need to live outside full time. The first step in the process is to take Earth Skills 1. Once you have that foundation you can move up to Earth Skills 2, 3, and 4.
Earth Skills I
2 days - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
This course is similar to our Wilderness Survival course in that we start with the foundational skills, but with an emphasis on long term living.
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The survival priorities
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Introduction to friction fire
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Food and water safety
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Basics of plant ID
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Shelter basics
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Knife and hatchet safety and use
Earth Skills II
2 days - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
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Insulation-dependent shelters
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Friction fire: Honing bow-drill and introduction to hand-drill and other fire starting methods
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Edible plants I
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Introduction to primitive trapping
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Cooking without metal basics
Earth Skills III
3 days - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
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Fire-dependent shelters
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Cooking containers - pottery, wood bowls, etc.
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Food preservation and storage
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Edible plants II
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Intro to wood carving - Spoon carving
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Introduction to hunting tools
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Basic basketry
Earth Skills IV
4 day challenge - Dates to be announced
Location: Lost Creek Outdoor School, Cornucopia, WI
Prerequisite: Earth Skills 1 & 2.
An introduction to the hunter-gatherer life, you and your teammates will take only what you've made in prior classes and live off the land for a few days. You will be required to use your skills for real.