Course Life
UK Survival Course

Hands-on Skills Covered:

Planning & Preparation for Outdoor Adventure

• The Survival Plan - Basic Outdoor Safety
• Selection and practical use of survival equipment
• SOS procedures and signals
• Basic physiology of survival - understanding the effects of heat and cold
• The human essentials

Shelter

• Natural shelters below the tree-line
• Construction of natural shelters in the forest for course duration
• Modern survival shelter systems and methods of use

Water

• Collection and disinfection - making water safe to drink
• Common diseases and disorders, and prevention
• Health and hygiene

Fire

• Natural resources for fire
• Fire kits - equipment selection and practical use
• Fire starting and fire management
• Fire safety
Cooking, boiling and steaming

Food

• Natural resources - plant and tree identification and practical uses
• Foraging through the seasons
• Identifying poisonous plants and berries
• Rabbit/hare - skinning, preparation and boiling a stew
• Rainbow trout - gutting, preparation and steaming
• Survival fishing techniques and natural resources for fishing
• Animal snares and traps, including natural resources for trapping, i.e. natural cordage
• Animal tracks and signs

Emergency survival rations and methods of making hot food in an emergency without flame or stove

• Cutting Tools - The Knife
• Selection of equipment
• Safe and responsible use
Maintenance

Navigation

• Map and compass - selection and practical use of equipment
• Map reading and orientation, understanding norths, symbols and grid references
• How to take and use a compass bearing
• Introduction to pacings, time and distance, relief and staying on course
• Records of intentions
• Survival navigation - by the night sky, the sun and natural signs in the Northern hemisphere

Campcraft

• Selection and practical use of equipment
• Base camp group shelters
• Lightweight shelters for on the trail - bivi, hammock and bush tents
• Outdoor food and cooking
• Health and hygiene, including human waste
• Leave no trace