Learn & practice backcountry survival skills on our industry-leading Survival School!
There is a reason our Survival School is considered the best in the northeast. Like all, we teach backcountry skills like fire without matches, primitive shelter, natural navigation and the like. But we go much further and teach the psychology of survival - how to tame your stress response to handle any situation, in the woods or in life! Without presence of mind, even the most finely honed skills won't save you.
We'll choose the date and then we'll work with you to fine tune the details of the day to your specifications; start time, menu, destination, and more. Unlike our pre-scheduled trips, there is no minimum to these trips to go out. We can add round trip transportation via minvan or 15 person van. Groups larger than 8, inquire for large group discounts
Trips stats:
🥾 Less than 2 miles of hiking total over easy terrain, with minimal hiking off-trail to our survival school location
⛰️ No elevation gain during this trip
🧭 Difficulty: All-Levels. No hiking or backcountry skills required for this trip!
Your Guide:
Dave brings 20+ years of outdoor leadership expertise to each adventure he shares. He founded Destination Backcountry in 2011 and has since grown it into NY’s largest wilderness guide service; their renowned Guide Academy has trained some of the best guides in NY. Dave, has been featured on the Today Show, in the Wall St Journal, Backpacker & Men's Health Magazines, and more for his for his signature ADAPT survival methodology as well as general outdoor expertise. Groups larger than 4 will have a second guide/instructor.
A Catskills local, he lives in a log cabin in the forest that he and his daughters share with the fairies
Curriculum:
🧠 The psychology of survival: the most important part of any survival situation
🔥 Lighting a fire without matches
🪵 Building a survival shelter with natural materials
🆘 What to bring in your survival pack
💧 Obtaining water
🚑 Effecting rescue
🧭 Natural Navigation
🌿 Prelim wild edibles
What's Included?
🧀 Lunch: We will provide a healthy, gourmet lunch and snacks during our adventure. We offer vegetarian and vegan options, and we’re happy to accommodate any dietary and allergy needs.
🌄 We'll provide survival kit, but feel free to bring your own - we'll help you make the most of it!
Schedule
Your choice to start at anytime between 9-12. Times below based on a 10 am start time
10am - meet at - Codfish Point Trailhead for introductions, instructions, hot beverages & snacks
~10:15 -hit the trails! On our hike into camp we’ll introduce the Psychology of Survival; the human psychological and physical response to stress and how to overcome it, effective decision making under pressure, needs assessment, risk evaluation/management, utilizing available resources, and more
~10:30am - arrive at our destination, finish Psychology of Survival instruction.
~11am - skills instruction and guided practice! Lighting a fire without matches, building a survival shelter, what to bring in your survival pack, obtaining water, effecting rescue, natural navigation, & more
~12:45 -1:00 - hike back to the trailhead!
Destination
Our adventure will take place in a gorgeous Catskills forest wilderness and take advantage of locally available materials and resources -- The forest is beautiful, the terrain and ecosystem is great for survival instruction, there's ample water, and the possibility of wild edibles.
Must have
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable clothes. Standard workout clothes are great for hiking
🥾 Footwear: Sturdy sneakers, trail runners, or hiking boots. We’ll let you know well in advance if conditions call for special footwear.
🧣A few extra layers of clothes for breaks
Good to have
🌧️ Rain shell
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat
