Course Overview
| Location | Course Date(s) | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF Bay Area | 2/28/26 | $165 | Sold out |
| OC/LA Area | 3/28/26 | $139 Sale! | Buy Now |
| SF Bay Area | 3/29/26 | $139 Sale! | Buy Now |
| SF Bay Area | 04/26/26 | $149 Sale! | Buy Now |
| OC/LA Area | 5/09/26 | $149 Sale! | Buy Now |
Stop just surviving. Learn to thrive.
As the #1 survival school in California, we don’t just teach you how to make it through simple overnight emergencies — we teach you how to prepare for wilderness survival emergencies anywhere in the world. This is the foundational course where the “Know More, Carry Less” philosophy begins.
Join the school trusted to consult for National Geographic, LA County Sheriff Dept, History Channel, and Hollywood blockbusters like The Revenant. Whether you are a day-hiker, an outdoor professional, or simply want to feel at home in nature, this hands-on field training will transform your understanding of the wild.
Why Train With California Survival School?
Internet theories get you killed; solid field-tested live instruction with some of the world’s best instructors, will equip you with the real-world tools to stay alive.
Unlike classroom-based lectures, our curriculum is built on developing field tested skills, based on prioritized risk mitigation strategies. You will train outdoors, utilizing the same skills our instructors—like Matt Graham (Dual Survival) and Dan Baird (Nat Geo)—use in the world’s most hostile environments.
We move beyond the sensationalized survival generalities to focus on statistically backed modern survival best-practices, paired refined tried-and-true ancestral outdoor wisdom.
What You Will Master: The Core Survival Training Curriculum
Legitimate survival training focus’s on the biological realities of human survival, based on historical record paired the latest survival research and field testing.
You will learn:
-
Survival Planning & Prioritization:
The “right” survival skill, done at the wrong time, will kill you. One of the cornerstones of proper Wilderness emergency response, is learning how to prioritize your thinking and actions, to correctly match your situation. Above all else, learning how to think is your #1 survival skill.,
-
Emergency Temperature Regulation
Exposure is the #1 killer in the wild. You will learn well-rounded approaches to maintaining your core body temperature in any climate.
- Shelter: Strategies for primitive and low-tech emergency shelters.
- Fire: Modern and primitive fire-starting techniques for warmth and signaling.
- Clothing: How to dress and layer effectively to preserve heat.
-
Hydration Management
Learn how to:
- Locate water in the wilderness
- Make sure it’s safe to drink (with and without modern tools or materials).
- Correctly utilize limited resources
-
Caloric Management & Foraging
Dispelling the myths of “living off the land.”
- Realities: Understanding caloric needs during short-term survival.
- Wild Edibles: An introduction to foraging and how hunting/gathering fits into a rescue plan.
-
Land Navigation Fundamentals
Getting lost is easy; getting found is a skill.
- Tools: Practical compass use and map reading.
- Situational Awareness: Reading the terrain to prevent disorientation.
-
Mindset, Rest & Cognitive/emotional Management for Emergencies
Panic is a faster killer than hypothermia. We teach you how to manage fear, stress, and energy levels to make rational, life-saving decisions when the pressure is on.
Who Is This Wilderness Survival Skills Course For?
This fast-paced adventure is designed for anyone age 5+ (minors must be accompanied by a guardian) who wants to build real-world confidence.
- Hikers & Backpackers
- Scouts & Youth Mentors
- Disaster Preparedness Minded Individuals
- Outdoor Professionals
No prior experience is required. We take you from zero to capable in a single day.
Training Locations
As the state authority on outdoor education, we offer this course in major hubs across California:
- Orange County & Los Angeles: Firestone Scout Reservation (Brea) and surrounding wilderness.
- San Francisco Bay Area: Santa Cruz Mountains (Boulder Creek) and Livermore.
- San Diego County: Mataguay Scout Ranch and local wildlands.
- Sacramento & Lake Tahoe: Rotating alpine locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior outdoor experience? No. This course is the perfect entry point for beginners, yet detailed enough for experienced outdoorsmen to refine their skills.
Is this course physically demanding? This is an active day outdoors, but it is not a “bootcamp.” You should be comfortable walking on uneven terrain and spending the day outside, but rest easy, the course is kid friendly, and extreme fitness is not required.
What should I bring? Come dressed for the weather (long pants, close-toed shoes, hat). Bring a lunch/snacks, plenty of water, and a notebook. We provide all survival gear and tools needed for the training.
Who teaches the course? You will learn from our roster of world-class instructors, which includes expert trackers, naturalists, and survival consultants who have worked on projects for History Channel, Netflix, and Discovery.
Itinerary
Date & Time: This course runs from 10 AM to 3 PM unless specifically noted otherwise. Available class dates are noted below for each location.
Directions: The date and area locations for each class are listed in registration section below. Our Main Operating Areas are:
Orange County & Los Angeles:
Training events are held at various locations throughout the OC/LA Area.
Most events are held at Firestone Scout Reservation in Brea CA. Directions and other preparation specifics are generally send out a few weeks prior to the course.
Please refer to details provided for your specific event at registration.
San Francisco Bay Area:
Training events are held at various locations throughout the SF Bay Area in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Many are presently held near Boulder Creek and Livermore CA. Please refer to details provided for your specific event at registration.
San Diego County:
Training events are held at various locations throughout the San Diego Area.
Many trainings take place at Mataguay Scout Ranch.
Please refer to details provided for your specific event at registration.
Sacramento/Lake Tahoe:
Training events are held at various locations throughout the Sacramento Area. Please refer to details provided for your specific event at registration.
Additional Information
Class Sizes: The average class size for this course is between 15 and 20 people. Classes are limited to a maximum of 30 participants.