Advanced Survival course info.

[demented dale]

I came across this company here in Ireland and one of their courses interested me. Has anyone had any experience with them and could offer any input, feedback, recommendation or avoid etc. Thank you in advance . DD x
https://survivalistireland.com/

 

[John Fenna]

I have not heard of that one before .... but have you looked at Wilderness Emergency Survival Training on Facebook - a small but very professional survival school in West Wales. Courses are designed around the participants needs - no Stag Do party type "courses"!

 

[TeeDee]

I came across this company here in Ireland and one of their courses interested me. Has anyone had any experience with them and could offer any input, feedback, recommendation or avoid etc. Thank you in advance . DD x
https://survivalistireland.com/

I think its a really good idea to get some idea of what others have heard or seen of a course - and not necessarily go from whatever testimonials are on the various websites. There are a lot of 'companies' offering courses and it doesn't take much to set up a company.

Courses tend to vary in costs and I'm not saying high cost necessarily equal high value. However - most courses seem to have a basic entry level of cost and its going to require your time away to participate - so very important you find the right course provided by the right people for the right price.

Unfortunately I don't know much about Ireland based course providers. I would follow up on Johns suggestion

Dryad bushcraft is also based in Wales - so just a hoppity skip across the water https://www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk/

That all said I'm sure there must be a reputable school in Ireland.

 

[demented dale]

I think its a really good idea to get some idea of what others have heard or seen of a course - and not necessarily go from whatever testimonials are on the various websites. There are a lot of 'companies' offering courses and it doesn't take much to set up a company.

Courses tend to vary in costs and I'm not saying high cost necessarily equal high value. However - most courses seem to have a basic entry level of cost and its going to require your time away to participate - so very important you find the right course provided by the right people for the right price.

Unfortunately I don't know much about Ireland based course providers. I would follow up on Johns suggestion

Dryad bushcraft is also based in Wales - so just a hoppity skip across the water https://www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk/

That all said I'm sure there must be a reputable school in Ireland.

Yes you are absolutely correct. I will check out Dryad Bush craft in wales. as John has suggested. thank you both x

 

[Toddy]

Most schools seem to prefer that someone does their more basic courses before they tackle the advanced ones.....the understanding I have of it is that that way they have some idea of the capability, and the character, of someone they're going to be spending time with in challenging circumstances. Not a bad idea

I hope you have a lot of pleasure from the course (s) you choose, even if they do challenge you

M

 

[TLM]

Slightly but not much OT; what kind of subjects would one expect to be going through in a course like these?

 

[Limaed]

Slightly but not much OT; what kind of subjects would one expect to be going through in a course like these?

Well if you look at the syllabus offered by reputable companies like Woodlore or Frontier Bushcraft their more ‘advanced’ courses steps up the learning to what would be considered harder skills. The classic example would be bow drill on a ‘basic’ course and hand drill on a ‘intermediate’ or ‘advanced’ course. On a basic course you may only spend 1 night in an improvised shelter where it may be the whole week on an intermediate. You get the idea.

TBH the advanced courses mentioned by the OP doesn’t look that great. The description of skills learnt seems a bit woolly and not advanced at all.

 

[demented dale]

I have emailed them and asked for a detailed itinerary and timetable. Whilst I wish to remain teachable a basic 2 day bush craft course is not going to serve me. I have lived in a tent in the woods for the last five years and reckon I am well within my rights to skip that bit and keep the money
I am interested in why you say though about the course being not that advanced and a bit wooly. Can you expand on that please. It looks advanced to me on some levels and the skills You might learn might be more about endurance, psychology, stamina etc than practical skills. I dont know the answers yet but I am open to all opinions. Thanks for taking the time Limaed x

Well if you look at the syllabus offered by reputable companies like Woodlore or Frontier Bushcraft their more ‘advanced’ courses steps up the learning to what would be considered harder skills. The classic example would be bow drill on a ‘basic’ course and hand drill on a ‘intermediate’ or ‘advanced’ course. On a basic course you may only spend 1 night in an improvised shelter where it may be the whole week on an intermediate. You get the idea.

TBH the advanced courses mentioned by the OP doesn’t look that great. The description of skills learnt seems a bit woolly and not advanced at all.

 

[demented dale]

Ps it is also worth mentioning that whilst this course will undoubtedly contain elements of bush craft it is marketed as advanced survival. I think that is what appeals to me. Something different and challenging. x

 

[TeeDee]

There is also Backwoods survival school in Scotland.

Courses - Backwoods Survival School

The Veidemann course is something that has intrigued me for a long time.

Veidemann Veidemann – man of the wilderness. This 7 day advanced course in the remote, wild and beautiful Telemark region of Norway aims to take students back to a simpler time, when man worked in harmony with nature and the environment to meet his needs. As fish is the main source of protein in this locality, the course has an emphasis on primitive fishing techniques, many of which are not possible to practice in the UK. After building our own elk-skin coracle, we will make and use fishing nets, hooks, line and fish traps and employ gill nets, harpoons and weirs to catch the abundant local wild trout. Other subjects taught are natural shelter building, fire-craft, foraging and wild food cooking – including making elk jerky! We also cover craft work with flint, reindeer skin & antler, birch bark and natural cordages among other subjects. This is a physically demanding course that requires a good level of fitness.​

 

[demented dale]

There is also Backwoods survival school in Scotland.

Courses - Backwoods Survival School

The Veidemann course is something that has intrigued me for a long time.

Veidemann Veidemann – man of the wilderness. This 7 day advanced course in the remote, wild and beautiful Telemark region of Norway aims to take students back to a simpler time, when man worked in harmony with nature and the environment to meet his needs. As fish is the main source of protein in this locality, the course has an emphasis on primitive fishing techniques, many of which are not possible to practice in the UK. After building our own elk-skin coracle, we will make and use fishing nets, hooks, line and fish traps and employ gill nets, harpoons and weirs to catch the abundant local wild trout. Other subjects taught are natural shelter building, fire-craft, foraging and wild food cooking – including making elk jerky! We also cover craft work with flint, reindeer skin & antler, birch bark and natural cordages among other subjects. This is a physically demanding course that requires a good level of fitness.​

That sounds decent and very interesting. x

 

[Toddy]

+1 for Backwoods

Patrick McGlinchey is inspirational; honestly his work is just superb

 

[demented dale]

+1 for Backwoods

Patrick McGlinchey is inspirational; honestly his work is just superb

I looked and it looks brilliant. It not what I want though. From engaging in this thread I am certain I don't want to learn any more practical bush craft skills for now. I more am interested in 'falling' in a river for example and seeing how I might do some bush craft then or being lost, cold and stressed. In a difficult situation. This discussion has been very helpful because I was unsure what I wanted before posting and now it is becoming clearer. x

 

[Limaed]

I have emailed them and asked for a detailed itinerary and timetable. Whilst I wish to remain teachable a basic 2 day bush craft course is not going to serve me. I have lived in a tent in the woods for the last five years and reckon I am well within my rights to skip that bit and keep the money
I am interested in why you say though about the course being not that advanced and a bit wooly. Can you expand on that please. It looks advanced to me on some levels and the skills You might learn might be more about endurance, psychology, stamina etc than practical skills. I dont know the answers yet but I am open to all opinions. Thanks for taking the time Limaed x

I think our interpretation of advanced differs perhaps. I tend to think of advanced as new and harder skills focused; but I accept folk may wish to push themselves physically and mentally too.

As a service person I wouldn’t be paying for fitness tests or endurance training; I get enough of that at work .

 

[demented dale]

I think our interpretation of advanced differs perhaps. I tend to think of advanced as new and harder skills focused; but I accept folk may wish to push themselves physically and mentally too.

As a service person I wouldn’t be paying for fitness tests or endurance training; I get enough of that at work .

yeh me too. I am very fit for my age (58 tomorrow ) but I think endurance for me is pushing myself beyond what I experience day to day. I can perform many bush craft skills with ease but how would I cope in the winter with wet clothes for example or in another extreme survival situation. That remains to be seen but I am actually quite excited about it x