Some may be inspired by British TV series like Bear Grylls or the Discovery series Naked and Afraid. Others may really want to visit the Gate of the Arctic National Park (which really does require survival skills to visit).
But whatever the reason, learning new survival skills boosts one's confidence when traveling off track. Plus it is just fun to be able to get out and explore the wilderness with the right skillset (and maybe show off to one's friends). If one is afraid of some impending apocalypse, then check out these Vivos xPoint luxury survival shelters in South Dakota.
About Sigma 3 Survival School
There are a number of survival schools in the US to choose from. One of the largest is the Sigma 3 Survival School (SIGMA 3 Survival stands for Scout, Survive, Sustain). They say of themselves that they are "the largest and most comprehensive survival school in the world" with a presence globally. They claim that some of their instructors are "some of the most hardcore survival, tactical, and medical instructors on the planet."
They teach a range of primitive skills that supplement or even replace the survival gear needs. Their courses are intense and completely immersive in wilderness survival along with bushcraft programs. Their main focus is training people to be able to wander into the wilderness with nothing but a knife and survive indefinitely.
They teach their student how to get lost and then be fearless of the inhospitable wilderness around them. They grade their courses by level of difficulty on a 1-3 scale with almost anyone (regardless of fitness levels) are able to take all three courses.
- Difficulty Levels: Graded 1 Through 3
When it comes to class sizes, they only ever put up to 15-20 people in a class (other schools can have 30-200 students in a class) and they aim for a 1:10 instructor to student ratio. More good news is that there is little theory classroom time, most of it is hands-on training.
- Ratio: 1:10 Instructor To Student Ratio
They have too many courses to do justice to here but here is a sampling of the courses on offer. Check out their website for a full list. Here are three selected courses where one can choose from being the next Bear Grylls, James Bond, or Robin Hood:
Survival Standard
This is their most popular 5-day course. The Survival Standard Program is a 3 part course teaching the fundaments of survival in the shortest time frame possible. After this course, students should understand the core concepts of survival and be able to travel in almost any environment with minimal tools. One should be able to provide oneself with water, fire/warmth, shelter, food, navigation, and more.
- Difficulty Rating: Level 1
- Cost: $595.00
- Duration: 5 Days/4 Nights - 8:00 to 5:00 pm Daily
Urban Escape & Evasion Program
This is a great course for those who have watched too many James Bond movies. With this course, one learns urban survival skills like making travel plans, creating escape routes, blending with the baseline, and how to disguise oneself. One will learn how to procure shelter, water, fire, and food in urban settings - plus home defense and barricading one's home (like Will Smith in I am Legend).
Then there's the anti-kidnapping phase, learn how to detect surveillance teams and how to lose them. Learn to restrain escape (including duct tape, wire, rope, and handcuffs) and how to pick locks. Deal with interrogation and kidnappers etc.
Another aspect of the course is self-defense including knife fighting, weapon disarmaments, basic self-defense tactics while learning the tactics criminals use and how one can counter them. Perhaps then one will have the confidence to tour the 10 most dangerous cities in Mexico.
- Difficulty Rating: Level 2
- Cost: $395.00
- Location: Springfield, Missouri (Not The One From the Simpsons)
- Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights - 8:00 am to 5:00 Daily
The Primitive Bowyer Course
This is their Premier archery course that teaches how to build a bow for long-term survival skills, recreational hunting, or taking on the Sheriff of Nottingham. Primitive bow building is an essential skill for every serious hunter and it is the most effective weapon one can forge for hunting large and small game.
With these skills, one will be able to build a functional bow able to take down any sized game. The course takes only 3 days from the first morning one starts roughing out the stave to having a functional longbow. They also cover making arrows, sealing, string, and more.
- Difficulty Rating: Level 2
- Cost: $495.00
- Location: Branson, Missouri
- Duration: 4 Days/3 Nights, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Daily
Other types of survival courses on offer include instructor courses (45 days!) and wild plant courses where one learns how to identify wild edible plants and medicines.