Florida Wilderness Survival Courses

Wilderness Way
Our most popular course for co-ed adults, ages 18+, who are seeking to gain confidence in a wilderness
environment and who are interested in learning the skills and knowledge of how to survive in the
backcountry "when things go wrong." The course is two-days/one-night; 10 AM Saturday - 2 PM Sunday.
Prior camping experience is not required. You'll learn all about pitching a tent and making various shelters
using various knots and lashings, how to handle backcountry medical problems, how to build a great fire
every time without matches or a lighter and how to cook over a camp fire, how to use a signal mirror
correctly, how to purify and locate water, and what's safe to eat in the woods. And, that's just the "tip of
the iceberg". To view the course equipment list click here. Course Tuition: $150.

Safe Return
Our parent and child course (youth, ages 9-17) - a fun, educational camping experience with plenty of
hands-on action for the kids. The curriculum is very similar to our adult Wilderness Way course. The
Safe Return course is two-days/one-night; 10 AM Saturday - 2 PM Sunday. The course is highly
recommended for parent/child bonding and creating a sense of family teamwork. Lost behavior will be
stressed. Parent or guardian must accompany child(ren). To view the course equipment list click here.
Course Tuition: $125 parent / $75 youth.

Wild Wisdom
This course is designed for co-ed adults, ages 18+, who desire survival training in a more challenging
aspect - using minimal gear (no sleeping bag; no store-bought tent) and minimal food. Prior camping
experience is not required nor are there any prerequisites. The course is two-days/one-night; 10 AM
Saturday - 2 PM Sunday. In addition to learning the skills and knowledge associated with the seven
survival priorities, students will learn how to field dress a rabbit and cook it over the camp fire. preserve
meat by making jerky, how to make fire by friction, and improvise various items of equipment. Included
are several "survival challenges." To view the course equipment list click here. Course Tuition: $170.

Bare Bones
Our longest and most challenging course for co-ed adults, ages 18+. If the name doesn't create a
sense of foreboding, the fact that more students have dropped from this course than any other may.
The course is three-days/two-nights; 8:30 AM Friday - 1 PM Sunday. Basically the Wild Wisdom
course with another day added, plus map and compass training; therefore, students will be doing
some bushwhacking. Definitely a terrific course for those with a desire for personal challenge and for
those seeking additional time in the woods to polish their survival skills. To view the course equipment
list click here Course Tuition: $250.

Boy Scout Survival Camp
One of the finest opportunities in the country for a Boy Scout to earn their Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. To learn more, please click here.

Private Course / Personal Instruction
The private course can be arranged for those looking for training one-on-one or with a
small group of people they know. Most weekdays and certain weekends are available
for this kind of training. Course difficulty, equipment, food, and curriculum can be
designed to fit specific needs. For example, the following is our most popular choice
of private course offering: 3-days, 2-nights. Weekdays or weekends.
Tuition: $600 one-person; $800 for two, $1060 for three, and $1200 for four.
Curriculum includes all seven priorities, plus map & compass treks, two different
overnight camps, traps & snares, and rabbit skinning/preparation over fire.

Student Testimonies

Click here to read a few testimonies from our graduates.

Public Speaking
Byron's "Knee-High Fire in the Pouring Rain" 2-hr. seminar is a rousing hit wherever it is delivered. Please contact Byron to schedule this
educational and fun offering for your group, business, or organization.

Girl Scout Survival Class
Understanding there are "men" limitations regarding GSA campouts, Byron instead provides an outstanding one-day survival class for Girl
Scouts and their Leaders. Please contact him at your earliest convenience to learn more about his one-day offering.

ABOUT THE COURSES

BKSS survival courses are designed to reach the training needs of a broad spectrum of outdoors-loving
people. The core curriculum of the seven survival priorities - Positive Mental Attitude, Wilderness First
Aid, Shelter, Fire Making, Signaling, Water, and Food - exists in every course. Each course is
different only in the aspect of "personal comfort." For example, our Wilderness Way and Safe Return
courses allow students more gear, more food, and the comfort of personal backpacking tents. Whereas
our Wild Wisdom and Bare Bones courses are more challenging in design because of minimal gear,
hardly any food at all, and students sleep in personal shelters built from natural and man-made items.
And, student beware, Byron has this woodsy quirk about giving a written test at the completion of each
course - mainly because it's a fun time and he likes to give a "trinket or three" to the winner.