Wilderness survival courses in Florida. Since 2008.
"I didn't know wilderness survival was going to be so hard." - a student.
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BYRON KERNS
Director & Lead Instructor He's got the smoke-cured pedigree and it's backed with over three decades of experience. As a former Air Force Survival (SERE) Instructor, Class 71-02, most would think Byron would be hard-charging and stern. Those who receive his teachings experience a completely different man - an instructor who is caring, humble, protective, serious, fun, passionate, emotional, and full of crazy stories. Byron has provided instruction to hundreds of small groups in a wilderness environment - people from all walks of life: an elite Navy SEAL Team, doctors, lawyers, business owners, pilots, teachers, law enforcement, rescue personnel, fire fighters, and Homeland Security to name a few. Listen to what he has to say and experience his survival knowledge and learn his techniques. Enhance your wilderness performance and increase your confidence. Know what to do when and how to do it. |
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EMMITT WAKEFIELD
Senior Instructor For nine years, Emmitt has been polishing his wilderness survival skills, honing his survival knowledge, understanding wilderness leadership and small group behavior, gaining valuable wilderness experience, and most importantly, learning what it takes to become an outstanding and caring wilderness survival instructor. Under the watchful eye of Byron, he has completely surpassed and far exceeded the school's standard. Emmitt serves brilliantly in the capacity of senior instructor for Byron Kerns Survival, continually seeking to better himself by improving his proper teaching skills and interaction with students. |
Laurence Gonzales, author of the book, Deep Survival, says this:
"As I caught my first glimpse of our instructor, Byron Kerns, he swaggered toward us wearing an 18-inch machete, a big, macho looking guy. He had worked at the famous USAF Survival School in the state of Washington. When I saw him, I thought: We're in for it now. Byron turned out to be soft-spoken, polite, cheerfully earnest, and gentle to a fault. He moved slowly, never hurried, and was always carefully assessing himself and his environment. He wasn't prone to high emotional states. He carried with him a contagious air of calm. Even after a lifetime in the wilderness, Kerns entered the woods with a deep sense of respect, like a man approaching an unpredictable creature."
"As I caught my first glimpse of our instructor, Byron Kerns, he swaggered toward us wearing an 18-inch machete, a big, macho looking guy. He had worked at the famous USAF Survival School in the state of Washington. When I saw him, I thought: We're in for it now. Byron turned out to be soft-spoken, polite, cheerfully earnest, and gentle to a fault. He moved slowly, never hurried, and was always carefully assessing himself and his environment. He wasn't prone to high emotional states. He carried with him a contagious air of calm. Even after a lifetime in the wilderness, Kerns entered the woods with a deep sense of respect, like a man approaching an unpredictable creature."
To learn more about Laurence Gonzales and the book, Deep Survival, click HERE.
Survival 101 graduates
August 2020
August 2020
"Mr. Kerns and Mr. Wakefield: After our Survival 101 class this past weekend, what more can I say but WOW! What an amazing experience my son Zander (age 18), my nephew Bryce (age 17), and I had. We arrived not knowing what to expect and left with a new appreciation for what survival is about. The method of instruction was perfect. From the hands-on aspect, the stories of experience that correlated, and to the classroom instruction under the parachute canopy, we learned so much more than we anticipated. These lessons we will carry with us the rest of our lives. I look forward to taking future classes."
- Anthony S., Regional Operations Manager
- Anthony S., Regional Operations Manager
Bare Bones graduates
October 2020
October 2020
"The Bare Bones course with Byron Kerns Survival exceeded my expectations.
As a solo female attending the course, I felt 100% safe and comfortable while learning a new skill set in an outdoor industry/recreation area that is widely male-dominated. With confident and never overbearing or intimidating guidance, Byron and Emmitt taught me how to improvise shelters and tools, craft a fire, find and treat water (which I drank the whole weekend without getting sick) and gave me the space to test all of this out on my own after the initial tutorials. Even with a rain storm and limited food rations, I couldn't help but maintain a positive mental attitude (survival priority #1) the entire course because the instructors are so good natured and positive themselves! I'd recommend this course along with any others taught by Byron and Emmitt to anyone at any age/gender/skill level, anywhere. Hands down."
- Jackie M., Outdoors Program Director
As a solo female attending the course, I felt 100% safe and comfortable while learning a new skill set in an outdoor industry/recreation area that is widely male-dominated. With confident and never overbearing or intimidating guidance, Byron and Emmitt taught me how to improvise shelters and tools, craft a fire, find and treat water (which I drank the whole weekend without getting sick) and gave me the space to test all of this out on my own after the initial tutorials. Even with a rain storm and limited food rations, I couldn't help but maintain a positive mental attitude (survival priority #1) the entire course because the instructors are so good natured and positive themselves! I'd recommend this course along with any others taught by Byron and Emmitt to anyone at any age/gender/skill level, anywhere. Hands down."
- Jackie M., Outdoors Program Director
