I Tried Wilderness Survival Training: Here’s What Happened
By Marnie Kunz, NASM-certified trainer, USATF- RRCA-certified run coach
I never thought I’d start a fire in Prospect Park, in the middle of Brooklyn. I sat in the woods on a December day as part of a wilderness survival training course I participated in with REI. Before the pandemic, I never would have thought I’d end up here. But after spending a lot of time outdoors the last few years, and adopting an outside-loving dog, I became more interested in hiking and traveling in wilderness areas. One day, a wilderness survival class at REI popped up when I was Googling something, and I decided to sign up. This guide offers an overview of wilderness survival training and gives my insights from taking the REI class. I am by no means a survival expert, and I live in the concrete jungle of NYC. This is my experience taking a survival class.
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What is Wilderness Survival Training?
Wilderness survival training includes strategies to live through emergency situations in the wilderness. The REI class I took, Wilderness Survival: Winter Skills, focused on how to survive in the wilderness when an emergency arises. Our instructor pointed out that the class focuses on staying alive until help arrives or you can escape the emergency situation. The course is not geared toward helping people live “off the grid” or in the wilderness indefinitely.
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10 Essentials of Wilderness Survival
One of the central themes of wilderness survival training is the 10 essentials of wilderness survival. These items are crucial to pack for camping trips and hikes that go beyond an hour or two. The 10 essentials have evolved, so different classes may have variations on this list. In our course, we learned about 10 essentials of wilderness survival which include:
Navigation tools such as a map, compass, and electronic map. Although many people use electronic maps, remember that you may be in remote areas without a cell phone signal. So, a paper map is a smart backup tool.
A headlamp or light source such as a flashlight.
Sun protection is essential to prevent sunburns, which cause a lot of energy from the body to heal (diverting energy away from survival).
First aid kit
Knife. Make sure it is a legal size/form, according to local ordinances. According to Brooklyn law, knives must be fixed (not switch) blades and under a certain size.
Fire-starting materials such as a fire starter, lighter, or matches (keep in mind that matches can run out quickly).
Shelter materials include an emergency tent, tarp, or an emergency blanket.
Extra food. For emergency situations, carbs are most important for energy. Calorie-dense foods high in carbohydrates, such as trail mixes and nut bars, are ideal.
Extra water is crucial to survive in the wilderness. This may be water you’re carrying and, as a backup, a water filtration system.
Extra clothes to stay dry and warm are vital to survive, especially in cooler temperatures.
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The Law of Threes
A crucial concept in wilderness survival training that we learned in the course was the Law of Threes. This law states that people can survive about 3 minutes without air, about 3 hours without shelter (in harsh weather), 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. This can help prioritize what to focus on when surviving in the wilderness.
As an active person who easily gets hangry, I always assumed food would be a big priority when stranded in the wilderness. But in the class, I learned that hunting and looking for food can take up a lot of precious energy, often burning more calories than consuming the food you find. Staying dry and warm by setting up a shelter and having access to clean water are more important than finding food.
Benefits of Survival Training
Wilderness survival training offers many benefits, especially to active people who plan to be outdoors for extended periods. Knowing some survival strategies offers lifelong benefits, whether you enjoy hiking with your dog, trail running, or camping. Here are some advantages of taking a survival training course:
Can save your life in an emergency situation.
Improved confidence and enjoyment of outdoor settings.
Can help you aid other people in emergency situations.
Better understanding of the wilderness and respect for the natural world.
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My Experience at REI’s Wilderness Survival: Winter Skills Course
I learned a lot from my day traipsing around Prospect Park as part of REI’s Wilderness Survival Winter Skills class. Our guide, Kayla, was very knowledgeable and well-qualified. Kayla is a longtime NYC Parks Ranger and outdoor enthusiast. Kayla covered a lot in the 4-hour course, and made the experience beginner-friendly and welcoming for everyone.
The REI classes can be up to 12 people, but we only had 5 in our class, which was great for plenty of individual attention. Our class had all ages and backgrounds of people and was welcoming to all levels. People’s experience levels ran the gamut, from an older, experienced backpacker to a mom and her kid who want to do more outdoor activities together.
The wilderness survival class was a fun and educational way to spend a weekend day. As someone who grew up playing in the woods in the Midwest, I really enjoyed the chance to get outside and learn things that my childhood self would have admired. I also met some interesting people and gained more confidence in my outdoor skills (who knew I could learn to tie different knots so quickly!).
Here are some of the highlights of what I learned in the course:
Staying dry and protected from the wind are crucial for winter survival. Wetness and wind cause heat to leave the body more rapidly than normal. Even in temperatures up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.8 Celsius), people can get hypothermia in wet or windy conditions.
Finding food is not as crucial as securing shelter and water in wilderness areas.
Stopping and calming down can be a lifesaver in emergency situations. The tendency to panic can use up valuable energy and lead to impulsive actions you may regret.
Everyday items can have valuable purposes in survival situations. For instance, hand sanitizer and Vaseline are highly flammable and can be used to help start a fire.
Overall, I highly recommend REI’s wilderness survival training course. I took the winter skills training class and would like to take their 4-season skills and compass navigation courses next. If you are an outdoors enthusiast or plan to do trail runs, hikes, or camping trips, I recommend checking out REI classes for skills to improve your outdoor adventures and safety.
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she’s not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.
