Wilderness Survival Instructor

Read Time: 6 Min.

I have been quietly working on my Wilderness Survival Instructor certification with Campcraft Outdoors since 2019. I had to pause between 2020 and 2021 due to a close death in our family. And, I have, purposely, not mentioned this endeavor to hardly anyone outside of a close group of friends either. You see…The certification and patch, on their own, have never been the goal. They, certainly, signify a lot of hard work in something tangible to me though. But, it goes far deeper than that.

The Awaken Outdoors Vision: In a world that is filled with noise, that no one is even listening to, the outdoors is the one place where everything just makes sense to me. It’s the place where my anxious thoughts begin to calm until they eventually grow silent and the soundtrack of nature takes over. I’m able to enjoy the beauty of God’s flawless creation and connect with Him on a deeper level in these wild places. And, at the end of the day, I just love learning, growing, and getting better at being an outdoorsman. This has and always will remain my aim.

(Left) My Lead Instructor Jason Hunt and I at Campcraft Outdoors on my certification day
(Right) Explaining the pros & cons of various water purification methods during a very cold Winter Survival class

Campcraft Outdoors Certified Instructor

I’ll go ahead and give you the who, what, where, when, and why of this journey.

Who?
School: Campcraft Outdoors
Lead Instructors: A big shoutout to my instructors and good friends Jason Hunt and Aaron Branch. These guys have taken me under their wing and happily shared everything they know with me. They have been by my side as I have developed a strong skill set that I know I can rely on in the toughest conditions. I cannot thank these guys enough for the mentorship, but most of all, their friendship. “Iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”. – Prov. 27:17
What?
I am a basic instructor through Campcraft Outdoors in Wilderness & Bushcraft Skills. I am well-versed in the school’s curriculum for Modern Survival, Bushcraft Skills, and Winter Survival.
When?
I earned my certification in early January of 2024.
Where?
Campcraft Outdoors is located in Bethlehem, Kentucky.
You can also train with us online here.
Why?
As I mentioned in the opening of this article, I love spending time in God’s creation…
My motivation for anything to do with the outdoors will always be, because, I simply love being out there. And, if this opens more doors to help others find their confidence in the outdoors, I am ecstatic about that.

Learn More About Campcraft Outdoors

Survival Instructor Gear

As I have been preparing to write this article, I knew I wanted to share some of the sentimental gear items with you all from my instructor journey. So, here are some of the main gear items that I have used throughout this process of getting certified as a Wilderness Survival Instructor.

Patches:
These patches are earned, not given. A lot of hard work and suffering went into earning these.
Hults Bruk Almike Hatchet:
My Hults Bruk Almike Hatchet has been with me since I went full-time with Awaken Outdoors. It has been at every big event, with me on trips that helped to shape my outdoor journey, and it has been lashed to my pack for almost every class at Campcraft Outdoors. It is mostly retired, along with my original Lt. Colonel Knife for sentimental reasons. But I still bring it out from time to time.
Bow Drill Hearthboard:
This might just be a piece of wood with burn marks on it to some. But for me, this is 2 to 3 years of trying, failing, and finally finding success with friction fire. This is the willow hearthboard that I spun out my first bow drill ember with.

Lt. Colonel Knives:
(Bottom) My original Lt. Colonel Knife joined me for all of my early classes and training sessions.
(Top) The new Lt. Colonel Knife that just released at CampcraftOutdoors.com
While I may have retired my original Lt. Colonel Knife for sentimental reasons, the new one will be taking its place.
Überleben Kräftig 8:
(Bottom) My original Kräftig 8″ Ferro Rod that I got in 2018. I have started hundreds, if not thousands, of fires with this ferro rod. I have trusted my life with this fire starter and I can stand behind it 110%.
(Top) A shiny, new Kräftig 8″ that I recently added to my kit when I retired my old one.
The Kräftig 8″ Ferro Rod is my go-to firestarter and the one that I recommend to everyone.
Leatherman Wave Plus:
My Leatherman Wave is the unsung hero of my EDC. I have used this tool a ton in my classes and outdoor ventures. My favorite uses for it are removing hot pots from the fire, clipping cedar boughs with the wire cutters to make improvised mattresses, removing fish hooks, and making crafts with the help of the saw.

There are plenty of other projects that I have kept on my “sentimental shelf” from my instructor journey. But I couldn’t fit all of them into the pictures here. Some of those items include my first Roycraft Pack Frame, various tools that I trained with, natural cordage, and so on.

Doing some Winter Survival Training in the heavy snow.

My vision for Awaken Outdoors

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this has never been about any kind of certification or added credibility to my name – Though the certification certainly means a lot to me. What I do remains rooted in my love and connection with the outdoors, and my passion for seeing others enjoy it as much as I do.

What I do:
I am a Commercial Product Photographer & Outdoorsman…
Photographer: This is my career. I photograph products for the outdoor, survival, and bushcraft markets.
Outdoorsman: I think I’ve covered this one pretty well throughout this article 😉
Why I do what I do:
Awaken Outdoors has and always will remain a place that is focused on sharing the love of outdoor adventures. This can be bushcraft, survival, fishing, or just going for a stroll in a nature reserve. Just get out there, safely enjoy your time, and learn something new along the way.
Gear Reviews:
I will continue to share gear reviews with you when I find things that I think are worthy of both of our hard-earned money.
Teaching:
I am currently mapping out some online courses of my own. I haven’t nailed anything down at the moment – But it will likely be a mix of wilderness skills and instruction about picking the right gear for your adventures. I hope to share all of this with you soon.
My connection and love with the outdoors:
I am actively making sure that I take time for myself (aside from my job), to enjoy God’s creation and rest in the moments that I get to spend outdoors. I am a student of the outdoors that will never graduate…I am continuously pushing myself as an outdoorsman to further my skill set.