Review of Cordage, Knife/Axe/Saw Skills, and Fire Skills, then going into depth on the types of shelter, their pros and cons (for different seasons, etc.) and methods of building/maintaining a camp.

Students will build a shelter under supervision and discover the benefit of a good shelter, then sleep in it. 

INSTRUCTOR RUSS MEADES, FORMER CANADIAN RANGER COMMANDING OFFICER

Russ Meades grew up in rural England and spent all of his spare time exploring and learning about the countryside.

He acquired many skills in improvisation from local characters that would later serve him well in the military.

Formal exposure to the concepts of survival was gained while training with the British Army in the early 1980s.

He took a keen interest in the subject and began teaching basic survival to British Army troops in 1987.

Following immigration to Canada and transfer to the Canadian Army in the early 1990s, Russ maintained and developed his survival skills which were useful on his many solo hunting and hiking trips as well as in his military activities.

In 2007, Russ transferred to the Canadian Rangers as their Operations and Training Officer and was able to gain further knowledge from many very experienced Rangers.

In 2017 Russ led the design team that produced the Canadian Rangers’ advanced survival course. In 2019, Russ was honoured by the great Mors Kochanski by being certified as a Wilderness Living and Survival Instructor.