Building an improvised shelter for the first time when you’re in a real-life survival situation is never a good idea!

Go beyond the basic course knowledge with this two-day in-depth exploration of expedient survival shelters.

• You’ll learn how they work, what to do if you don’t have any cordage, where to site your shelter and how to orient it.

• You’ll learn knife/axe/saw skills, and shelter-specific fire skills, plus handy bush knots.

• You’ll learn the benefits of the greenhouse effect from radiant heat, haw to make “bush buttons”, how to save cordage, and a host of other bush tricks.

• We’ll go into depth on camp craft, as well as field sanitation and hygiene, and we’ll look at camp cooking.

Note: All ATA Bushcraft and Survival courses are self-catering, which is viewed as part of the routine and discipline of wilderness living.

• For one-day courses, please bring lunch with you, as well as plenty of fluids.

• For two-day courses and above, bring sufficient food/meals for the duration, plus snacks and drinks.

• Breakfast and supper should be hot meals cooked onsite, but lunch should be cold (unless a hot food container is used) as there will not be time to cook lunch due to instructional requirements.

• It is recommended that you bring food that is pre-prepared and just needs to be re-hydrated or heated up.

• There will be one or two gas stoves available for cooking, plus the central open fire.You may bring your own stove if preferred (bring enough fuel for the duration of the course).

• Thermoses for hot drinks as well as hot food containers (wide-mouth Thermos style) are advised. You'll also need cookware (pots, pans, etc.) and cooking and eating utensils.

• A compact camp cooking set is recommended. Don't forget your cup (preferably insulated).

• You'll also need items to clean your dishes with.

• Recommended: One green scratchy pad, one dish cloth, one tea towel, a small bottle of dish soap.

• Limited food storage is available onsite, but your vehicle can be used as storage for the duration.

• Drinking water will be provided by the instructor, as will tea, coffee ("bush coffee"), and hot chocolate.

Plan your meals and keep it simple. More food is better.

You can always take it home!

Instructor Russ Meades

FORMER CANADIAN RANGER COMMANDING OFFICER

Narrow Path Bushcraft & Survival

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.