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Home » Education » Training Resources
Nature Reliance School
We've known Craig Caudill for a few years now. He is serious not just about the subjects he teaches, but also about teaching methodology. If you're on the east coast, his school is our top recommendation. Subjects include tracking, survival, bushcraft, and self-reliance in a variety of environments. We recommend NRS for any subjects they feel qualified to teach.
 
Hull's Tracking School
Mike Hull is a gentleman and a tracker going way back. His professional resume as a man tracker and instructor of trackers is as deep as anyone we know.
 
SOS - School of Survival
We can recommend SOS for Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder courses. Jeff Lawn is extremely knowledgeable and stays current on the latest evidence based medicine findings. His courses appropriately include stop the bleed (MARCH) as an integral part of the protocols.
 
Adal Lopez / Ugly Puppy Consulting
Adal is the epitome of "been there, done that, doesn't talk much about it." He has a wide variety of areas of expertise, but his training practice focuses on human and canine first aid. We've spent time with him, but haven't taken any courses. Extremely trusted friends have and vouch for him.
 
Dark Angel Medical
To many, the name Kerry Davis is synonymous with civilian stop the bleed training -- and for good reason. He was one of the pioneers and is a tremendously effective instructor. Kerry travels widely, so check his training schedule for a class near you.
 
Randall's Adventure Training
We have had the pleasure of taking a single rope technique course at "the farm". That experience was enough to convince us that you can trust RAT to properly instruct anything they feel qualified to teach. There are a wide range of courses available.
 
Martial Arts Research Systems
Inosanto Lineage Jeet Kune Do / Filipino Martial Arts. An effective empty hand and weapons based system. Scot and Evan both hold black belts in this system and can recommend every one of the instructors under the lineage including Ron Balicki, Troy Miller (our home school), Cliff Lenderman, Victor Young, Larry St. Clair, and Conrad Sparnroft.
 
Simon Golob / Pistol Training
Simon was instrumental in helping HPG get its start and he is quietly one of the most knowledgeable and competent shooters in the country. We haven't taken a course from him, but have learned a heck of a lot over the years on a wide variety of subjects. Now that he has hung up his spurs as a federal law enforcement officer, he would be a first choice. 
 
Randy Cain / Cumberland Tactics
Randy Cain is probably the foremost instructor of practical bolt action rifle usage. Spoiler alert - he doesn't use or recommend a true scout rifle. We have taken his course and learned a tremendous amount. We have high confidence that you would find value in anything he teaches.
 
Vickers Tactical
We were fortunate to connect with Larry when he was actively teaching courses, and one of the few instructors with a significant background teaching civilians. If you insist on running a 1911, his 1911 operators course is highly recommended.
 
Training Priorities

Where do I start? Great question! With so much knowledge and so many skills related to backcountry travel and self reliance, how do you prioritize them? If one must, here is our take:

Land Navigation - the vast majority of civilian survival incidents start with getting lost. Therefore, your number one survival skill and a key to backcountry enjoyment is effective land navigation. Here's a quick video primer, but you'll need to practice these skills on the ground. Craig Caudill literally wrote a book on it. RAT also teaches courses that cover it.

Stop the Bleed - this is one of those low likelihood / high impact skills that is quick and easy enough to learn that you should get to it sooner than later. Dark Angel, SOS, and Ugly Puppy all teach it.