Survival Stage 1

New for 2025

This Stage 1 Course over 3 days and 2 nights will give you an introduction to all the skills necessary to wild camp in the UK and Ireland.

Join our experienced leaders Rob Hill and Joan Noade as they deliver this course. Rob, our chief instructor, is a qualified mountain/expedition leader with over 25 years of experience. Joan is a Forest School Leader and Playworker with over 25 years of experience in delivering fun outdoor play with children and young people of all ages and abilities.

This course has been developed by the Finnebrogue Woods Team for beginners or those who have some skills and would like to build on or refresh them.

Fire, Food, First Aid, Water, Navagation & Shelter (FFFAWNS)
FFFAWNS is a professional and military acronym that was
developed to focus and cover the most important skills in wilderness environments and survival situations and will form the course syllabus we will follow.

Dates:

Friday 28th February, Saturday 1st March, Sunday 2nd March

Times: 10am-4pm daily

Tickets: £359 includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners.

Camping:

Note: It is not compulsory to camp out but it is preferred (there is no difference in price) and people who do not wish to camp can leave at 4.00 pm. If you do not want to use a shared camp space you may bring your own hammock or tent.

Course overview:

Day 1 Start at 10.00 am
Intro, course outline and H&S brief. - Kit admin, demos, wilderness scenario aspects. - FFFAWNS background, ideology and wilderness/survival mentality. - Shelter requirement situations and basic shelter demos. - Bends, hitches & lashings. - Shelter and camp setup. - Natural emergency/shelter intro. - Scenario for emergency/natural shelter. - Locating ideal shelter area. - Shelter building practice. - Campcraft.

Day 2. The principals of firecraft, safety & next fire mentality. Natural and synthetic materials, primitive and modern methods and techniques. - Use primitive, carry modern fire making background. - Fire making demos. - Firecraft project period. - Featherstick and wet environment fire craft. -Friction fire demo. - Materials, methods and techniques. - Tree ID and material harvesting walk. - Bow drill set construction. - Fire area prep. - Friction fire practice.

Day 3. - Intro wilderness first aid. - First Aid kits and possibles pouches. - FA scenario and region preparedness. - Working with hot or cold climates. - Field dressings and wounds. - DRS ABC - Lionel procedures. - CPR. - Kit and method improvisations. - Foraging and preparing natural medicine. - Casualty mobilization. - Splints, slings and crouches. - Stings, bites and critters in the field. Day 3 ends at 4.00 pm

We would ask you to bring the following:
Sleeping mat
Sleeping bag
Outdoor waterproof clothing and hiking/outdoor boots
Knife/axe – you can hire (look under optional)
Fire lighting kit –you can hire (look under optional)
Snacks – if you wish to have some
Drinks – if you wish to bring some
Headtorch
Drinking cup/mug ; Water Bottle
Tarp – you can hire (look under optional)
Torch (hand or head)
If there is anything else you need and don’t have don’t worry we will probably have it and can add it to your hire pack.
Optional Tool Hire - £10 with £5 returned