Field Expedition Hunter Gatherer Primitive Skills Wilderness Navigator

Step Back in Time and Master the Skills of Your Ancestors

The Skills Courses at BOSS are designed to teach you survival skills that humans have relied on for generations. Whether you're seeking to focus on learning skills or a deeper dive into long-term primitive living, these courses provide hands-on learning in the beauty of Southern Utah's wilderness. Each day, you’ll work closely with master instructors, developing practical skills that allow you to thrive in nature.

The Challenge

With less focus on the physical challenges, these courses challenge you to think differently about survival. You’ll not only learn how to build fire and shelters, but you’ll also engage in the deeper practice of living in harmony with nature, learning to thrive with fewer tools and more knowledge. The shorter courses include almost no hiking or food stress. The longer course puts your skills to the test in a primitive living phase. You’ll be working with your hands every day, creating the tools and structures you need to live comfortably in the wilderness.

Prerequisites

  • While no prior survival experience is required, a readiness to fully engage with the challenges of living primitively is essential.
  • All applicants must complete a physical examination and receive physician approval before the course begins.
  • Students must be 18 years or older.
  • On the 14-day course, be prepared for some physical exertion, including hiking 5-8 miles at a time and tasks that require stamina and focus.

Upcoming Courses

7 DAYS

June 22 - June 28, 2025

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14 DAYS

August 24 - September 06, 2025

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More Course Dates

Food

The 7-Day Skills Course includes three daily meals and traditional open-fire cooking. The 14-Day starts with large animal processing and rations, shifting to foraging, trapping, and fishing.

Travel

Expect a short hike into and out of your 7-Day Skills camp. Those not able may opt out. The 14-Day includes some travel days during the second phase.

Shelter

Sleep in tarp or natural shelters with your group, with the chance to build and use your own. Learn to maintain long-term debris shelters.

Bushcraft Skills in Community

Learn traditional skills and crafts in a stationary basecamp. Live and travel to different basecamps as a true primitive community in the 14-Day.

14-Day Primitive Living Intensive

What to expect

The 14-Day Primitive Living Intensive is a comprehensive course that allows you to experience life as our ancestors did. You’ll dive deep into advanced survival techniques while living and working as part of a primitive village. From foraging and trapping to pottery and hide tanning, this course is a hands-on journey into ancient survival.

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Skills Taught

Also includes all skills taught in the 7-Day Primitive Skills Course.

Large Animal Processing

Learn how to respectfully process a large animal for food and tools.

Natural Carrying Vessels

Craft natural vessels for carrying supplies and water.

Pottery & Cooking Vessels

Craft clay pots and other vessels used for cooking and storage.

Natural Cordage

Learn how to turn fibers into natural cordage for practical use.

Hide Preparation & Tanning

Learn to process and tan animal hides for long-term use.

Assemble a Primitive Pack

Practice using traditional technologies for wilderness travel and survival.

Basic Plant Identification & Use

Identify edible and medicinal plants in the wilderness.

Campsite Selection & Shelter Building

Learn to choose optimal locations and construct effective shelters.

Primitive Cooking Techniques

Learn how to prepare food using stone-age methods, without modern utensils.

Trapping & Fishing

Build advanced traps and learn techniques for catching fish.

Friction Fire

Practice making a fire using a bow drill.

Hunting Weapons & Use

Craft primitive hunting tools like throwing sticks, quickie bows, atlatl and put them to use.

Community Building

Work collaboratively with fellow participants to meet the goals of daily life.

Advanced Fire Making

Practice hand drill fire-making.

Additional Cooking Techniques

Additional traditional food preparation like mano and metate, hominy, hot rock boiling, or other techniques. 

7-Day Primitive Skills

What to expect

Immerse yourself in a lifestyle that draws from the wisdom of ancient cultures. The Primitive Skills Courses at BOSS are designed to teach you survival skills that humans have relied on for millennia. Focused on traditional and primitive technology and skills attainment, these courses provide an opportunity to acquire a foundational understanding of essential skills in the beauty of Southern Utah's wilderness. Each day, you’ll work closely with skilled instructors, developing practical knowledge that allows you to thrive in nature.

See Upcoming Courses

Skills Taught

The exact skills taught on each course are determined by the instructors and student interest and engagement. The skills that might be covered include:

Friction Fire

Practice making a fire using a bow drill.

Primitive Shelters

Build and maintain shelters using natural materials found in the wild.

Primitive Cooking Techniques

Learn how to prepare food using stone-age methods, without modern utensils.

Foraging

Learn to identify and gather edible plants that are safe and nutritious.

Campsite Selection & Shelter Building

Learn to choose optimal locations and construct effective shelters.

Stone Tool Construction & Use

Craft and use stone-age tools.

Natural Cordage

Learn how to turn fibers into natural cordage for practical use.

Primitive Traps

Construct and use small game traps, including small animal processing.

Hunting Weapons & Use

Craft primitive hunting tools like throwing sticks, quickie bows, atlatl and put them to use.

Knife Maintenance

Learn how to keep your knife sharp and safe for long stints in the wilderness.

Natural Shelter Building

Study, build, and sleep in natural debris shelters where time and resources permit.

Additional Cooking Techniques

Additional traditional food preparation like mano and metate, hominy, hot rock boiling, or other techniques. 

Stone Blades

Make single-strike stone blades and be introduced to more advanced flint knapping concepts where time and resources permit.

Bone Tools

Turn found bones or bones from animal processing into various useful tools.

Natural Carrying Vessels

Craft natural vessels for carrying supplies and water.

Advanced Fire Making

Practice hand drill fire-making.

Basic Plant Identification

Identify useful plants in the wilderness.

Knife Use & Safety

Safely use knives for multiple survival tasks.

Wilderness Hygiene

Establish healthy hygiene habits in remote settings, and learn to use natural materials instead of toilet paper. 

Fire Construction

Learn to build and manage a fire in the wilderness safely and effectively.

Hide Tanning Intensive

What to expect

Of all the materials that traditional cultures use to clothe themselves, few are as beautiful, resilient, or comfortable as brain-tanned buckskin. In this week-long Hide Tanning Intensive, Emily Bartle will teach students the art of processing animal hides using various methods of softening and preservation. Each student will then learn how to smoke finished products to produce supple fabric for creating clothing, pouches, or even shoes. While you may not reach the stage of sewing during this class as the processing is quite intensive, Emily will have examples of articles of clothing made from buckskin to examine. Our goal is to teach you how to turn animal hides into usable fabric for functional clothing, containers, and accoutrements, and hopefully walk away with at least one finished product.

See Upcoming Courses

Skills Taught

Hide Tanning

Process animal hides for clothing and shelter.

Wilderness Hygiene

Establish healthy hygiene habits in remote settings, and learn to use natural materials instead of toilet paper. 

Knife Maintenance

Learn how to keep your knife sharp and safe for long stints in the wilderness.

Knife Use & Safety

Safely use knives for multiple survival tasks.

Primitive Shelters

Build and maintain shelters using natural materials found in the wild.

Friction Fire

Practice making a fire using a bow drill.