WILDERNESS SURVIVAL & TACTICAL TRAINING
Matt Tate and Joel Graves Co-Host the Netflix hit series
Snowflake Mountain
CUSTOMIZED, PRIVATE TRAINING FROM CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
We are combat-tested veterans and certified survival instructors who are passionate about preparing you to survive emergency situations, creating more self-reliance and increasing your confidence and safety as you adventure. From combat in Fallujah, to the remote mountains of Afghanistan and the jungles of Costa Rica, we have trained for and actively survived in some of the world’s most unforgiving environments. We understand how knowledge, honed skills, and mindset will work together to determine your response and success in any emergency. Meet our founders and expert instructors: Joel Graves (Jacksonville, FL) & Matt Tate (War Eagle, Arkansas)
Check out our podcast: SURVIVAL LOGIC
SURVIVAL COURSES
There are a lot of skills to master and we offer a mix of opportunities by which to learn those, whether it’s a workshop for a few hours focusing on one skill or a weekend course focusing on several skills. Below is our recommended outline for approaching your training. We understand your previous experience and personal schedule may also impact what is possible or necessary. These are offered in private settings with individuals or for private groups. PRIVATE TRAINING PRICING IS $275/DAY FOR PERSON 1 AND $135/DAY FOR EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON (FOUR STUDENT MINIMUM REQUIRED). Pricing may vary for large groups (6+), longer events (more than 4 days), and for film/television production and consulting.
JUST GETTING STARTED
These classes will provide you with the essential skills needed for wilderness survival and confidence. They will also lay a strong foundation to build your expertise on.
This one-day introduction class to basics of survival is perfect for anyone just starting to learn survival skills or an experienced adventurer in need of a quick refresh. We will examine the key components of survival: shelter, fire, water and food, students will also learn about survival psychology and signaling. This course is a great starting point, and the information can be life-saving in an emergency situation.
Survival psychology and mindset are the single most important factor in determining someone’s likelihood of survival. Mindset trumps skills and training trumps gear any day of the week. Our combat-tested veterans have gone through the most rigorous military training available, accomplished dangerous missions in austere environments, and have survived many life or death situations. They bring a very unique perspective to survival psychology mindset and understanding of survival priorities.
This class is mix between indoor classroom instruction and outdoor, hands-on instruction.
Take a walk on the wild side with American Survival Co. Trek through the with our expert survival instructor, identifying edible and medicinal plants that are readily available in your area. Learn the benefits and modern uses for these plants, as well as how indigenous cultures used common weeds as essential medicine and cooking ingredients. You will leave with a valuable knowledge of every day plants that can be brought into your kitchens and medicine cabinets.
Most of us didn’t grow up with a knife in hand, whittling tools and creature comforts from the landscape out of necessity. Knife skills are disappearing and becoming an under appreciated skill. This class is fantastic for all experience and skill levels.
This workshop is generally 3-4 hours and covers a range of skills from:
- knife and axe safety
- batonning
- useful saw techniques and safety
- biomechanics of knife use (how to use your knife more efficiently when calories count)
Knife skills seem simple…take the sharp edge, remove wood, try not to cut yourself. Like most bushcraft and survival skills, the devil is in the details. This workshop will provide you the training to effectively and safely use sharp cutting tools in the field.
The instructors have a knack for gauging your experience level and giving you appropriately challenging tasks to progress your skills. This is done from varying projects from tent stakes to wooden spoons and netting needles. No prior experience needed, but if it is there, you will be challenged.
String, cordage, rope, line — whatever you call it, it’s nature’s original duct tape. In this 3 hour workshop, you will learn useful knots and their application. These knots are extremely valuable and can be used for creating primitive tools for setting up a storm-proof shelter. There is no shortage of information and tutorials about knots online, but which ones do you need to have in your arsenal, which are the most valuable?
We will examine the most useful knots for wilderness survival (and sometimes life in general). We often get asked what skills would be the most helpful to learn before attempting some of your longer survival training courses. The answer is simple: Knots & Knife skills.
Learn from someone who has literally had his life on the line fast roping, rappelling, diving and prosecuting improvised explosive devises, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has put as much thought into his knots and why he uses them.
In our fire workshops, you will be learn how to create fire using primitive skills like the bow drill or modern tools like the ferro rod. Your instructor will also demonstrate how to create fire from natural materials, harvesting tinder and you will learn various types of fire setups.
Fire is a critical component of survival, and can mean the difference between life and death. It’s essential that you are able to make a fire quickly in any weather condition using tools or natural resources from your surroundings. Besides the benefits of warmth and light, fire also assists in water purification, signaling, warding off predators, cooking, and wound disinfection.
In an emergency situation you have 3 hours to secure shelter in extreme temperatures. Students learn to quickly make a shelter using a tarp. With a system of easy-to-learn knots, students will be able to construct reliable tarp shelters in a matter of minutes. We will explore a variety of tarp pitches for different environments and situations, to create the most effective shelter to withstand inclement weather. Our tarp pitches in Florida have survived Hurricane Max and Irma with little to no adjustment. While we cover tarp shelters in EDC Wilderness Survival, we will go deeper into shelter creation, exploring even more pitches and variations. This is great for anyone looking to make their pack ultra light on the trail.
Takeaway: Students will learn to quickly and effectively construct a reliable tarp shelter for a variety of environments and situation, to withstand the worst of mother nature. This is great for anyone looking to make their pack ultra light on the trail.
Outdoor navigation skills are essential for adventuring and exploring the wilderness. It’s easy to become lost without signal, rendering your GPS useless. Many modern navigation tools are excellent, but do you know what to do when they fail? Can you find your way without devices? In American Survival Co.’s outdoor navigation class you will learn multiple techniques for wilderness navigation, so you can get yourself safely to your destination. This class is great for hikers, backpackers, hunters, campers and adventurers. However, outdoor navigation is useful in many survival situations for those who never expect to be lost or stranded in the wilderness, this skill set is extremely valuable for all people to hone.
EDC Wilderness Survival
Prepare to survive a wilderness emergency with modern tools, learning how to meet all your basic needs with a few, simple pieces of gear that are easy to carry and essential to your survival. The focus is on modern survival skills, emphasizing basic skills, equipment, and preparedness with the expectation of rescue within 72 hours. Utilizing everyday carry items you’ll learn to provide for your basic needs of shelter, water, fire and food. This training is an investment in the ultimate back-up plan (you) if a situation goes south.
Takeaway: Students will know how to utilize every day carry items to secure shelter, water, fire and food. They will leave with confidence in their ability to survive the unexpected.
Core Wilderness Survival
Core Wilderness Survival takes you through the four basic necessities: shelter, water, fire, and food (plus a few bonus tips). Students will learn to build a primitive shelter, practicing insulation and waterproofing techniques; explore multiple fire methods, covering how to make fire at night and in different shelter types. They will also learn water procurement and filtration, as well as becoming familiar with local plant life that can be beneficial for nutrition or medicine.
Bonus Content: We will discuss survival packs and gear ideas, looking at everyday carry bags and covering minimum survival gear that should always be carried. We will end in self-rescue techniques.
Takeaway: Upon completion students will have the knowledge to provide for your most essential survival needs, think strategically about steps necessary to staying alive and take action to save their lives and those of their party, should they ever become stranded in the wilderness.
Simple Survival
Simple Survival is about developing survival skills to meet basic needs in an emergency situation with a minimal toolset. Imagine, you get separated from your group and can’t get back to your camp. You have only what you carried on you to survive. There are three basic needs you will need to meet to survive…shelter, water, fire. Without all the tools back at your camp, could you make it? In Simple Survival, you’ll learn to meet these three needs with just three basic tools, a knife, tarp, and pot. While most people carry far more than these items with them when they travel, no amount of gadgets or weaponry will help you if you can’t meet your minimal needs.At American Survival Co. we believe in contingency skill sets, should you become separated from your gear or something critical breaks on you in the field. Having to rely on less gear also makes you more mobile in the field. You will learn the primitive knowledge to meet every basic need in just about any location. Lighten your load and become a confident survivalist after this 2 day, 1 night course.
Takeaways: With only a knife, pot and tarp as their only tools, students will learn how to acquire food, water, shelter and make fire. They will leave being able to survive any terrain with a few simple tools.
NEXT STEPS
Once you have a solid foundation of essential skills, we recommend any and every food procurement class. We also recommend you practice your skill sets regularly by joining our adventure courses.
We can not stress how important plant identification and use knowledge is. Plants are going to be your food, your medicine and could be your death if used incorrectly.
Take a walk on the wild side with American Survival Co. Trek through the woods with our expert survival instructor, identifying edible and medicinal plants that are readily available in your area. Learn the benefits and modern uses for these plants, as well as how indigenous cultures used common weeds as essential medicine and cooking ingredients. You will leave with a valuable knowledge of every day plants that can be brought into your kitchens and medicine cabinets.
Set Traps & Secure Protein with Modern Equipment
Wild game may be your primary source of nutrition in a survival situation, especially during the winter months. In Modern Trapper, you will acquire a thorough understanding for traps designed to trap animals for both protein and fur, including body hold traps, modern snares and foot hold traps.
State laws regarding trapping vary, but when it’s an emergency situation and protein is needed, you will be thankful to have these skills in your arsenal. Whether it’s a natural disaster, hunting trip, pest control or to supplement diet and income, modern trapping is the most effective and calorie-efficient method of responsibly harvesting meat.
While modern traps outperform primitive traps, we firmly believe in having a contingency skill set that can be put to use when you are in an emergency situation or separated from your gear. Students will gain a thorough understanding of at least two dead-fall triggers and 3 primitive twitch ups (that actually work) and can be used in a multitude of scenarios. With a fundamental knowledge of trapping mechanics, students will be able to manipulate weight and tension with natural materials, even developing their “own” triggers and traps. With thorough comprehension of how traps work, how to set them easily and safely, to properly set bait, anyone in a tight spot can develop hundreds of traps and capture more while saving calories that would be spent on active hunting. The class includes practical hands-on practice at making primitive traps with carved sticks and natural plant fiber cordage.
Takeaway: Students will leave with a fundamental knowledge of primitive trapping mechanics and confidently be able to set a diverse range of traps in an emergency situation. Each participant makes several traps to test and take home.
Go from zero fishing experience to confident fisherman, rigging poles and baiting a hook like it’s second nature in one weekend. Not only will you learn traditional fishing methods, we will cover sustenance fishing, providing a new perspective for even some of the most experienced fishermen. While many people know how to work a fishing pole, they haven’t honed a well-rounded set of skills to truly put enough food on the table if ever in a survival situation. Shave you’re learning curve by years in this high-intensity, information packed weekend that will provide you with a new mentality on fishing and help you capitalize on one of nature’s greatest hobbies. Techniques learned in modern fishing will translate from salt water to fresh water and students will leave with the knowledge and confidence to catch fish with modern day tackle.
DAY 1– Learn fishing techniques in a classroom setting
DAY 2– Put your techniques into practice in a day of guided fishing
Takeaways: Students will learn how to use different types of fishing poles, understanding the pros and cons of different lines. We will cover hook types and why you should always carry a modern hook, as well as what is included in a basic fishing kit, and what modern “survival” fishing gear to invest in. Students will understand sustenance fishing – understanding the circle of life fishing (catching your own bait that catches you bigger and tastier fish). Students will also learn about trotlines, hand lines, cast netting, modern survival gill nets, and fishing without an engine-powered boat.
1-Day Bow Class
Make a high-performance composite bow and arrow with your hands and learn primitive archery all in one day. We have partnered with Dave Mead Longbows to provide hand-crafted kits for a unique, primitive bow with impressive quality at an affordable price. Upon completion of our class you will leave with a great shooting bow, handmade arrow and the skills required to use them effectively.
This bow does not disappoint. Stable, accurate and smooth to draw, the horse bow is very compact with no stack, finger pinch, or hand shock. These bows can be made as takedowns for ultra portability or as a sing high-performance unit.
Takeaway: Students will leave with a hand-crafted, great quality horse bow and the knowledge to use it.
Required Equipment: Mead Longbows kit (allow 3 weeks prior to class for production) – $159
___________
2-Day Bow Class
Make a high-performance, unique, recurve bow and arrow from raw materials and learn primitive archery in two days. We have partnered with Dave Mead Longbows to provide hand-crafted kits for a unique, primitive bow with impressive quality at an affordable price. Students will have the benefit of shaping and tillering a bow, and the satisfaction of making a high-performance bow completely by hand. Upon completion of our class you will leave with a great shooting bow, handmade arrow and the skills required to use them effectively.
This bow does not disappoint. Stable, accurate and smooth to draw, the horse bow is very compact with no stack, finger pinch, or hand shock. These bows can be made as takedowns for ultra portability or as a sing high-performance unit.
Required Equipment: Bow Kit made by Mead Longbows Required (allow 3 weeks prior to class for production) – $89
Construct an atlatl from natural materials in this one-day class at American Survival Co. in Jacksonville, Florida. With this primitive weapon, you can learn to hunt and fish like Matt Graham. The Atlatl has been used since the earliest civilizations. This quick, powerful throwing spear that offers more range than a javelin, but is easier to make and master than bow, allowing you to have a handy weapon for obtaining protein. With a spur on one end and a handle on the other, it provides additional leverage to propel a dart that is heavier than an arrow but lighter than a spear much farther and up to three times faster than one could with a one-handed throw.
Make a slingshot with American Survival Co. and learn how to shoot it in this short class. We will use inexpensive, modern materials and common natural resources to construct a sling shot and learn proper shooting techniques in a half day class. These primitive weapons are often overlooked, but slingshots really offer great portability and a short learning curve. With practice, your accuracy can become deadly and make this method one of the easiest, short-term, food procurement options available.
Students will learn:
– How to create a quality sling shot
– Improvising slingshot ammo
– How ammo affects accuracy
– Understanding band sets
– Carrying your slingshot in your EDC
– Common Mistakes to avoid
– Improving accuracy
We will offer some pretty fantastic adventure opportunities throughout the year, from fishing and hiking hidden lakes of the Everglades to surviving the jungles of Costa Rica. We partner with local experts around the globe to bring amazing opportunities to our students.
TACTICAL TRAINING
JACKSONVILLE, FL and NW Arkansas – URBAN SURVIVAL-CIVILIAN SERE (SURVIVAL | EVASION | RESISTANCE | ESCAPE)
(2-3 days pending group size)
Learn valuable skills to put you at an advantage in event of situations like home invasion, assault, and kidnap. Our SERE course is developed from personal training in Naval special forces, omitting those elements which we are not legally able to provide to the civilian population. We further tailor the instruction to focus on the most common threats encountered by civilians both domestically and abroad. In this class you will learn:
- Situational awareness and preventative measures
- Escaping common restraints like handcuffs and zip ties
- Self-defense
- Learn how to use and conceal makeshift weapons
- Survival mentality and how to best interact with hostile individuals and captors
- Navigation and wilderness survival tips when being tracked
TRAINING LOCATIONS
We are based out of Jacksonville, FL and Hindsville, Arkansas. The majority of our classes take place in those locations.
- Learn more about Jacksonville, FL location, classes, and instructor – Joel Graves
- Learn more about Hindsville, AR location, classes and instructor – Matt Tate
We also partner with instructors around the US and internationally to provide unique training opportunities and adventures in other locations. Check out some of our upcoming classes below. Our instructors are willing to travel to your location to provide individual and group training. Submit a request here.
GET STARTED
The cost of private training is $275/DAY FOR PERSON 1 AND $135/DAY FOR EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON (4 STUDENT MINIMUM REQUIRED). Pricing may vary for large groups (6+), longer events (more than 4 days), and for film/television production and consulting. All participant will be required to sign our waiver before engaging in any training.
TRAINING IN ACTION
Check out our YOUTUBE CHANNEL for even more videos of classes and helpful tutorials. While we believe there is no substitute for hands-on learning, we often make tutorials for our students so they can refer back to them for continued practice.