Nature Skills Courses - Wilderness Survival School

Welcome to Alderleaf Wilderness College, wilderness survival school, permaculture training and outdoor education center. Alderleaf offers courses on wilderness survival, wild edible & medicinal plants, permaculture, wildlife tracking, naturalist skills, and outdoor education in the Pacific Northwest.

What 3 Survival Skills Can Save a Life?

We're re-releasing our free survival tips videos and a special opportunity that comes around only once a year and for a limited time: Learn More

Featured Core Program:

The Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program
Our most comprehensive wilderness course. In-depth training in nature, sustainability, wilderness survival skills, and more. Course runs Sep to Jun.
(learn more) Accepting applications for 2019-2020

Apply now - to receive priority for student housing and scholarships.

Featured Short Courses:

Essential Wilderness Survival Skills (online course)
Learn the core skills of survival in a format that allows you to participate at home and at your own pace.
(learn more) Accepting registrations

Weekend Wilderness Survival Course
Learn the most important skills for survival: shelter, water, fire, and food while gaining practical, hands-on experience.
(learn more) Accepting registrations

Weekend Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Course
Learn how to utilize a diversity of native wild plants for food and remedies in the wilderness or at home.
(learn more) Accepting registrations

Weekend Knife Making Course
Forge your own knife while learning about steel selection, basic metallurgy, profiling, heat‐treating, grinding, and more.
(learn more) Accepting registrations

Wild Mushroom Identification Class
Learn the skills needed to forage for wild edible mushrooms! Spend a day learning about these magnificent fungi.
(learn more) Accepting registrations

More Courses and Events...

Watch a short video introduction to Alderleaf Wilderness College:

Testimonials on Alderleaf - Nature & Survival School:

"If you want to learn about wilderness survival and primitive skills from extremely knowledgeable instructors, Alderleaf Wilderness College is for you. I learned more than I ever thought possible at their classes."
-Casey Kafka

"Alderleaf Wilderness College is outstanding at developing and delivering wilderness skills programs, providing both a deep level of knowledge and context for the teachings."
-Ryan Whisnant

"I would recommend the Wilderness Certification Program to anyone wanting to reconnect with nature and a desire to live simply, with and for the land. Through this program I have become the change I was waiting for!"
-Jase Grimm

"Alderleaf provides a wide range of studies that will increase anyone's knowledge and understanding of the natural world."
-Seth Anthony

"Every course I've taken at Alderleaf Wilderness College has had a huge positive impact on my life and changed the way I look at, approach, and relate to the world around me."
-Tyler Shannon

"Alderleaf is a wonderful school for learning how to live with the earth and not just on it."
-Gianna Torres

"Alderleaf Wilderness College's staff uses teaching styles that allows for all kinds of learners to learn and have fun. I use this knowledge all the time. I would highly recommend this wilderness survival school to others."
-Rocco Gianni

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