where did you learn your skills

Well, from my proudly hillbilly family I learned a lot. Books were a lot of help too, starting with MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN by Jean George. So was Mors Kochanski, Richard Graves and Larry Dean Olson. Then, lots of practice! Some things I could make work, some things I could not. The next step was sitting with people who knew things, like Marty Simon, Tim Dilard, Ann Gill, and MANY others! Finally, I learn much from teaching- both deepening stuff I already know and learning new things from students.
 
What can I say, I'm just a Southern good old boy. Between the Scouts and just growing up in the South, most of the skills were just everyday lessons. I'm old enough to remember the days when a few boys (as young as pre-teens) could get together and go "camping" in the local wood lots. Parents didn't have to worry as the biggest injury would be a nick from your pocket knife. Child molesters were few and far between. If there was any problems, the fathers in the neighborhoods took care of it. It was a simplier time and one our children will never have the chance to live unless we make the effort to give it to them. If you want to give your child the best gift possible, give them a lesson in self-reliance.
 
I learned from the Boy Scouts, the Army, and from Ron Hardt's Survival School, up in Vermont.
- Does anyone know if he's still alive? I got a letter from his wife, Heather, about 18 years ago ref. an upcoming course, that stated in effect: "Due to a tragedy in the family...." I just assumed that he died. I heard that Heather is still teaching edible plants up in Vermont.
If anyone knows, please advise.
- Thanks
 
A lot from the Army cadet program in the '70s;
the Hunter Training program that they used to offer here in Alberta. Took that at 15, not sure if they still have it;
Then quite a bit from the army;
and lots of trial and error like fonly said!

Learned quite a bit from you folks as well!
 
My old man taught me the basic hunting/fishing tricks. Also was the one who bought me my first knife. Boy Scouts in my early teens taught a few more things. Mostly everything else(which I have alot more to learn), on my own or the net.
 
1. My old man
2. Boy Sprouts
3. On the job
4. Thomas Edison School of Persistence*
5. Every book I can get my hands on

*"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. "
--- Thomas Edison
 
Books, playing in the woods a lot, practice in the yard and garage and Earthwalk Northwest, a really great school here in the Northwest.
 
With the Internet, it's a lot easier to learn by yourself now. But you still need to practice.

Forums are good. You can get direct answers and links to other refs.
 
Most of what I've learned has just been personal experience. Ever since i was big enough to walk, I've been trying to disappear of into some woods or up a tree. My father and grandfather taught me how to shoot. After I got decent at it, they started entering me into various types of competitions, so that's where the shooting came from. All of the martial arts and fighting techniques came from various martial arts systems. I started with American Karate when I was 7. It's great for a workout and it is better than nothing, but if you want to be serious, other styles like Wing Chun Kung Fu are the way to go. I've also gotten a lot of experience with Judo and grappling styles. As far as the survival stuff goes, personal experience and a bunch of books and training from military specialists did the trick. Always though, the best ways to get knowledge about this stuff is through other people and doing it.
 
I started with a basic course through Friluftsfrämjandet. Had some survival training in the army and after that it was just a matter of practice and also read books and used the internet for new imput.
 
Was a Cav Scout sergeant (E-5) in the army in an infantry battalion (CSC 1Bn-6th Inf). Went to PNCOC was recomended for BNCOC. Took courses through the army including SERE but not the hands on class. Started camping and reading and have been doing it now for 25 years. Taught things like land navigation, patrolling techniques and tactics in the army. Started teaching land nav and SAR courses to fire departments. First my department then other groups. Been teaching orienteering to scout leaders and scouts and others for 20 years including making the maps and field checking. Started working on making a SAR team in my county. A continuing process. Have been a member of another SAR team. Took a class from NASAR on search and rescue (FUNSAR) just to have the certificate more than anything else. Have my SAR Tech III certification but should have been able to test for the SAR Tech II. They didn't have anyone to give that test. :grumpy: After all these years I still haven't found anyone to give that test within 3 states. :mad: Have my EMT certification and have been a practicing EMT for the last 6 years in my fire department. Also have recieved a wilderness EMT certification from SOLO. Due to recert that on 10/8 for the third time.

KR
 
1. Growing up in a rural area before TV, so we were outside all the time.
2. Being a Boy Scout
3. My first Survival Book, "How to Survive on Land and Sea" U.S. Naval institute
4. Lots of Hiking, Camping, Hunting and Fishing Experience
5. The Military, Semper Fi , trained for a European War, got involved in a jungle war, then trained again for a Northern European Cold Climate War, and then a desert war.
6. More survival books, edible plant books and so on.
 
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