Wilderness Courses at Alderleaf

Alderleaf offers a variety of skills-focused wilderness courses, presentations, and programs of varying lengths. Fields of study include wilderness survival, wild edible & medicinal plants, wildlife tracking, outdoor leadership, and sustainable living skills.

Our wilderness courses provide people of all ages and skill levels with valuable nature skills. Classes are led by faculty with a wealth of experience and are held year-round in the Pacific Northwest.

Browse by Course Dates:

• 2025 Course Calendar

Browse by Course Length:

• Online Courses (at your own pace)
• Weekend Courses (1 to 3 day classes)
• Week-long Courses (5 day classes)

Browse by Course Topic:

• Wilderness Survival Courses
• Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Courses
• Permaculture Courses
• Wildlife Tracking Courses
• Outdoor Education Courses
  

Custom Courses, Presentations, & Consulting

Additional Programs (Past Courses and Special Events)

Frequently Asked Questions about our Courses

Essential Wilderness Survival Skills - Learn the core skills of survival in a format that allows you to participate at home and at your own pace.

Introduction to Foraging for Wild Edible Plants - Learn the keys to getting started with identifying and gathering wild food plants in North America.

Introduction to Wildlife Tracking - Discover the skills that reveal the hidden world around you, and are vital for safety, survival, and deepening your connection to nature.

Free Survival Webinar - Discover four secrets for surviving in the outdoors without gear or supplies that anyone can put to use right away.

Wilderness Survival Course - Learn the most important skills for survival: shelter, water, fire, and food. Gain practical, hands-on experience!

Wooden Bow Making Course - Learn how to make a wooden long bow. Build and take home a hickory bow and the skills to make more.

Leatherworking Course - Make your own moccasin-style leather shoes, felted boots, or a leather backpack in this leatherworking skills class.

Backpack Basket Making Course - Learn how to weave a wooden backpack basket (also known as a pack-basket) fitted with leather straps and a wooden lid!

Survival Fire Making Skills Class - Learn how to create fire with natural materials! Hands-on experience with bow drill, hand drill, and flint & steel.

Wildlife Trailing Class - Learn how to locate fresh animal sign, follow the tracks and subtle clues, and find animals without alerting them.

Wild Plant Walk Classes - Learn how to identify wild plants and recognize their edible, medicinal, & craft uses at these seasonal outings.

Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Course - Learn how to utilize wild plants for food and medicine in the wilderness or at home.

Home-Scale Permaculture Course - Learn to apply sustainable living strategies to your home at this weekend Permaculture Course.

Wild Mushroom Identification Class - Learn the skills needed to utilize wild mushrooms! Spend a day learning about these magnificent fungi.

Summer Wilderness Skills Camp for Youth - Our day camp class for kids. Your children can also experience Alderleaf's amazing wilderness education.

Teen Wilderness Skills Camp - Teens spend five full days immersed in learning outdoor survival skills. Build self sufficiency and deeper connections with nature!

Online registration is available for many of our wilderness courses.
Visit the Course Registration page to sign up for classes.

Below are examples of additional courses we've offered that are not on the current year schedule. Most classes may be set up as a custom course for your group. Contact us to inquire or join a waiting list.

Wilderness Navigation Course
Wilderness Survival Skills Intensive
Wildlife Tracking & Trailing Course
Stone Tools & Flintknapping Course
Wildlife Tracking Walks
Survival Knots, Cordage, & Lashings Class
Survival & Tracking for Hunters Course
Intro to Mushroom Cultivation Class
Primitive Hunting Tools Course
Overnight Survival Course
Bird Language Course
Homesteading Skills Course
Advanced Plants Course
Food Forest Course
Survival Nature Awareness Class
Language of the Birds Class
Nature Photography Class
Nature-based Outdoor Education
Wilderness Scout Intensive
Survival Trapping Course
The Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program
The Advanced Wilderness Skills Program
Wildlife Tracking & Trailing Apprenticeship
The Wilderness Instructor Apprenticeship

Past and Future Special Events:

Listed below are special events we've hosted in the past and/or are planning for the future. Join our eNewsletter to stay abreast of schedule updates and additions or contact us to join a waiting list.

CyberTracker Track & Sign and Trailing Evaluations
Permaculture Design Certificate Course
Wilderness First Aid Course (WFA)
Wilderness First Responder Course (WFR)
Blacksmithing Course
Axe Forging Course
Brain Tanning Course
Knife Making Course
Reptile & Amphibian Tracking Course
Arrow Making Course
Cob Oven Workshop
Carnivore Tracking Presentation with Sue Morse
Tracking Workshop with Sue Morse
Tracking Expedition to South Africa
Trailing Workshop with Adriaan Louw
Tracking Presentation with Adriaan Louw
Human Tracking Course

Sign up to the Alderleaf eNewsletter to receive updates on
new wilderness courses and nature skills articles.

Read the Seattle Times article about Alderleaf Wilderness College.

Return from Wilderness Courses back to the Alderleaf Home Page

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Is The Essential Wilderness Survival Skills Course Right for You? Take the "Online Survival Training Readiness" Quiz

See for yourself if this eye-opening course is a good fit for you. It takes just a few minutes! Get your Survival Training Readiness Score Now!

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Grow Your Outdoor Skills! Get monthly updates on new wilderness skills, upcoming courses, and special opportunities. Join the free Alderleaf eNews and as a welcome gift you'll get a copy of our Mini Survival Guide.