Survival Instructor Legal, Social & Cultural Technicians
SaveWhat Does a Survival Instructor Do?
Survival instructors guide groups into vast, natural areas, and assist them in a self-directed instruction of basic survival needs without any comfort facilities or modern gear to fall back on. They coach the participants into mastering survival skills such as fire making, producing primitive equipment, shelter construction and procurement of water and nourishment. They ensure the participants are aware of certain safety measures without diminishing the level of adventure, of environment protection and of risk management. They encourage efforts of leadership from the group and mentor the participants individually so as to push their limits responsibly and help overcome potential fears.
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Where Do I Start?
Rope Lashing
The process of attaching several objects, such as poles, together by use of rope, wire, or webbing often to secure or create a rigid structure, such as a self-fashioned table, tree house, or latrine. Types of lashing include square lashing, round lashing, and diagonal lashing.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Survival Instructor
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialRope Lashing knowledge
The process of attaching several objects, such as poles, together by use of rope, wire, or webbing often to secure or create a rigid structure, such as a self-fashioned table, …
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EssentialRisk Management knowledge
The process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, …
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialCompass Navigation knowledge
The monitoring of movement from a starting to a finishing point using a compass, rotated until the compass' orienting arrow aligns with the cardinal direction north represented by an 'N'.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialPrimitive Technology knowledge
Technology created for or fashioned from natural elements that assists in wilderness survival, such as handicrafts, survival tools, and weapons.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialNatural Food Resources knowledge
The location, qualities, and preparations of safe, edible, and potable natural products, such as fruit, plants, meat, and fresh or recycled water.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialProtection From Natural Elements knowledge
Forces of nature, such as weather patterns and seasonal conditions, their characteristics and any means of protection against them.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTracking Principles knowledge
The various components to specifying an animal or person's whereabouts by reading and interpreting the trails and signs left behind by them such as foot or paw prints, faeces, or …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAdapt Teaching To Student's Capabilities skill
Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students' individual learning needs and goals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Teaching Strategies skill
Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist Students With Equipment skill
Provide assistance to students when working with (technical) equipment used in practice-based lessons and solve operational problems when necessary.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDemonstrate When Teaching skill
Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEducate People About Nature skill
Speak to a variety of audiences about e.g. information, concepts, theories and/or activities related to nature and its conservation. Produce written information. This information may be presented in a range …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEncourage Students To Acknowledge Their Achievements skill
Stimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialGive Constructive Feedback skill
Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialGuarantee Students' Safety skill
Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person's supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Conflicts skill
Mediate in conflicts and tense situations by acting between parties, such as service users, important others like families, and institutions, striving to effect an agreement, reconciliate, and resolve problems.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Student Relationships skill
Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialObserve Student's Progress skill
Follow up on students' learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide First Aid skill
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRead Maps skill
Read maps effectively.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssess Nature Of Injury In Emergency skill
Assess the nature and extent of injury or illness to establish and prioritise a plan for medical treatment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialBuild A Fire skill
Select a safe location, away from trees and bushes, to build fire using tinder, a fire starter such as matches, a lighter or specific rocks, kindling wood, and logs. Ensure …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInspire Enthusiasm For Nature skill
Spark a passion for the natural character of fauna and flora and human interaction with it.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialLead Hiking Trips skill
Guide participants on a nature walk on foot.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Camping Facilities skill
Keep campsites or areas for recreation, including maintenance and supply selection.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTeach Survival Skills skill
Instruct participants in the theory and practice of wilderness survival, often, but not exclusively, for recreational purposes, more specifically in subjects such as food scavenging, setting up camp, building a …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Geographic Memory skill
Use your memory of geographic surroundings and detail in navigation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Rope Access Techniques skill
Apply ropework to work in elevated position. Safely ascend and descend ropes, wearing a harness.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 19 displayed)
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OptionalAnimal Evolution knowledge
The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCelestial Navigation knowledge
Understand the science of celestial navigation and position fixing by using specialised measuring equipment.
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalLip Reading knowledge
The methods used to understand speech by interpreting the movements of the lips, face and tongue for people affected by hearing impairment or to understand people from a distance.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalAnimal Behaviour knowledge
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTeamwork Principles knowledge
The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAssess Students skill
Evaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalConsult Students On Learning Content skill
Take students' opinions and preferences into consideration when determining learning content.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFacilitate Teamwork Between Students skill
Encourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPrepare Lesson Content skill
Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide First Aid To Animals skill
Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians prior to first-aid …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Lesson Materials skill
Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRepresent The Organisation skill
Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Rigging Tools skill
Employ rigging tools such as cables, ropes, pulleys and winches to safely secure high structures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork With Different Target Groups skill
Work with a variety of target groups based on age, gender and disability.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalClimb Trees skill
Ascend and descend from trees in a safely manner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Groups Outdoors skill
Conduct outdoor sessions in a dynamic and active way
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Inventory Of Camping Supplies skill
Oversee the inventory of camping equipment and supplies and take care of maintenance and the repair or replacement of equipment if required.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Fishing Equipment skill
Operate and maintain equipment used recreationally for fishing or in fisheries such as various kinds of nets and fishing gear.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Modern Electronic Navigational Aids skill
Use modern navigational aids such as GPS and radar systems.
Course recommendations coming soon.