Pathfinder Preparedness Course

Practical Preparedness for an Uncertain World Be Prepared. Be Self-Reliant. Be Ready for the Unexpected. After years of requests from students, Pathfinder School is proud to introduce our Pathfinder Preparedness Course, a comprehensive approach to emergency preparedness built around the principles of self-reliance, practical knowledge, and proven skills. This course combines years of experience, lessons learned from history, and selected skills from various Pathfinder School programs to help individuals and families become better prepared for emergencies ranging from everyday disruptions to long-term survival situations. Whether you are just beginning your preparedness journey or have been preparing for years, this course is designed to help you establish priorities, recognize potential threats, develop realistic plans, and make informed decisions without breaking the bank. Preparedness is not about fear. It is about having the knowledge, skills, equipment, and confidence to face uncertainty. What You Will Learn These are introductions to individual aspects of Preparedness and will be covered in 30-60 min per topic. Throughout this course, we will explore the essential elements of preparedness, including: Emergency Planning: Preparing for 24-hour emergencies through long-term disruptions, situational awareness, risk assessment, and lessons from history. Water: Collection, purification, filtration, storage, rainwater harvesting, and emergency water treatment. Food: Emergency food storage, preservation, canning, freeze-drying, gardening, hunting, trapping, and off-grid cooking methods. Shelter: Shelter-in-place versus evacuation decisions, alternative heating, clothing systems, firewood processing, and emergency shelter solutions. Communications: Ham radio, GMRS, emergency signaling, navigation, and family communication plans. Alternative Power: Solar energy, generators, portable power stations, batteries, and other off-grid power options. Health & Hygiene: Emergency medical supplies, first aid, sanitation, medications, and family-specific needs. Security: Home security, personal protection, defensive preparedness, and financial resilience. Hazardous Environments: Preparing for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear emergencies, including protective equipment and decontamination principles. Off-Grid Living: Traditional hand tools, water pumps, homesteading, gardening, livestock, and practical skills for functioning without modern utilities. Family Preparedness: Household and workplace planning, vehicle preparedness, evacuation routes, getting home during emergencies, and protecting important documents. A Practical Approach to Preparedness The Pathfinder philosophy has always emphasized that knowledge weighs nothing and skills are more important than gear. Rather than focusing on expensive equipment or unrealistic scenarios, we will discuss practical, affordable, and sustainable methods of preparedness that can be adapted to your personal circumstances, family size, location, and budget. Our goal is to help you identify what you need, understand why you need it, and develop the skills necessary to use it effectively. Who Should Attend? This course is designed for beginners looking for a solid foundation, experienced preparedness-minded individuals wanting to identify gaps in their plans, families seeking greater security, and anyone interested in becoming more self-reliant. This is very low intensity class for everyone to enjoy. You do not need to be an experienced survivalist to benefit from this course. Who Do I Need to Bring? You need only bring individual camping gear for this course along with food & snacks for the 4 days. There is no required gear list for this class. The Pathfinder Difference This is not simply a course about stockpiling supplies. It is about developing a preparedness mindset, understanding your priorities, and building a practical system that works for you. From modern emergency technology to traditional skills that served previous generations, we will examine how to combine the best of both worlds. The ultimate goal is simple: Prepare today so that you and your family are better equipped to handle tomorrow. Join us at Pathfinder School and take the next step toward becoming more prepared, capable, and self-reliant.