Bushcraft And Wilderness Activities (Survival Skills)

Learn Survival skills by distance education, for travel, camping, trekking etc. in wilderness areas. A great home study course for campers, trekkers, eco-tourism professionals, tour guides, recreation leaders, etc. Self paced, study externally, at home

Course Code: BTR201
Fee Code: S2
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
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Learn to survive in the wild!

Whether on day or overnight trips, whenever a group goes on a trip into natural areas they need to be prepared, and led by someone who has an adequate level of survival skills.  Every week in Australia there are reports of individuals and groups missing in the bush, often quite close to help, occasionally these events are fatal, but they don't have to be

Work in an outdoor supply or camping shop; or in the tourism or leisure industries.
 
This course builds an understanding of the things you are likely to confront when you leave civilisation; and provides a foundation for preparing yourself and those who accompany you for any excursion into a natural area.

This course is valuable to people who may have a recreational interest in wilderness exploration, tour guides, scout leaders, or eco-tour business owners.


Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Understanding Wilderness Areas
    • Introduction
    • Living Things
    • Ecological Relationships
    • Climatic Zones
    • Climate/Soil/Vegetation Interrelationships
    • Plant Associations
    • Continental Drift
    • Understanding Impacts of Weather on Wilderness Activities - Highs and Lows, Thunderstorms, Atmospheric pressure changes in storms, guide to weather symbols.
    • Terminology
    • Participant Fitness Levels - testing current physical fitness and further tests
  2. Equipment
    • Introduction
    • Equipping to survive - minimum essential items for the survival kit, additional items, individual medical kit
    • Essential Items for Wilderness Travel
    • Clothing
    • Nutrition
    • Food packaging
    • Liability and Insurance
    • Risk Assessment
  3. Protection from the Elements
    • Introduction
    • First Aid Procedures
    • Hypothermia (exposure)
    • Hyperthermia (heat exhaustion)
    • Building a wilderness shelter
    • Lighting a fire
    • Mental strength
  4. Natural Resources
    • Introduction
    • Finding water - plan ahead to find water, how much water do you need? Landscape vegetation and animal signs, things to avoid, making an above ground still, soakage water, water from tree roots
    • Case Study - Survival story
    • Bush tucker or Survival Food - Australian bush tucker foods.
    • Preparation of plant food.
    • Animals for food
    • Use of Bush Tucker Food
  5. Navigation
    • Introduction
    • Navigation and direction finding - how to use a compass, map reading, longitude and latitude, scale, contour lines, estimating distances, pacing.
    • Navigation by the sun, moon and stars
  6. Dealing with Emergencies
    • Introduction
    • Venomous creatures - snakes - symptoms of a poisonous bite, first aid, arachnids - first aid, marine creatures - jelly fish, cone shell, first aid, scorpionfish, lionfish and stonefish - first aid, other dangerous marine creatures.
    • Carnivorous mammals - bears, big cats
    • Poisonous plants
    • Bushfires
  7. Camping
    • Introduction
    • Setting up camp
    • Camping - different styles of camping
    • Successful camp programming
    • Waste disposal
  8. Passive Land Based Activities
    • Introduction
    • Observing nature
    • Orienteering
    • Environmental activities for children
    • Plant collection
  9. Water Based Adventure Activities
    • Introduction
    • Some water-based activities - snorkelling, scuba, sailing, speed boating and jet skiing, canoeing, white-water rafting, water skiing.
  10. Active Land Based Adventure Activities
    • Introduction
    • Activities - abseiling, hang gliding, rock climbing, snow skiing, snowboarding
    • Motorised Vehicles - landscape impact, safety, considerations
    • Mountain Bikes
    • Horse Riding

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Describe the scope and implications of ecotourism opportunities in wilderness areas.
  • Prepare for an excursion into a wilderness area
  • Determine appropriate methods of protecting against the elements.
  • Determine different uses for natural resources in the wilderness.
  • Navigate in a wilderness area using a variety of different techniques.
  • Apply a range of emergency responses in a wilderness situation, including developing contingency plans and determining appropriate first aid.
  • Explain campsite establishment and management.
  • Determine appropriate procedures for managing different passive wilderness activities.
  • Determine appropriate procedures for managing different water based wilderness activities.
  • Determine appropriate procedures for managing different active wilderness activities

Be Prepared!  

Wherever you go in the wilderness, you need to understand the risks and be prepared for the worst thing that might happen. Being prepared can mean different things for different people; and all according to the circumstances.
If you are away from other people, in a place where you may not encounter anyone else for day, you will need to prepare differently to how you might prepare when walking a trail that others come along every day.

Being away from "civilization" and potentially help; means that you are vulnerable if you exhaust your supplies or yourself; or worse still suffer an injury. Problems like sunburn, dehydration or hypothermia can "sneak" up on you; so it is important to understand such things, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them if they do happen.

Consider Hypothermia (exposure)

During hypothermia the core temperature of the body loses heat. The normal body heat of a person is 37 degrees. Survival is threatened once this core temperature falls below 35 degrees. Hypothermia occurs when the body's temperature falls below 35C. The core temperature of the body is not the same as the skin temperature which can heat up or cool down quickly and may be degrees cooler then the core temperature. Skin temperature outdoors is not important.

Many situations can cause the body to lose more heat than it can generate. These can include prolonged exposure to wintry conditions, immersion in cold water for a length of time, or being out in windy weather in wet clothes. The risk of hypothermia isn't confined to subzero temperatures – it often happens in temperatures ranging from 0–10 ۫ C. Mild hypothermia is relatively easy to treat in the field, but severe hypothermia is life threatening without prompt medical attention.

If the body is cooled, capillaries and blood vessels in the limbs will constrict limiting blood flows to the extremities where warmth is easily lost (hands, face and head). Hypothermia can be either rapid or gradual. Rapid hypothermia is usually associated with drowning particularly when water is extremely cold (as water causes a rapid loss in body temperature).

Gradual hypothermia is slow loss of heat from the body and is usually associated with wet, cold and often windy conditions, particularly when the clothing becomes wet. In a steady wind heat loss can begin to occur at 10 – 12 degrees Celsius. Gradual hypothermia is extremely dangerous as it is often unnoticed by the person affected. 


The symptoms of hypothermia can progress quite slowly.

The various stages include:

  • Feeling cold
  • Cold skin
  • Shivering
  • Loss of concentration
  • Loss of control over the small muscles – for example, the muscles of the fingers
  • Facial skin turns grey or blue in colour
  • Drowsiness
  • Lethargy
  • Confusion
  • Loss of physical coordination
  • Lack of shivering
  • Slowed breathing
  • Speaking difficulties, such as slurring
  • A strong yearning for sleep
  • Coma
  • Death.

 

AFTER YOUR STUDIES

This course will not only develop knowledge and understanding, but will also build your general self confidence. You will be better prepared to survive no matter what life throws at you, physically or mentally.

Some graduates may use this course to prepare themselves for a challenge; and others will use it to be better prepared to help others deal with their challenges.

This course can be used for self improvement; or to help advance career or business opportunities.

This course may help your work in many situations, including as:

  • An ecotour business operator
  • An adventure tour guide
  • An outdoor equipment or camping supply retailer
  • A camp ground manager
  • A wilderness park ranger
  • A youth leader
  • A life coach
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

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If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Alison Pearce

University Lecturer, Quality Assurance Manager, Writer and Research Technician. Alison originally graduated with an honors degree in science from university and beyond that has completed post graduate qualifications in education and eco-tourism. She has managed veterinary operating theatre, responsible for animal anesthesia, instrument preparation, and assistance with surgical techniques and procedures.

Dr Robert Browne

Zoologist, Environmental Scientist and Sustainability, science based consultancy with biotechnology corporations. Work focused on conservation and sustainability.
Robert has published work in the fields of nutrition, pathology, larval growth and development, husbandry, thermo-biology, reproduction technologies, and facility design.Robert has B.Sc., Ph, D.

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