The Boreal Winter Survival Instructor Course (previously known as the Boreal Snowshoe Expedition) is a standards-based professional training course designed to train people to be working winter guides and survival instructors in the boreal forests of the north. We cover traditional living and travel skills of the northern forest by living them all day, every day. A College Level, GI Bill and VR&E approved residential course focusing on the practical, hard skills of living and traveling off the grid, it is designed to train people to become a Registered Maine Guide and to work successfully in the outdoor industry.

We are adding this course to the 2025 schedule due to requests by former students for a one day “Winter” course. It will cover multiple fire lighting techniques, shelter building, campsite selection, clothing considerations, water purification, essential carry items, snowshoeing, sled selection/ use, outdoor cooking and more.

If you spend time recreating in winter conditions or would like to gain additional confidence and skills to handle an unexpected stay in wintery conditions, then this class is designed specifically for you. Come join us for a fun and educational day.

Getting lost in the woods of Maine and New Hampshire can become a major problem in a hurry.  Every year, sportsmen enter the field and lose their way causing themselves, their families, friends, and law enforcement a substantial amount of stress and expense.  This one day class is designed to give you the confidence that only comes from knowing where you are, and how to get to and from a specific location with ease.

Careful reading of topographical maps has long been a secret of legendary hunting and fishing guides in Northern New England.  Knowing where trophy animals and fish hide, and locating those areas on a map can increase your potential for success.

Along with classroom teaching and planning, we will use our map and compass to trek across several hundred acres and back to the parking area.  Come learn a new skill and gain the knowledge you need to stay safe!

This class covers multiple fire lighting techniques, shelter building, campsite selection, clothing considerations, water purification, emergencies, essential carry items, keeping your sense of direction and more.  If you spend time in remote backcountry areas or would like to gain additional confidence and skills to handle an unexpected stay in the woods, then this class is designed specifically for you.

Learn how to manage an emergency in the backcountry from a SOLO certified instructor. This comprehensive two-day course is a fast paced, hands-on training program. It’s designed to meet the needs of hikers, skiers, hunters, fisherman, trip leaders, camp staff, and other outdoor enthusiasts who recreate in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who have become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations and receive a Stop The Bleed®, SOLO WFA and BLS/ CPR certification. This course meets the requirements to become a Registered Maine Guide and may also act as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Recertification class. 

This course is an immersive experience that combines practical skills with the beauty of the Penobscot River. We will be spending the entire time on the Penobscot River and other surrounding waterways. It was designed to give you the skills and confidence needed to plan and execute a multi-day canoe trip and will focus heavily on trip planning, water navigation, canoe and equipment field repair, and certification in Stop The Bleed®. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced paddler, our expert instructors and guides will be with you every step of the way.

If you've ever taken a Wilderness Medicine Class, you likely understand how to address medical emergencies in the wild. However, the critical question arises: "Can you take care of yourself during an unplanned night in the backcountry?" If this query gives you pause, it's time to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills essential for safely spending a night in the wilderness during an emergency. Our comprehensive two-day overnight course is meticulously crafted to impart vital skills necessary for enduring an unplanned overnight stay with minimal gear. Geared towards anyone who spends time in the backcountry, this course focuses on fundamental survival skills. Whether you embark on day trips or longer expeditions, this course will empower you to prepare, react, and safeguard yourself in unexpected outdoor situations, ensuring your safety and peace of mind throughout your wilderness adventures.

2-Week course that combines a modern Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course with essential bushcraft and leadership skills for managing a remote medical/survival incident.

The Maine Guide Medic course is a College Level, GI Bill and VR&E approved standards-based advanced Wilderness First Responder course designed to take people far beyond the minimum competencies offered elsewhere. It is designed to make people better able, as working guides and instructors, to manage a backcountry medical incident. Designed for those who live, work and travel off the grid, it was created to fill a gap in training professional wilderness guides in the skills they need to be safe and successful in their work.