Self-Reliance Specialist School

Class Dates

#1 Date July 8 to July 12, 2024 - Price $1500
 
 

ATTN: This class does not qualify under the GI Bill®.

In the aftermath of natural or man-made disasters, it is plain to see that those who do the best are those who possess the knowledge, skills and mental aptitude to survive until help can arrive. We have seen  how quickly food and supplies are sold or stolen from local stores in the event of a disaster. It’s been estimated that in an emergency, the average grocery store would be out of food and supplies in a matter of hours. The more self reliant we become, the better our chances are to survive or thrive through whatever emergency we may face. Becoming more self reliant is a great idea even if you never have to face a disaster, because the skills you learn will make you more confident and greatly decrease your cost of living.

Our self reliance school is comprised of two sections, each one week in length. We designed it this way so students could attend as couples, each student attending the different sections, or individually for a two week course. Section one will focus on domestic self reliance skills, and include  skills for harvesting food from the following: 1. From the garden, 2.From the field (24 different grains.) 3. From the farm (milk, eggs, butter, cheese, honey, beef, etc.) 4. From the forest (wild plants for food and medicine), 5. For the future (preserving, dehydrating, freeze drying, canning, etc.).

Section two will focus on outdoor or wilderness skills for hunting, fishing and trapping. This section includes the same skills and techniques that we teach to our professional guides and outfitters. It is very comprehensive in content. For specific topics covered in each section, please refer to the chart below. The final day of both sections will be a combined wilderness first aid course, which will focus on the diagnoses and treatment of injuries and illnesses  with limited equipment and supplies. For a more complete description of this class, refer to the wilderness first aid course description on the site.

This course also includes evening activities which include: boat ride in Glacier Park, river floating trip, horse or wagon ride,  fishing trip, and western Dutch oven dinner, which make this course a great Educational Vacation.


IMPORTANT ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Please download the enrollment application. Print it out, complete the application, and mail it to the Bridger Institute mailing address. Also please include a check made out for a deposit of 50% of the course tuition payable to Bridger Institute with this enrollment form. I understand the remaining balance is to be paid no less than 30 days prior to the course starting date.

Bridger Institute
P.O. Box 1991
Whitefish, MT 59937


 

HOMESTEAD SELF-RELIANCE WEEK

 

MONDAY- FROM THE GARDEN:

  • Self Reliance and Emergency Preparedness Overview
  • Four Season Gardening (Year Round)
  • Square Foot Gardening
  • Camouflage Gardening
  • Green Houses and Grow Boxes
  • Hydroponic Gardening
  • Fruit Trees & Vines
  • Seed to Seed
  • Evening Activity Dutch Oven Dinner


TUESDAY- FROM THE FIELD:

  • 24 Different Grains to Grow and Harvest  in your Yard
  • Gluten and Grains
  • Preparing and Incorporating Grains into your Meals
  • Sprouting Grains (How to Grow And Prepare)
  • Microgreens – How to Grow and Prepare (Health Benefits)
  • Evening Activity – Boat Ride in Glacier National Park


WEDNESDAY- FROM THE FARM:

  • Chickens and Eggs
  • Dairy Cows and Cattle – (Plus Making Butter and Cheese)
  • Sheep, Goats and Pigs
  • Horses and Mules
  • Bees and Honey
  • Dinner - From the Farm
  • Evening Activity – Horse or Wagon Ride


THURSDAY – FROM THE FOREST:

  • Edible Wild Plants
  • Medicinal Wild Plants
  • Preparing Wild Meat from Mammals, Birds and Fish
  • Making and Smoking Jerky and Sausage
  • Brain Tanning Animal Hides
  • Dinner – From the Forest:
  • Evening Activity – Fishing Trip


FRIDAY – FOR THE FUTURE:

  • Pressure Canning, Water Baths and Vacuum Packing
  • Dehydrating & Freeze Drying
  • Root Cellars
  • Water Purification and Storage
  • Making Soap, Detergent, Bees Wax Candles and Hide Glue
  • Cooking without Electricity - Dutch, Solar and Rock Oven Cooking
  • Dinner – Dutch, Solar and Rock Oven
  • Evening Activity – River Rafting Trip


SATURDAY – WILDERNESS FIRST AID:

  • Wilderness First Aid Certification Course
  • Graduation Dinner

WILDERNESS SELF-RELIANCE WEEK

 

MONDAY – HUNTING BIG GAME PART 1

  • Self Reliance and Emergency Preparedness Overview
  • Top 12 Big Game Animal Profiles
  • Preparation for Hunting Big Game
  • Top 12 Hunting Techniques Used by the Professionals
  • Hunting Techniques - Spot & Stalk, & Baiting 
  • Evening Activity Dutch Oven Dinner


TUESDAY – HUNTING BIG GAME PART 2

  • Hunting Techniques  - Animal Tracking, Still Hunting
  • Game Care in the Field
  • Transporting Big Game
  • Processing Big Game
  • Evening Activity – Glacier National Park Boat Ride


WEDNESDAY – FIREARMS AND BOW HUNTING:

  • Firearms Safety
  • Handguns, Rifles and Muzzleloaders 
  • Reloading Equipment and Procedures
  • Making your own Bullets
  • Shooting Techniques
  • Bow Hunting Techniques - Primitive, Traditional and Modern
  • Making Archery Equipment (Bow strings and Arrows)
  • Bow Hunting for Mammals, Birds and Fish
  • Hunting Techniques -Tree Stands & Blinds
  • Hunting Techniques - Bow Fishing
  • Hunting Techniques - Game Calling
  • Evening Activity – Horse or Wagon Ride


THURSDAY – BIRD HUNTING AND FISHING:

  • Hunting Upland Game & Water fowl
  • Fish Identification & Field Care
  • Fishing Equipment &  Fly Tying
  • Fishing Techniques – Rivers, Lakes and Streams
  • Fly Fishing, Spin Fishing and Ice Fishing Techniques
  • Evening Activity – Fishing Trip


FRIDAY – TRAPPING AND WILDERNESS SURVIVAL:

  • Trapping Class & Trapping Equipment
  • Trapping &  Fur Handling Techniques
  • Wilderness Survival Class & Wilderness Survival Kits
  •  Wilderness Survival Shelters
  • Fire Starting Techniques
  • Primitive tools & Weapons
  • Land Navigation
  • Evening Activity – River Rafting Trip


SATURDAY – WILDERNESS FIRST AID:

  • Wilderness First Aid Certification Course
  • Graduation Dinner

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