Attended the core survival class with my seven year old and it was a great experience. My daughter loves being outdoors and has become obsessed with "survival" shows/videos. She asked if there was classes for survival. Luckily I found California Survival School. We were fortunate to have Dan as the instructor. He background is quite extensive and impressive. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. Although I thought my seven year old would get bored with the lecture portion, Dan kept the group engaged throughout. The hand on activities were our favorite, like building a tend properly. Both my daughter and I enjoyed the class and learned essential skills that can be used in everyday situations. Highly recommend the class for any age. read more

California Survival School - Specialty Schools Near Me - Brea, California

We took the "core" survival class.... SO fun! My boyfriend and I love watching survival shows, so we thought it would be a blast to actually learn how to do the stuff they teach you in the episodes. This class was extremely informative, interactive, and a total blast. Great instructor. The class wasn't too big. It was a beautiful place. We loved everything about it! And the part we were looking forward to most was trying to make a fire, which was pretty easy with the instructors guide! This was an awesome class and I would definitely recommend. read more

California Survival School - Favorite part of the class! Such a cool feeling to make fire without any lighters, devices, etc. :) - Specialty Schools Near Me - Brea, California

We have been becoming increasingly outdoorsy and adventurous, and thought it was time to learn more about outdoor survival in case things one day go awry. We took the core survival class, and found it to be very useful. Many of the essential components of surviving in the wild are counterintuitive, especially based off of pre-conceptions we have learned from movies and TV shows about wilderness survival. We are now much better prepared because of the knowledge we gained through this class. I won't give any spoilers cause that would ruin the experience- but on top of basic survival priorities, we learned how to build shelters, purify water, best react to dangerous animals, build fire, and even identify some plants. I also learned that I am kind of a pansy and really don't want to get lost in the wild. I would definitely recommend wearing long pants and long sleeves due to some of the tasks required during the training. Don't be like the girl that came (loudly pronouncing that she was) super hungover, wearing a super deep v neck and no bra (come on man- save it for Burning Man), because you are going to have to actually do stuff. This is a hands-on course, not a powerpoint presentation. Overall, would highly recommend this course for adventurers wanting to better learn how to be safe in the wild. read more

My wife signed me up for the weekend basic survival certification course + the Monday wilderness first aid certification course without me knowing because she knew I had an interest in it, just not the initiative. 3 hours into the course, I thought "wow, if you have the information and training...your chances of survival increase drastically". On the final day...I felt like I knew many of the other clients, and staff, there for much longer than the fees days we had shared together. I recommend these classes to anybody interested in learning techniques that could save your life in a multitude of situations in a positive environment with instructors that genuinely Love what they are doing. Had some amazing conversations with new friends by the fire pit at night as well. Adult class + camp. Adam (head instructor), Josh and Aiden (the staff I had for my courses) were fantastic with different but complimentary personalities and a wealth of knowledge that naturally engaged everybody. Only criticism is that the website says you can fish...but you won't have time. read more

Challenging and lots of fun. My friend and I took the cold weather survival course and had a great time. The course experience and instruction really helped with confidence in the snow/cold weather and backpacking in general. Dan is a very knowledgeable and patient guide as well as fun to be around and learn from. Would definitely take another course in the future. read more

My husband and I took this class hoping for a lot of hands on experience. We have been to similar classes in the past and wanted refreshers about various survival skills, and perhaps learn new information. Unfortunately we were very disappointed with the class. There were 30 people who attended, with only 1 instructor. I'm not sure if this ratio/staffing was due to Covid-19 reasons, but it really took away from the experience of doing anything hands on. Most of the day was spent with us sitting down in the heat and listening to the lecture. The only hands-on thing we did was build a simple shelter using tarp and Paracord. For the price, I was disappointed with the group size, lack of hands-on activities, and lack of structure. In the future, I would ask for the size of the class, the number of instructors, and the actual hands-on skills we will be learning, as well as the tools we will be using. read more

We took a private 72-hour survival scenario class with Reza and had an awesome time! By the end of the trip, all of us felt much more confident in our ability to make it through a survival scenario in our native California. Reza is extremely knowledgeable from his study of modern methods and from his time spent with primitive cultures and it was really cool to have some of that knowledge passed on to us. We learned a ton about indigenous plant life (sage, yucca, alder, mule fat). It turns out yucca is incredibly useful once you get past the pointy parts. We practiced using it as a toothbrush, cooking it under a coal bed for a couple of days (tastes similar to an artichoke, actually), using it as soap, creating super-strong rope from it, and one of us was even weaving a basket from it. We sampled wild blackberries and wild grapes and several other interesting edible plants. We learned how to stack cairns to identify trails, we practiced carving and setting a figure 4 trap, and we got to try our hand at creating fire with a bow-drill or hand-drill (all of us managed to start fire with the hand drill, which was pretty cool!). We learned various modern survival skills as well, such as water purification methods (UV, mechanical filter, chemical filter) and signaling for rescue. We practiced how to use a knife/machete/hatchet properly for processing wood for fire or for making tools like tongs or a cooking rack. We learned several forms of knot-tying, which as it turns out is an essential skill for setting up tarp shelter. I've decided to carry a paracord bracelet with me at all times. Perhaps most importantly, we learned what are the essentials to have in a hiking pack or survival kit. I know everyone in our group is really excited to customize their survival kit, something we can bring to the outdoors to give us the best chance of making it through a dangerous situation. Overall A+, this was an awesome weekend. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to get more in touch with their primitive side, have a lot of fun in the great outdoors, and learn some skills which could turn out to be invaluable some day. read more

This place was so fun! We took the core survival class w/ josh. In the class, we learned about the rules of survival, how to make a fire, and how to make a shelter. I couldn't make fire but many people were very close. This class really taught you how to survive and I would come back again. But if you want a shorter class then you should look at the other classes because the one I took was pretty long. Pro tip: do not wear reg. shoes wear some boots or climbing shoes. My shoes were very after so be careful P.S This is outside so definitely, wear clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty. read more

Best money ever spent! Had a fun and educational day last Saturday at the scout reservation in Brea, CA. I took the core survival class and was able to make fire! I immediately signed up for the next class. The program starts at 10 and takes at least until 3 depending on class size. The instructors make it a fun and interactive event for all ages (we had families with 9 yr olds in the group) Once you arrive at the meeting point you hand over your forms and then it's a 15_20 min drive into the wilderness. Our instructors were 2 brothers Mike and Dan who are extremely humble and knowledgeable. Reza joined us in the afternoon so we had 3 instructors for our group of 18. We learned the SWFF rule and did lots of hands on training. In the morning I couldn't picture how we could possibly full the day with tips and tricks. Once it was 3pm I didn't want to leave. Signup for the specials or start with one class and work your way through the program. It's going to be a great memory and can come in handy one day. read more

I took both core survival and ancient artisans classes. I learned neat survival tricks as well as becoming inspired by the teachers. A lot of people forget that being primitive and staying close to nature is where we stemmed from with our ancestors...don't get caught up in the rat race so much that you forget how to take care of yourself in the wild. The brothers that do operate the survival lessons do it with passion and knowledge that they have acquired from the great outdoorsmen and their own takes on life. I recommend doing yourself some outdoor favor and go see them! read more

Took the core survival skills class's, it was fantastic. Learned a lot of new skills and Nikki was a great instructor. She was super helpful and nearly everyone by the end made fire. Would highly recommend this to anyone who loves the outdoors. read more

California Survival School - Shelter we built - Specialty Schools Near Me - Brea, California

We came with 20 people for a team building exercise and only had 1.5h time. I was anxious this would not be enough time but Dan and Laura were super flexible and made it great experience for all of us! The location is at a beautiful open spot in the forest next to a little stream - very nice!! I will definitely try to come back soon, this time for the whole day! Also the winery is right next door and they offer a $10 for 5 wines tasting which is a great addition to the survival school. The wines did not blow me away but were quite nice and the setting is rustic and nice, especially for larger groups like us. Big Thanks to Dan and Laura!!! read more

This was such an awesome experience and so much fun! We learned useful survival skills and met some great people. Dan, Laura and Chase are wonderful instructors. My husband and I highly recommended. This is also great for the young children to learn. read more

I went with my son to one of their day-long classes. For me, the class was a little basic and didn't teach me too much. It was fun and I know the teacher did their best. It was all a little awkward with COVID social distancing requirements. My son loved it, so I decided to average our scores. I imagine the longer classes would be a lot more in depth. So if you are interested in learning very practical survival skills, this is a great source of information. read more

Let me begin by saying, I am a girly as girly gets. My idea of being in the wilderness is a grungy, run down motel where the privilege of a toilet seat is in the $99 package that I did not get. Yet, I decided to take a chance and explore my ancestoral roots. California Survival school taught me the beauty of being primitive by making fire and shelter, and to utilize an interesting system of water purification. The instructors were friendly and approachable, with a vast knowledge of survival. After this course, the wilderness looks better than Motel 6. Oh yes. I read more

My bf and I started watching The Walking Dead and it got us paranoid about what would happen if things (like The Big One in CA) ever hit, so we decided to take the class. There were only 3 students that day since some people decided to opt out due to the overcast weather, so the 3 of us got a lot of individual attention. The instructors are great...they explained not just what you need to do, but also why, which is important when you're trying to prioritize. There is a lot of knowledge gained during the first class, but if you really want to get good at any of the skills taught, you would definitely need to go back for more instruction/practice. I had asked some other friends to come with us, but they balked at the price. It might seem kinda pricey, but it's well worth it. After all, what is your survival worth to you? read more

The primitive skills class was awesome, I learned a lot of things that would help me if I was stuck in a wilderness environment and had no 20th century tools. I am glad to have met michael baird during the trip, he was a great instructor! It was well worth the money and the groupon deal was an added benefit. read more

I took three courses with CA Survival School: the Core Skills Class, Ancient Artisans and Modern Survival. I was fortunate to have all three with Dan Baird, their co-founder and all around survival skills baller (on Nat Geo). Overall my experience was invaluable: I am an outdoor/camping enthusiast and nature lover but never grew up in a family or environment that knew anything about basic or advanced survival skill knowledge and realized that if I didn't have the right gear and/or got myself stuck in an emergency survival situation I would be screwed. Also, I really truly strongly believe our modern society is too disconnected from our environment, indigenous practices, and the earth itself and these courses are wonderful introductions or additional inlets into reconnecting with that human primordial knowledge. Thus my desire to take the courses After taking all three classes, I can now say with confidence that I have significantly more knowledge and definitely a few more skills (or at least a more intelligent way of looking at survival scenarios) then when I started, and feel confident that I know how to at least attempt to intelligently survive even if I don't have any tools or gear with me. This is huge. I could go on for a while but I will say this: 1. Do the Core survival skills first because the knowledge gained is the most fundamental and you can build off of that knowledge in subsequent classes and life. I think it's also a great introduction to see if you are into this stuff. 2. Do the Modern Survival class next. This gives you essential gear list and some essential practical skills for surviving with that gear and utilizing some modern emergency knowledge. In reality, we should and will almost always be in a more modern setting and this class really gives you invaluable insight to what you should be packing, why, and how to use it. 3. If you've enjoyed the first two, Ancient Artisans is definitely a good one to check out next. I found it the least practical, BUT there are a few skills learned there that will be absolutely invaluable should you really find yourself in a situation where you have absolutely nothing and need to survive that I think you don't get in the other classes. I didn't take any trips, though I would love to, hear they are awesome and are probably the best and most advanced way to learn, but alas they are not in my budget. Long story short: if you're thinking of doing it, do it. With Love, Chris read more

I took the basic survival course and learned how to start a fire with nothing but sticks! We also got to make shelters out of branches/leaves/trees/plants. The information they give you is invaluable, I just wish there was more in depth discussions on food, water finding/boiling and creating your fire materials. It's a great intro course to just get in there and start doing (fire starting and shelter making) since they have the fire making materials all ready for you. The instructors are professional, knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. You will definitely take away some great information, but in order for it to really stick you'll need to practice on your own or take another course..just like anything you want to be proficient in. read more

I got the groupon for the ancient artisans class first. It was a birthday present for my husband. WE LOVED it! We proudly display our tools that we made in the cabinet to remind us. Then we decided that we needed to take the Core class as well. It was a nice day to spend together and really helped with our team working skills. We almost made fire on our own but were able to work together to successfully create fire! I have taken the fire kit home and have been practicing in my backyard so I can make my own fire. I also can't wait to send my daughter to their kids camp. Work the time and money!! read more

I took the basic survival course from Mike, Dan's brother and found the class to be very enjoyable. The material was a review for me and was quite basic but the information that Mike discussed was presented in a way that made it fun for everyone. Even though it was a review I still came away with some new information. I'll be going back for the ancient artisans class very soon so we'll see haw that one goes. Whether you are experienced or a novice you will learn some fun stuff in this class. read more

I had to cancel my participation, and since i did so in the allotted grace period, i received a full refund. They were very responsive to my request, and i had no problems. Just follow the small print, and it turned out ok for me! read more

Loved the primitive survival course. Instructors are knowledgeable and use the skills routinely. Will definitely take other courses through this school to refresh and round out my skills. Was terrific for giving my gf confidence in being outdoors. The more comfortable and confident she is outdoors the less I have to worry. read more

Everyone should take this class! My wife purchased the Core Survival class for my birthday and it turned out to be a great present. Michael is not only an excellent instructor but he is patient and very knowledgable. This course is for anyone whether you are a novice like me or a seasoned hiker/outdoors person. Will be registering for the Ancient Artisan class as I want to keep learning from this excellent school. read more

I enjoyed taking the Core Survival class, which included making my own fire from handmade tools. This seems to be a family run company that is really committed to preserving nature as well as our human heritage. Happy to have been involved and hoping to return for me. read more

My company went on a Wilderness Survival Class taught by Dan and it was great. We learned basic survival skills using nature and what it has to offer. Dan made everyone feel safe and encouraged us to venture out in the wood area around where we were. The class was 6 hours but it flew by. The location was beautiful and the weather was great. We all had such fun and took away many memories. Thank you California Survival School and Instructor Dan. read more

These guys are great! My husband and I really enjoyed the primitive skills class. The instructors have a wealth of knowledge to share and will help you feel more comfortable in the outdoors. Thanks CA Survival School! I would definitely recommend this class. read more

Had a great time with my 9 year old daughter today. Michael and the rest of the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back for more. read more

Extremely solid beginner survival class! My wife and I just attended yesterday's class and we really learned a lot. We learned about the sacred order: shelter, water, fire, food and the rule of 3's. We built a small one person shelter and learned some basics about insulation and weather breaks. Touched a bit on wild edibles and the four staples of food in a survival situation. And then there was fire!! We learned a bow drill technique and had lots of hands on time trying to make fire. I'm happy to say with proper technique and following their directions we were BOTH able to get a coal started. It does require proper tools, technique and quite a bit of elbow grease but it was awesome! Our instructor Dan (along with his brother Josh and his father) were all very knowledgeable and helpful. Dan really explained things in a simple and concise way which is easily understood. He answered all of my questions and really got me thinking in a survival situation mindset. It's a 5 hr course that goes over some vital basics and gives you some hands on experience. I know we will have to practice on our own to develop the skills we learned, but I feel like Dan and the fam provided a great value and we really profited from the experience. I wore cloth sneakers which quickly got wet from the condensation on the grass , so I will probably wear a non porous shoe / boot for the next class I take. We are going to take the other classes they provide as well, but I just wanted to highly recommend this school and thank Dan and his family for a great day out in nature! Cheers read more

One of the best classes I have ever taken. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable, fun, helpful and willing to answer any and all questions. I will be going back for another class very soon! read more

My colleagues and I just finished a great 5-hour survival skills class with Dan Baird as a team building activity in Saratoga. Not only was it a great activity to spend time getting to know each other, it was ridiculously fun and rewarding! We did hands-on shelter building, friction fire building, and water boiling, plus had lots of time to chat with Dan who passionately shared great survival advice and incredible stories. What an honour to have such an accomplished person as our guide! I would highly recommend this to any team looking for something that isn't your typical off-site team-building activity! read more

California Survival School was perfect for an inexperienced but wilder-curious person like me (I took the basic skills course). I never pictured myself building a shelter or whittling tools to make a fire, but California Survival School helped me make it happen. The best part is the instructors. They're very knowledgeable and you can tell they're passionate about what they do. Most of all, they're very patient with you and will guide you through everything. They explain things very thoroughly and take a lot of pictures so you can brag to your friends about your adventure. You feel very safe in their hands! The price can seem a bit high but the experience and knowledge you gain are priceless. I will definitely be looking into other courses and adventures they offer. read more

I took 5 Day High Desert Primitive Adventure in Boulder, UT just last week. Finding words to describe the experience is possibly a job for an eloquent writer. The course is to learn primitive skills but you learn so much more. This is all because the host, Dave Holladay, is the best teacher, amazing story teller, and beautiful personality. He is legendary yet down to earth and he will teach you not only the skills listed in the "curriculum" but to respect the Earth and love it. This is the most amazing experience and skill you will earn. There are surprises as well during those 5 days. You leave Dave and the beauty of Boulder, UT with sorrow in your heart only hoping to return sooner. But you will be so empowered. Thank you, David! There is no substitute for the experience. I walk around and recommend to all including those that I do know are not even interested. Take it - you won't regret. I also want to thank Dan Baird, the owner of the school, for making this amazing trip possible on such a short notice. read more

Had a great time! Learning how to build shelter, find and filter water and make fire. These guys are so much fun.....I would recommend this class to anyone wanting to learn some of the basic necessities of survival. Be prepared to get a little dirty and have a lot of fun! read more

Did the ancient artisans class - learned cool stuff. Made a spoon out of a piece of wood and made rope from a stick! Only part I didn't completely love about this was the confusion of getting to the actual site. Once we figured it out and met up with the group it was awesome! read more

My family and I had a blast learning about some basic survival skills. Any fan of Bear Grylls or Les Stroud would have fun attending this class. We learned tips for making shelter, finding water and food, and making fire without matches. The highlight was actually starting a fire by rubbing sticks together. A fun way to spend a few hours in nature. The instructors are great. read more

what a great course.... really educational and fun.... i highly recommend it!!

Just came back from the February Copper Canyon Trip, and it was AWESOME! We got to see land, beach, ocean, desert and mountain, all in 10 days! We learned how to make shelter out of the available materials and we made fire the old fashion way (by rubbing 2 sticks), which I'm very pround of. We spent time with the indigenous people and learned about their way of life and medicinal plants. We got to see amazing scenery and meet amazing people, within our group and locals, we made friends for life. Highly recommended, we would definitely do it again. Special thanks to Dan, Dave and Michael, really knowledgeable and great to be around. read more

My department and I had a GREAT time with our Team Building. Michael was great and very patient with all of us women. I enjoyed it and it was worth every penny. Thank you again Michael. The team loved it. read more

hello my name is freddy i have spent many years in the outdoors world first growing up in the wilderness in south florida and then many years in the central american beaches and jungles the course was great even if you already have some skills you come out of there very confident and it was a joy working with my team mates mike was a great instructor and its the best money spent bang for your buck as it were if any of the members of the team i was on would like to go camping or simply say hello i remember brittany and her boy freind maggie and her son i think jarret please feel free to contact my e-mail is mango6810276@hotmail.com thanks to all peace and love read more