Took wilderness 1 a little while back with the family and definitely got a lot less than what I was expecting. I liked Shane and the whole "The Elders" mambo Jambo but i was really looking forward to a lot of hands on stuff like fire building, shelter building among other wilderness survival skills but no it was just Shane talking about a lot of you could do it but we won't do it today so please sign up for the other 80 classes where you might learn how to do these things. Yes I know you cannot learn all of this stuff in one class but for the time and money I felt like I could just go on my phone and look these things up. Don't get me wrong I had fun, but Shane please get rid of the classroom like benches and have your students try to do things from the moment they get in and on the cold days please light a fire and keep everyone warm, people will be able to digest the information better when they are not freezing. Yes I know fire is sacred and it has to be earned but don't torture the students for the whole day and only at the end light a fire. Enjoyed the elder stories, didn't like being super cold for super long. I personally will not be taking 79+ classes but I would suggest this to others to see what they have to say about their experience. Teaching is sacred and you don't have to torture your students to get the point across. read more

As a life-long city person whose always wanted to learn about survival and existing in nature, the Wilderness Weekend was a dream. I highly recommend getting out there over multiple days, if possible. Over the three days I spent there (Friday night, Saturday, Sunday), I felt a slow shift in my mindset and internal clock. It felt good to 'relax' and quiet my usually raucous head. After spending time with Shane, it's obvious he's incredibly knowledgeable, and as he takes you on walks through the woods, he drops a wealth of details about plants, trees, tracking and more. I have pages of sketches I took while on the trail. It's impossible to absorb it all, but I certainly tried haha. I'm definitely coming back. During the weekend, I learned about building shelters, and how to ensure you've set camp in a safe place. I learned about fire structures, attempted to build one and light it with one match (2 out of 6 of us were able to do so, which goes to show that understanding the teachings and being able to execute them are a matter of continuous practice/study). I also got to learn how to make cordage from natural materials, the structure of a basic trap, and practice knife-skills. I'd encourage those interested in attending to think of the school as an academy, rather than a one-off experience. Though you can get a lot of out one class (from information, to a relaxing, cleansing time away from the city), it's clear that the only way to truly learn and absorb the material is to practice and study it the same way one would practice a musical instrument. read more

I highly recommend taking classes at the Mountain Scout Survival School. If possible, enroll in classes at the Hopewell Junction location - the wild forest encourages and inspires. My husband and I took Wilderness 1 in mid March, 2021 in the Hudson Valley, and a week later, I took Tracking 1 and Fire 1. Wilderness 1 is an intro class, and because Shane introduces the "7 arrows," it is essential to take this class before enrolling in other more hands-on classes. As a survey class, Wilderness 1 attracts many different kinds of people with varying levels of experience. I enjoyed it immensely, but it was in the classes that followed where I had the privilege of experiencing the unique community that Shane has built. So, how does he do it? Shane's approach to teaching is informal and conversational, and he invites his audience's reactions and participation by telling anecdotes to highlight the key points of his lessons. In the 3 classes I took over the course of 2 weeks this month, Shane facilitated a learning experience that includes some lecture-style and note-taking, followed by hands-on experiences like starting a debris hut, tracking footprints across pathways, and preparing materials to start a fire using a bow drill. I signed up for the classes to gain perspective and start to cultivate an important skillset, and because I am on a very personal journey: my convenience-focused lifestyle has made me feel like I am existing outside the natural world, and I believe that humanity is causing irreparable damage to Mother Earth because so many people are living an unsustainable lifestyle. When I became a mother myself, this realization became a call to action. The only possible step to take is to cultivate a strong connection to our First Mother and a reverence for Her so that we can know that we are part of the natural world, and therefore responsible for and impacted by everything else. When Shane started sharing thoughts like "nothing in Nature can move without disturbing something else" and "we are all a part of this Earth," I was able to personally connect to the practical information I was learning at the Mountain Scout Survival School. Wilderness 1 may start on a light-hearted note with discussions about the apocalypse and theories about whether or not zombies float or sink, but it ends with the class circled around a fire with the classes Scouts facing away from the fire as a symbolic gesture in honor of our experience with the fire - for many of us, our "First Fire." In Tracking 1, students are introduced to the concept of traveling through time when following a trail: "where you were I am, and where you are I will be... and eventually, we will find each other in the future." In Fire 1, students are invited to express gratitude once they have found the stick with which they will make their bow drill. Thus does Shane imbue every teaching with a spiritual element that makes experiences at Mountain Scout truly unique. I cannot wait to bring my children up to Hopewell Junction! read more

Wow... Had the complete opposite experienced then Seth B. did. Took the Wilderness Class 1 1/3/15... Weather wasn't bad to start out with, chilly sunny day, then the snowed came in about 1300 hr. Got about 2-3 inches. It was assume. We experienced a lot of same stories and tips that Seth B. did. However, there was plenty of hands on. We half built a survival shelter. There was 5 of us total, and we were taken by surprised by how long it can take to build a shelter if you were in that situation by yourself. We learned about the relationship of working to conserve energy and the dangers of sweating, but to also be mindful how long it takes to build a shelter out of the land. Making a fire was another part, how to construct,and feed the fire.... Watch these guys build a fire in the wet snowy conditions was experience. Yes, I releases Shane and his crew do this all the time, but it was a learning experience to see it, and not just learn it from youtube. Again, we had to get fire wood. It may sound boring or simple, but I tell you its hard work after you have build your shelter. Try going to you local park and collect 4-5 bundles of small wood in the snow. Last hands on was carving out our own traps. Yes, we learned some basic trapping, but it was more of an exercise in learning knife skills.... I don't begrudge anyones experience, but if you're going to learn survival skills, don't go on a nice spring, summer, or fall day. Go when the weather is nasty and see how you do... It takes on a whole diff meaning.... Again, this is a beginners class.... Looking to take on Wildness 2 in FEB!!!!!! read more

Mountain Scout Survival School - 1/3/15 Day of Wilderness 1 - Specialty Schools Near Me

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It had been a minute since I'd done anything outdoors. My time is usually spent on the road or behind a computer screen. I was a little skeptical of someone claiming to teach "Scout/ Survival Training" classes. I know it's become a pretty popular topic (everyone is prepping for the Zombie Apocalypse) and I wanted to make sure that this wasn't some fly by night operation just trying to make a buck by simply reiterating the first few chapters in most basic emergency preparedness/ emergency survival books. Well from the moment we all loaded for the Wilderness 1 class... I knew I made the right choice. EVERYTHING is a learning experience and the more you hang with Shane and his roving band of mountain ninjas/ghosts (LOL) you will see that the skills taught in these classes... apply to your life everywhere, everyday... not just in the wilderness or during an emergency. Now I'm getting dirt time every chance I get. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me!!! read more

Great knowledge. Great experience. You will get what you pay for and more. I did Wilderness 1 and 2 for my bf's bday using the package discount provided through the website. read more

6 months later...I''m still waiting for my money to be returned. Pay back what you owe me.

My girlfriend and I went for Wilderness 1 when the temperature was 3 degrees. Taking this class we got to learn in three ways: 1. Listening to all the practical details the instructor shared. Unfortunately our pens froze and couldn't take any notes. I highly suggest taking notes. 2. Learning by doing. We built our own shelter from scratch. Collected materials and made our own fire. And practiced some basic knife carving. 3. As we were outside in the cold, our bodies go through a physical learning experience. We began to adapt. Be open minded, respectful, and patient if you want to get the most out of this class. It can take you out of your comfort zone. read more

I can confirm that any previous review of Wilderness 1 stating that you will spend the day being lectured with very little hands on is true. Shane and his staff were very nice and knowledgeable. From an instruction stand point I was not pleased at all. In a 7 hour course we may have done about 90 minutes of hands on activities. I must stress that I am being generous with the time on that. Shane has a great deal of knowledge and experience however; he is not good at taking that experience and turning it into meaningful instruction and it does not look like he will adjust his style to meet the needs of his learners/customers. Too much of the lecture is him offering his opinions on modern day society (which he rejects), providing his resume, and how highly he is regarded by the indigenous people. During the car ride home I stated to my son that if you walk away from a period of instruction knowing more about the instructors resume rather then skills that were supposed to be taught, then chances are you were not taught that much. I was prepared to attend more courses after this one however; I am not taking a three hour ride to waste a Saturday to be lectured to. read more

Saturday 3/24 attended the Mt Scout School upstate in Garrison. Had a great time learning outdoor skills and met nice people. I'd do it again for sure. My friend is going to the Central Park class this Saturday 3/31. read more

My wife and I enrolled us and my 14-year old daughter for the one-day Wilderness 1 class, which was held in Garrison. I would not recommend this course for anyone. The instructor Shane Hobel is an entertaining guy, and he probably knows a lot about the wilderness. He is not a good instructor, however. For a class about preparedness, it was clear that the teacher was unprepared to teach an all-day class. The class consisted of Shane talking for hours on end. There was virtually no hands-on activity. Shane talked about the importance of "dirt time," but in fact he just lectured at us for hours, and had few props to demonstrate what he was talking about. Basically it became clear that he was just winging it. That might work for an hour or two, but an all-day course requires some advance preparation. For example, there was a whole section on water filtration. Shane's helpers erected a small tripod made of sticks tied together, and then Shane talked about how one could hypothetically tie bandanas to the sticks to form tiers for filtering water. He explained how one could then take charcoal from a hypothetical fire and turn the charcoal into a fine powder, and filter the water through the charcoal, and then filter it through sand, and a variety of other filtration media. Let me stress: all of this information was conveyed without any demonstration. He just told us about it. He also told us abstractly how to distill water and catch it with a tarp, etc., without any diagrams or props. He told us that it is important to know which plants are which, and that we should look online to find images of poison ivy, for example. Would it have been difficult for Shane or his volunteers to press samples of poisonous plants to show us what they look like? If I wanted to look online to find pictures of plants I could figure out how to do it without being told by a wilderness survival instructor. Shane also made some remarks that were completely nonsensical. For example, he told us that under the sidewalks of Manhattan there are twenty stories of buried city streets, and that he has walked these streets, and seen old barber shops and lampposts, which have been built over and forgotten. My daughter asked me, "How can there be buildings in Manhattan now that are from the early 1800s, if the city has been built over like that?" The answer of course is that Shane is wrong. Manhattan may have a few disused subway stations here and there, but the city has not been build upon like Rome or some other ancient cities. Shane also told us that if you get bitten by mosquitos it is because you are approaching the insects with a sense of defensiveness and hostility. He is never bitten by mosquitos because he has a serene relationship with nature. Shane didn't address the fact that mosquitos bite people in order to feed themselves. It isn't about your feelings towards the mosquitoes. Shane said a lot of New Agey stuff like that, dressed up with references to indigenous wisdom and "the elders." He spent about fifteen minutes complaining about ice water in restaurants and told us how he likes to put slices of cucumber and lemon in his room-temperature water. The day we went it happened to be raining and cold, and Shane made a big deal of bragging about how warm he was because of his advanced training, and that he knew how to alter his metabolism. "I may feel cold, but I am not cold," said Shane. After about five hours we decided to leave because we were getting very bored being yammered at by an egomaniac. We hiked two miles or so to the train station and quickly warmed up through vigorous movement. If it would amuse you to be harangued by a kook for 8 hours in his muddy compound while you sit on a log, then this is the school for you. Otherwise, this class is not worth the money and I would not take it. read more

It's hard to express in words how much I value Shane and his incredible Scouts. When I called to ask if I could bring my 4 year old with me on the Wilderness Weekend, I was prepared to be told she was too young. Instead Shane openly embraced the idea and he and his Scouts treated us like gold. They took care of us and kept us safe, and helped look after my daughter while I participated in the classes and lectures. In short they went way above and beyond to make sure we had the most enriching experience possible. Over the course of the weekend I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Shane and each of the Scouts there assisting. I was so moved by their kindness and generosity of spirit in the way they interacted with us as students. There is a quiet strength to the vibration of the instructors...it's hard to explain but there is a cohesiveness and beauty to the culture Shane has created that you can only understand once you experience time in the woods with this incredible group of people. This school is not about making money it's about Shane sharing his knowledge to those who want to learn...it's really in the true spirit of spreading ancient wisdom to those seeking it. I had several moments of divine awakening throughout the weekend that have stayed with me since, and have inspired me to want to continue my education there. I can't recommend Mountain Scout Survival School highly enough- the education and experience Shane and his staff provide is more valuable than gold. It will take you to places deep within that will bring you closer to truth and yourself. Truth seekers and adventurers are in for an amazing journey, guided by a beautiful group of badass teachers who want to share their wisdom with you. read more

I took Wilderness I in Central Park on 11/19 through a deal I found on Zozi. Shane Hobel taught us the 7 Arrows (shelter, water, fire, food, tracking, awareness and movement) with impressive knowledge & skills, great humor, and deep gratitude & respect for nature. The class was educational and soul satisfying. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to develop their survival skills, discover their ancient self, or tap into a new baseline. Great class. Great people. Worth every penny & then some. I've already signed up for another 2 classes in the Hudson Valley. read more

Had an extremely bizarre experience here. I walked past the storefront in Beacon and we were going to go in and get info on future trainings. A guy who worked there asked if we were friends with Alice and when we said no, he said we couldn't go in. He blocked the door and then asked if we "knew about him" but didn't let us answer before saying that we should leave. Maybe there was a private event going on or something, but if that was the case, it seems to me that he could have told us that and been more friendly. It is a business after all. He was really tall and imposing and frankly, the whole thing made me uncomfortable. Guess I'll learn survival techniques somewhere else. read more

Thank you White Feather for helping me start my journey. This is something I have been seeking my entire life. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to regain my ancestral knowledge and skills. read more

I took Wilderness I and it was so much fun! This class is an overview of skills and other classes so made me want to learn more. I have since taken Wilderness II and Tracking. Can't wait to take more classes! Shane Hobel is an amazing teacher. His knowledge of the outdoors and enthusiasm are contagious. read more

Last weekend in Central Park I took the Wilderness 1 class through a deal that I found on Zozi. Its alot of material and there was only so much that Shane and his assistants could cover, but I had alot of fun and definitely got enough of a taste to want to learn more. read more

Loads of information jam packed in 1 day! Great class, knowledgeable instructor and dedicated volunteers. Highly recommend it. Very empowering to learn how to be self sufficient and live closer to the Earth. read more

Mt. Scout Survival school is amazing! I highly recommend taking as many classes with Shane Hobel as you can. His passion for teaching is undeniable and allows for even the most "urban" person to become interested in primitive skills. After taking the intro class of Wilderness 1 in Central Park, I have continued taking as many classes as I can in the Hudson valley. Getting to these classes is a simple commute from Grand Central, where Shane an his staff are happy to scoop you up from the train station. read more

This was an incredible introduction to an incredible world. I took the class with my brother, nephew and two of my children (13,12 and 9). We were enthralled most of the day. The other students were equally impressed and by day's end none of us wanted to leave. Shane and his scout apprentices teach the old skills with expertise. It is how he presents them with their deep, spiritual connection to the earth that is so touching. Most of us live in urban or suburban environments in varying degrees of stress. This class was a wonderful,necessary antidote. This is what education is. I highly recommend these classes to everyone. We will certainly be back. read more