Classes

Bear Awareness

Built for people who work in bear country, this course covers the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to work safely around bears — including how to identify, read, and respond to bears before a situation escalates.

  • The most comprehensive bear awareness course in Alaska

  • Backed by scientific research and data, not opinion

  • Bear identification and behavior

  • Best practices for the backcountry to prevent bear encounters

  • Information about different bear deterrents and defensive tools

  • Hands-on practice with inert bear spray

  • 4-5 hours in length

Basic Bear Defense

A 1-day course that covers the essentials of bear safety and emphasises core firearms safety practices for groups with limited time. It includes:

  • Fundamentals of bear safety (identification, behavior, best practices)

  • Hands-on practice with inert bear spray

  • Firearms safety and instruction (shotgun, pistol, or rifle)

    • Firearms safety practices

    • Parts, operation, and manipulation

    • Ammunition

    • Loading and unloading

    • Fundamentals of shooting

    • Live fire shooting qualification

  • 8 hours in length, split between the classroom and live fire range

Advanced Bear Defense

This comprehensive 2-day course is the recommended standard for anyone working in bear country and carrying a firearm for bear defense. It prepares individuals to operate safely in remote environments and shoot with the proficiency required for bear defense.

  • Includes everything in the Bear Awareness course, and:

  • In-depth firearms safety and instruction (shotgun, pistol, or rifle)

    • Firearms safety practices

    • Parts, operation, and manipulation

    • Ammunition

    • Loading and unloading

    • Stoppages and malfunctions (jams, failure to fire)

    • Fundamentals of shooting

    • Bear hazing techniques

    • Carry techniques and gear recommendations for fieldwork

      • Includes practice with slings/holsters

    • Decision-making and teamwork in a stressful environment

    • Case studies from defensive bear encounters

  • Legal implications of bear defense and firearms usage

  • Written knowledge assessments/tests

  • Extensive live-fire practice and a bear defense shooting qualification

  • 16 hours in length: 1 day in the classroom, 1 day of live-fire

Field Safety

This class can be customized to your specific needs. We work with you to personalize the content for you and your team.

Topics include:

  • Trip plans

  • Communication and navigation

  • Clothing systems

  • Stove safety

  • Water purification

  • Survival fundamentals

  • Wilderness hazards

  • Risk management

  • Being rescue-ready

  • After action review

  • Boating and water safety

  • Accident statistics

  • Recommended supplies

  • Operation and use

  • Rules and etiquette

  • Boating hazards

  • Accident response and survival

  • Basic first aid topics

  • Evacuation guidelines

First Aid - coming soon!

We are currently developing a Wilderness First Aid curriculum. Check back later for updates!

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Training Resources

Like any good scientist, we always make sure to cite our sources! We make that supplemental information available to everybody who has taken one of our classes.

Click to find out more!

Bear Safety

Field Safety

First Aid