Well known television personality and adventurer Bear Grylls has announced that he is bringing his Survival Academy to the U.S. giving outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to learn how to survive in the wilderness using techniques that Bear has developed himself. If you've ever watched Man vs. Wild, I'll leave it up to you to decide if that is a good thing.All kidding aside, the program does offer to teach attendees how to survive in the backcountry. They'll learn such skills as how to tie nots, navigate through wilderness terrain and how to administer emergency first aid. They'll also learn how to find food, build a shelter and travel safely through tough environments. There are a variety of course options available, including 24-hour options for adults and families, as well as a five-day ultimate survival option that will test the skills that are learned.
The U.S. version of the survival academy will kick off in November and will take place in the Catskills Mountains of New York state. The actual official dates have not been made clear just yet, but you'll find more information on the course on the Bear Grylls Survival Academy website. No word on U.S. pricing yet either, but the 24-hour adult course costs £349 in the U.K., which roughly translates to about $530.
From what I can tell, Bear won't actually be teaching the course but will instead have certified instructors running the seminars. They'll use his approved techniques but how much direct influence he'll have on the actual training remains to be seen. I'm guessing that the techniques that will be taught will resemble more traditional survival training and not the kind of extreme stuff that Bear is known for on his television show.
