Customer Testimonials
"Last week I had the opportunity to fly in to a site for some radio work. The helo I was using also had a mission to help with some fire work so we all decided that, since I was comfortable with this site and had hiked in to it before, that I would allow the crew to drop me off at the site and come pick me up when I was done. Unfortunately, as often happens, an unexpected storm came in during the afternoon, with lightning not 1000 yards away and visibility at zero the helicopter was unable to return to pick me up. I was stranded and soaked to the bone.
I have spent my life in the woods and used to consider myself a bit of an outdoorsman, but as I was hiding under a rock I considered how I would have reacted before taking your survival training and I don't believe things would have gone as well as they did, actually I do believe I would have freaked out a bit. I found myself very fortunate to have taken your class because things that you taught me immediately came to light and not for one instant did I panic or act irrationally, part of me was actually happy that I got to put your class to the test. I did bring a few items that you taught me were vital to survival, they were in my survival bag with me in the shelter I was using. The first thing that you taught me came to me like I had known it all my Life:
Remember
In
Shabby
Situations
Food
Water
Play
Recognition, Inventory, Shelter, Signal, Food, Water, Play
This gave me a feeling of comfort that I cannot possibly describe.
The first things I did were to recognize that I was in a bad situation, find a suitable shelter and outfit it for a stay, gather wood while I had the chance, inventory what I had that could get me through the night, and ensure that I would ration what food and water I had to last me, and finally, sitting by the fire I read a book.
After doing all of this I felt confident that I could last through the night if need be, and I was actually quite comfortable with that realization because I had, through your class and following outings to practice, the ability to make it.
Fortunately, after a few hours of being pounded by wind, rain, and lightning, the weather broke just enough for me to make the two hour hike off of the mountain. I decided to make the journey since I had once done it before and knew of a challenging but suitable route down. I'm glad this chance showed itself but I also know that I could have done fine if it hadn't. As I was driving away from the spot where my pickup was, I looked back at the top of the mountain, a dark cloud had just moved in and it was getting pounded, I couldn't help but smile.
I want to thank you for your training and hope to hear that you will be doing the same for years to come, you may have saved my life.
Thank you again."
~USFS employee, December 2009
"Keep in mind that I have attended many trainings over the past few years, but seldom have I been to a class where I learned so much and never have I seen a training that started before I even walked in the door."
~USFS employee after Alpine Bivy Course
"Dug is an intense, hands-on guy, but also very entertaining. You won't be bored in his classes....we think this is the most valuable day-and-a-half of instruction we've ever had. It has changed the way we look at a variety of safety at sea subjects."
"This is my second time thru this course. I have not taken a more valuable course in my Coast Guard career. Dug and Jim are professionals in every sense of the word, as well as great human beings! What they do has and will save lives."
~US Coast Guardsman, November 2006
"Jensen, easily a cross between actor Jim Carrey and Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, is the enthusiastic lead instructor of the survival course. Students remarked that attending the class is like watching a 'Survival Infomercial'. The banter between Jensen and fellow instructor Jim Michener encourages class participation and facilitates instruction."
~USCG Pilot Pete Melnick in Coast Guard Magazine April 2005
"The instructors were great! They know what they are talking about. This course should be something that every CG person in Alaska should take."
~US Coast Guardsman, November 2006
"This course was wonderful. An excellent course that should be mandatory for anyone setting foot on a boat."
~NOAA employee, September 2007
"I thought this was a great class. The time in the water with the various PFDs was extremely valuable. The boat time was also very valuable. Instruction was great, you truly are a gifted instructor."
~NOAA employee, September 2007
"There is no better training than going in the woods and surviving for two nights...Dug and Jim are awesome!"
~US Coast Guardsman, September 2007
"The good sense of humor tied into exceptional knowledge makes a big difference on how much people retain. Keep it up!"
~US Coast Guardsman, September 2007
"Dug, You are awesome in the way you teach and get the information through to us by your great personality. Jim, Your knowledge on the good ways and wrong ways to making shelters and fires is outstanding."
~USCG person, November 2006
"Thanks for the great training!"
~USCG pilot, September 2006
Lots more!