I kept seeing promotional videos for this online course that promised in-depth wilderness survival knowledge. And that would not have caught my eye, except for who the teacher was – Nicole Apelian. She is one of the first women to survive for almost two months on the Alone Show. So, I figured she must know a thing or two about wilderness survival.

Despite having my fair share of prepping experience and no plans to trade my home for a self-made log cabin in the woods, I figured the skills she teaches might come in handy if I was ever forced to bug out. And because her online course came with a full money-back guarantee I decided what the hell, let’s give it a try.

I paid the discounted price and as soon as I did, they sent me an email with instant access to the course, or academy as they call it, and 4 extra digital books which I haven’t gotten around to reading yet.

Having some extra time on the weekend I figured I’d dive right in and see what this Wilderness Long-Term Survival Academy is all about. The first part covers the fundamentals of wilderness survival, and the second part goes into advanced techniques on how to build different types of shelters, depending on the terrain and area you are in. You’ll discover ingenious ways to find and purify water in the wild and then learn all about fire-making that can withstand any condition.

Food is a big part of the academy as it’s essential to know what you can forage in the wild and how to preserve it without refrigeration. Furthermore, Nicole will show you how to identify medicinal plants and what you need to make a first-aid kit in case of a crisis. In the last part of the academy, the focus is on making weapons and other advanced survival tactics like how to become invisible in the wild or the 5 types of knots you must always know.

Knowledge and Adaptability – All You Need to Survive In the Wild

One of the first things Nicole mentions is that you don’t need to go through all the courses in order. Especially if you already have some survival knowledge you can skip straight to the more interesting courses.

If you’re like me, you’ll probably skip the introduction. I live on a homestead with a big backyard and a forest behind it, so I wanted to learn how to build a long-lasting shelter there, just in case.

I went straight to The Forever Shelter lesson. This is a sturdy partially buried shelter that can endure the harsh winter blizzards and keep cool during scorching summer days.

Building the shelter wasn’t exactly as easy as Nicole made it look on screen. But it was close! I had a few missteps, but when I finally stood back and saw my shelter, it felt incredibly rewarding. And I was a lot more relaxed knowing I now have a safe space in the forest close to our property.

So now I thought, ok, if we have a shelter, it would be good to know how to find food and even some medicine in the wild. Of course, I can do some stockpiling, but the nature of a disaster is unpredictable, so I never really know how much is enough. I like knowing I have a plan in case things go sideways so I can keep my family safe and provide for them no matter what happens.

Finding Food, Water, and Medicine In the Wild

One of the most eye-opening lessons was the one about finding food and medicine in the wild. Nicole doesn’t just tell you which plants are edible or which you can use as first-aid or to reduce inflammation—she shows you exactly how to identify them in all four seasons and avoid poisonous look-alikes.

A cool thing I learned is that you can grab a few bearberries leaves and add them to a container with hot water for instant foot relief. I tried it after a long trek through the woods and I can tell you, it’s one of those things you wish you’d known about sooner.

Another important lesson was the one about creating a wild fridge. I built it right next to my shelter and moved part of my stockpile there. When I’ll hunt or use traps to catch small game, that meat is going straight into the wild fridge. It’s a simple project and it felt good to know I had a backup plan for when electricity goes away.

I also learned a clever trick for finding water using just a plastic bag, a tree branch, and a small rock. This method done properly could make all the difference if you ever find yourself in need of fresh drinking water in the wild.

Nature really does provide everything we need, from food and water to medicine, if only we know where to look.

And the best part of it? It’s all free!

Survival Secrets For Any Situation

The final part of the academy explores unusual but useful survival techniques. I do hope I never encounter a bear, but it was useful to learn that they don’t like loud noises. Nicole recommends having a metal cup and a stick to make some loud noises every now and then to keep animals away. And she explains other deterrents as well, including the biggest mistakes people make using them.

Also, it might sound funny, but what if you need toilet paper in the wild and have none on hand? Inside The Wilderness Long-Term Survival Academy, you’ll learn how to identify the plants that make the best substitute for toilet paper.

As a prepper, I was already familiar with a few skills, and it was good to see them presented from a different perspective along with everything I had no idea about. You will also learn about advanced techniques like a self-feeding fire that burns all night as you sleep or how to build a log raft to help you travel fast and fish in the lakes or rivers.

After going through all the courses, I feel a lot more connected to Nature, and I am confident in my ability to protect myself and my family even if a disaster forces me to bug out.

Overall, The Wilderness Long-Term Survival Academy offers valuable insights for anyone, whether you’re an experienced prepper or a complete beginner. The courses are well-organized, gradually increasing in complexity, which makes it very easy to learn this stuff at your own pace.

Why Wilderness Survival Knowledge Will Always Be Important

The courses reminded me of the stories that my grandfather used to tell me. People used to live in harmony with Nature and they thrived there. It wasn’t an escape – it was a way of life, and a much more peaceful one at that. I think that soon enough I’m going to head out there and take a break from everything, using what I learned in the Academy.

If you want to check out this course, you can do so here by clicking this link – The Wilderness Long-Term Survival Academy . That’s where I got it from.

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