Fire Wolf Self Reliance provides hands-on land navigation and wilderness self-reliance training in California's Kern River Valley and surrounding Southern Sierra.
Classes are intentionally kept small to provide individual instruction, meaningful field experience, and plenty of opportunity to practice each skill.
One-Day Course
Learn to navigate confidently without relying on GPS. Module 1 combines classroom instruction with hands-on field exercises using a topographic map and compass.
Experience Level: Beginner — no previous land-navigation experience required
Course Length: One Day
Class Size: Maximum 6 Students
Price: $120 per student
One-Day Course
A second fall opportunity for students unable to attend the September class.
Experience Level: Beginner
Course Length: One Day
Class Size: Maximum 6 Students
Price: $120 per student
One-Day Course
Our final scheduled Module 1 class of 2026.
Experience Level: Beginner
Course Length: One Day
Class Size: Maximum 6 Students
Price: $120 per student
Classroom Course
A beginner-friendly introduction to map reading, compass fundamentals, bearings, declination, terrain association, and basic navigation concepts.
This course is ideal for someone interested in land navigation who wants an introduction before attending a full field course.
Experience Level: Beginner
Course Length: Approximately 3 Hours
Price: $60 per student
Two-Day Overnight Field Course
Develop practical wilderness self-reliance skills through immersive hands-on training. Module 2 emphasizes preparation, prevention, decision-making and the ability to function confidently in an outdoor environment.
Training includes shelter, fire, water, signaling, tools, environmental awareness and survival priorities.
Location: Kern River Valley, California
Course Length: Two Days / Overnight
Experience Level: Module 1 required, or enroll in the combined Module 1 + Module 2 training option.
Two-Day Intensive Classroom & Field Course
Designed for students who already understand basic map-and-compass navigation and want to develop greater precision, judgment and independence in challenging terrain.
Training includes advanced terrain analysis, route selection, precision compass navigation, dead reckoning, distance and travel-time estimation, drift compensation, aiming off, advanced resection, UTM navigation, route planning, low-visibility navigation and error management.
Course Length: Two Days
Class Size: Maximum 6 Students
Prerequisite: Module 1 or equivalent map-and-compass experience
Price: $300 per student
You don't have to wait for the next public course.
Fire Wolf Self Reliance also offers:
Contact Fire Wolf Self Reliance to discuss a training date that works for you.
Email: info@firewolfselfreliance.com
Whether you're completely new to outdoor navigation or ready to take your existing skills further, Fire Wolf Self Reliance provides practical, hands-on instruction designed to build confidence through experience.
Never used a compass before? Start with Module 1.
Want an introduction before heading into the field? Start with Navigation 101.
Ready to develop practical wilderness skills? Continue to Module 2.
Already confident with the fundamentals? Step up to Advanced Land Navigation.