Joshua Barnes
Founder & Director of Operations
Professional Wilderness Educator
Helping people build knowledge, gain experience, and develop the readiness to enjoy the outdoors with confidence.
MEET JOSHUA →ABOUT WOODSRUNNER / OUR INSTRUCTORS
MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
Experienced Outdoorsmen. Dedicated Teachers. Lifelong Students.
At Woodsrunner School, we believe great outdoor education begins with great instructors.
Every instructor brings a unique background, depth of experience, and passion for teaching. While each has their own area of expertise, they all share one purpose—to help students build knowledge, gain experience, and develop the readiness to enjoy the outdoors with confidence.
Whether you're attending your first course or continuing a lifetime of learning, you'll be learning alongside instructors who are committed to professional instruction, continual learning, and helping every student grow.
MORE THAN INSTRUCTORS
Helping People Become Capable Outdoors
We don't simply teach outdoor skills—we help people become capable outdoors.
Every Woodsrunner instructor believes education is about more than sharing information. It's about helping students think clearly, ask questions, solve problems, make sound decisions, and continue learning long after a course has ended.
Some lessons happen during formal instruction. Others happen around the campfire, walking a trail, preparing a meal, or answering one more question. Those moments often become the ones students remember most.
THOSE WHO TEACH
Meet Our Instructors
Duane Gregory
Wilderness Readiness Instructor
USAF SERE • Professional Educator
Helping students build the judgment and confidence that prepare them long before challenges arise.
MEET DUANE →
Jeff Goalen
Wilderness Medicine Instructor
Helping students stay calm, think clearly, and respond with confidence when every decision matters.
MEET JEFF →
Jeffery Gotlieb
Traditional Skills Instructor
Preserving timeless outdoor knowledge while helping students understand the skills that shaped generations of outdoorsmen.
MEET JEFFERY →OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Knowledge Matters. How You Teach Matters Too.
Every instructor at Woodsrunner School is selected for more than knowledge and experience. We look for people who teach with humility, encourage questions, communicate clearly, and genuinely care about helping others grow outdoors.
We believe the best instructors never stop learning themselves, and that commitment shapes every course we teach.
A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE
Different Backgrounds. One Shared Purpose.
Our instructors represent a variety of professional and outdoor backgrounds, bringing together experience in education, military service, law enforcement, emergency services, wilderness medicine, traditional outdoor skills, and outdoor leadership.
Different experiences. One shared purpose—helping people become more capable outdoors.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Instruction Built Around the Student
Hands-on instruction
Questions encouraged
Personal mentoring
Learning by doing
Real outdoor environments
Continued encouragement long after class ends
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
Where Lessons Become Conversations
Some of the best conversations happen after the day's instruction is over. Around the campfire, questions continue, stories are shared, experiences are exchanged, and friendships begin.
It's where lessons become conversations, confidence begins to grow, and knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.
READY TO LEARN?
Continue Your Journey
Whether you're preparing for your first outdoor adventure, continuing your education, or pursuing instructor development, our instructors are here to help you grow.
Knowledge grows through instruction.
Experience grows through time in the field.
Readiness grows through thoughtful preparation and sound judgment.
We look forward to welcoming you to Woodsrunner School—and to seeing you around the campfire.