Survival 401: The Grind – River & Field-Based Survival Expedition
 

Push your limits. Learn by doing. Survive by adapting.

 

Finish What You Started:

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This is the culmination of the Woodsrunner Survival Path.

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Survival 401: The Grind is a 5-day river & field-based survival expedition designed to bring everything together—gear use, bushcraft, terrain movement, field medicine, fire, food, water, and leadership under pressure.

 

It’s more than a survival course—it’s where your training becomes real, and your confidence becomes earned.

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Students must have completed Survival 201, Survival 301, and Woodsrunner Wilderness First Aid to enroll. This capstone course takes place on the water, in the woods, and in motion. There is no basecamp. No fallback. No backup plan.

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Is This Course Right for Me?

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This course is for you if:

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• You’ve successfully completed Survival 201, Survival 301, and Wilderness First Aid

• You’re looking for the final step in a structured, proven survival progression

• You want to experience what it’s like to truly live and move in the wilderness

• You’re physically and mentally ready for 5 days of full field immersion

• You want to graduate as a true Woodsrunner Adept Survivalist

What You’ll Learn (By Doing It)​

This course isn’t about adding new skills—it’s about applying everything you’ve already learned under real conditions. You’ll be paddling loaded boats, managing daily shelter and fire needs, sourcing water, cooking in the wild, and handling the unknown with a team you trust and terrain that demands your attention.

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Each day introduces new challenges, changing variables, and applied decision-making with minimal resources.

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Core Objectives:

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• Sustain yourself in unfamiliar environments while on the move

• Manage physical fatigue, discomfort, and mental strain

• Navigate waterways and terrain without modern navigation tools

• Execute survival tasks with limited gear and changing conditions

• Respond to injuries or illness using your first aid training

• Lead and follow in a dynamic group environment

• Rely on your training—not your comfort

Key Skills Reinforced:​

• Fire, shelter, and water on the move

• River navigation and safety

• Wild food sourcing, rationing, and cooking

• Field medicine and hygiene

• Gear management and improvisation

• Group dynamics and leadership under pressure

• Mental resilience and intuitive problem-solving

• Situational awareness, pacing, and field strategy

​What’s Included:

• 5 days of immersive field instruction and canoe/kayak expedition

• All group gear and watercraft provided (or bring your own by request)

• Instructor mentoring and coaching throughout

• Certificate of Completion and recognition as a Woodsrunner Adept Survivalist

Course Details:

Duration: 5 Days

Location: River-based route near Clinton, SC (details upon registration)

Eligibility: Students must have completed Survival 201, 301, and Wilderness First Aid

Cost: $700.00

Gear Requirement: Personal load-out (packing list provided upon enrollment)

Fitness Requirement: Must be physically prepared for paddling, sheltering, hiking, and living off-grid

Lodging: Nights spent in student-built or improvised shelters; no basecamp

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License Requirement: A valid South Carolina Fishing License is required for participation in this course

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Scheduling & Availability:

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Survival 401 is offered once per year. Each January, all graduates of Survival 301 are invited to vote on a series of proposed course dates. Whichever date receives the most votes is selected for the year’s expedition. Final dates and location details are announced immediately after polling closes.

Course Format:

This course begins with a safety briefing and load-out check. From there, the group launches onto the water and begins a multi-day survival expedition. Each day involves paddling, route finding, terrain movement, food/water/fire tasks, and shelter building.

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Instructors are present throughout, but students are expected to operate independently and as a team. Instruction happens in real time, during real tasks, with real consequences.

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What You’ll Walk Away With:

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By the end of this course, you will have:

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• Lived off-grid for five days using your own training

• Applied survival priorities while navigating unpredictable terrain

• Led and supported others under fatigue, uncertainty, and field stress

• Responded to emergencies with calm and clarity

• Experienced true self-reliance—and proven it to yourself

• Earned the designation of Woodsrunner Adept Survivalist

Final Word:

Survival 401: The Grind is where it all comes together.

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• You’ve trained in controlled environments.

• You’ve learned the priorities. Now it’s time to move, adapt, endure—and thrive.

• This is your proving ground.

• This is what you’ve been working toward.

• This is the path—finished.