Complete Wilderness Navigation Course

Gain Wilderness Navigation skills and the confidence
you need to travel anywhere in just 5 days
The Best Wilderness Navigation Training Course Available

"Skills gained gave me the confidence to go out to the backcountry alone…" — CWNC Graduate

The Complete Wilderness Navigation Course (CWNC) allows you to experience hands-on wilderness route finding, during the day and night in both forest and mountain environments. This one-of-a-kind professionally taught wilderness navigation course covers the entire content of the Wilderness Navigation Core Seminar, Wilderness Navigation Field Session, and Wilderness Navigation Mountain Session all in five exciting days. This course allows you to master Wilderness Route Finding quickly and easily on a 5-days world class professionally run training course.

Excellent Map and Compass Skills integrated with GPS Receiver Training

"…the skills taught progressively take you from knowing next to nothing to being confidant in wilderness navigation."
— Complete Wilderness Navigation Graduate

Challenging Terrain for Compass Navigation

Resections taught in the Mountians where it works

Expertly Taught Wilderness Navigation Course in a Small Group Environment

Orienting a Topographical Map in the Mountains

"Being in the mountains, Navigating with all the tools, the Night Navigation!" — CWNC Graduate

The Complete Wilderness Navigation Course is hands-on course that teaches topographical map interpretation, air photos interpretation, magnetic compass skills, using a GPS receiver, pace bead use, and Altimeter use. We cover longitude and latitude, contour interpretation, advance route planning, wilderness travel skills, the MGRS and UTM grid reference systems. Extensive map and compass skills will be practiced including declination, inclination, bearings, back-bearings, pacing, and resections. Emphasis throughout the course is on practical wilderness route finding, learning topographical interpretation, and developing safe wilderness travel skills. The CWNC also covers, advanced GPS training, GPS programming, GPS map integration, Altimeters use, Clinometers use, survival navigation techniques, and navigation without a compass.

"No bullshit, straight goods – Practicality was quintessential!." — CWNC Graduate

Using all the Tools in the Wilderness Navigators Toolbelt

GPS Navigation on the Side of a Rocky Mountain

Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Material

The Complete Wilderness Navigation Course sessions are progressive, allowing participants to experience hands on route finding during the day and night. Whether using Map and Compass or GPS in the Wilderness this one-of-a-kind professionally run course will give you the skills, confidence, and practical experience needed to travel in rough terrain. During the CWNC expect to learn constantly and become confident in wilderness navigation from this innovative world class navigation course. Participants will earn BWI's Navigation Certificate on successful completion of the Complete Wilderness Navigation Course. Bruce Zawalsky will be the principle instructor for this course, ensuring a high level of professional instruction throughout the course..

"Skills learned from the course already helped during an ocean kayak trip. Could not have done it without them." — CWNC Graduate

Next Course Starts

Monday May 7th
[2012-05-07]

Register Now for the Wilderness Navigation Mountain Session

Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Syllabus

Day 1 & 2: In Edmonton for basic classroom and field navigation sessions.
Day 3: East of Edmonton in forest area for all day wilderness navigation training. Travel to Nordegg that evening.
Day 4 & 5: In Nordegg area for two days of advanced wilderness navigation, night navigation, and mountain route finding.

Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Information

Prerequisite: None
Cost: $625 (including a $100 Deposit) + 5% GST ($31.25) = $656.25
$80 Saving over taking all three course separately.
Maximum Participants: 8
Time: Week, approximately 8:30 AM Monday till 2:00 PM Friday
Location: Resource Center ~ #202 7205 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB, Local Wilderness Area, & Nordegg Area; West of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Dates: 2012
May 7th till 11th, 2012 (Monday to Friday) 2012-05-07, Deposit due 2012-04-20
July 16th till 20th, 2012 (Monday to Friday) 2012-07-16, Deposit due 2012-07-01
Dates: Perpetual Calendar 2013
2nd Week in July
Course Dates [PDF]
Required Forms: Waiver & Release and Medical Form
More information Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Information Sheet [PDF]
Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Equipment List [PDF]

Additional CWNC Information

Transportation, Accommodation and Food are not included in the course fee. Cost includes instruction, pace-beads, extensive course materials, use of a compass, GPS receiver, and topographical maps during the course. Click to look at our suggested Equipment List for attending the course. All participants are responsible for there own accommodation, food, transportation, basic outdoor gear, and outdoor clothing. In Edmonton on Monday and Tuesday nights you will need to stay at a nearby Hotel. In Nordegg on Wednesday and Thursday nights the instructional staff will be camping at Dry Haven Provincial Recreation Area and you are encouraged to camp at the same site (2011 Fee $20 per night) or stay nearby at Shunda Creek Hostel or other Accommodation. To keep overall cost down and our environmental impact low we encourage participant car pooling and will help to facilitate it on the first day of the course.

Join us for a Real Outdoor Education