Complete Wilderness Navigation Course

Skills and Confidence 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.

"…the skills taught progressively take you from knowing next to nothing to being confidant in wilderness navigation." — CWNC Graduate
Group Map and Compass Training Expertly Taught in a Small Group Environment GPS Use and Programming Following a Compass Bearing
"Being in the mountains, Navigating with all the tools, the Night Navigation!" — CWNC Graduate

Hands-on Map and Compass Skills integrated with GPS Receiver Training

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

"Skills learned from the course already helped during an ocean kayak trip. Could not have done it without them." — CWNC Graduate
Map Reading Exercise in the Mountains Learning to Use Air Photos Hands-on Route Finding Exercise Learning to use a Compass
"Loved the Courses…" — CWNC Graduate

Progressive Hands-on Wilderness Route Finding

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.

Complete Wilderness Navigation Course Fine Print

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. Our suggested Equipment List will get you ready 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 arrange your own accommodation. 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 (2012 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.

Course Registration Information

Next CWNC Monday July 16th

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