Outdoor Skills Classes And Certifications That Can Change Your Life

One of the greatest ways to become a great outdoorsman/woman is to continuously take courses so you can constantly expose yourself to new skills. Even if you only have the money to take one certification course every couple of years; in 20 years you will rack up an incredible amount of outdoor knowledge. In this article, I’ll go over 13 different outdoor skills classes that you can begin taking today!

Preview: In this article, I am going to give you the best outdoor certifications that you should consider taking. Some of these will relate to your goals while others may not. Regardless, I am hoping to give you an idea of courses you can take to extend your knowledge.

With that being said, let’s dive into the best outdoor certifications and courses that you can take to help you become the most well-rounded outdoorsman. In the end, I have a few more resources to share with you about gaining experience in the outdoors.

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What Are The Best Outdoor Skills Classes?

PADI Open Water Dive Certification ($400-$600)

This is one of the courses that are less about the difference between life and death, and more about the fact that it has a high return on investment. The open water dive certification is one of the best outdoor certifications because it is relatively cheap, lasts a lifetime, and opens up the opportunity to see a whole different part of the world- underwater.

The ocean covers 70% of the world’s surface, and I don’t know about you but if I lived a life where I didn’t explore some of that 70%, then I would be pretty dang bummed with myself.

The PADI open-water dive certification is world-renowned and will allow you to experience underwater environments anywhere in the world. For example, I got my certification in Maui, Hawaii and that allowed me to go on a dive the next day that only cost $130 (I wouldn’t be able to do this dive without my certification).

As a PADI Open Water Diver, you’ll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. There are also many courses that you can take to continue your education to enhance your skills.

Polar Expedition Training ($3,500)

After interning for the professional polar explorer, Eric Larsen, I began to truly recognize the importance of being prepared for cold-weather travel. Even if you don’t plan on entering environments that reach 50 below zero, this course can teach an immense amount of skills related to winter camping or high-altitude mountaineering. And regardless of the temperature, there is one known fact.. cold kills.

However, cold weather can also open up a world of adventure- if you know what you’re doing.

This course is run by Eric Larsen, who is known as one of the world’s greatest polar explorers. He has been to Antarctica and the North Pole many times and holds multiple world records. There certainly aren’t many better people to teach you how to travel in cold environments!

You will learn skills related to layering, sleeping warm, navigation, cold weather diet, gear choices, and a whole lot more. There are many more reasons why this is one of the best outdoor certifications that you should certainly have. You can read more about my experience here.

Wilderness First Responder ($700-$900)

I am starting this one out in the beginning, because it is an industry-standard for ALL jobs where you will be exposed to wild places. Although this may not be the most exciting certification to have, it is certainly an important one. Being caught out in the middle of the wilderness during a medical emergency can be life-threatening, so learning to deal with the possible scenarios can truly save lives.

The course is 80 hours long, and it goes on for just over a week. If this is too time invasive, then there is an option for wilderness first aid courses which are much shorter, but also much less comprehensive. Aside from this course is important for wilderness and backcountry travel, it can also be beneficial for medical emergencies in the civilized world.

Level 1 Avalanche Course ($500-$600)

If you EVER spend time in the mountains during the winter, then one absolutely necessary class would be at least level one avalanche training. As you can see, there are a lot of advancements to increase your skills and knowledge of the winter mountains.

This easily makes it on the list of the best outdoor certifications to have because it is a necessity for mountain travel. You never know what you don’t know and this course can ensure that you are always prepared whether you are mountaineering or backcountry skiing.

American Mountain Guide Association

There are 3 programs listed below according to their website:

• The Rock Guide Program consists of three programs: the Rock Guide Course, the Advanced Rock Guide Course and Aspirant Exam, and the Rock Guide Exam.
• The Alpine Guide Program consists of four programs: the Alpine Guide Course, the Ice Instructor Course, the Advanced Alpine Guide Course, and Aspirant Exam, and the Alpine Guide Exam.
• The Ski Guide Program consists of three programs: the Ski Guide Course, the Advanced Ski Guide Course and Aspirant Exam, and the Ski Guide Exam.
• If you become certified in all three disciplines, you become an American Mountain Guide/IFMGA Guide.

Now becoming certified in any of these takes a long time- and a LOT of money. However, if you plan to guide in the mountains as a career, then this is a great path to take. It takes a lot of commitment but opens the world up to you in terms of guiding in the mountains.

American Sailing Association 101 ($300-$400)

If you are looking at a different type of course that will teach you many outdoor skills such as knots, weather, etc, then take a sailing course! Many of the skills you learn in all of the courses on this list of best outdoor certifications can cross-play into one another and teach you more and more outdoor knowledge.

This course can be the start of life on the water and a great beginning to becoming an incredible sailor.

Boulder Outdoor Survival School ($2,000-$5,500)

BOSS is known to be one of the toughest survival schools in the nation, and they put the students through true survival scenarios while teaching them hard skills.

Sure, there are many survival schools that will teach you how to start a fire with the bow drill, or how to make a shelter out of plants and sticks. However, this school is one of the only ones to truly put you in a mental situation where you are sleep deprived, hungry and thirsty. Just read about the 30-day field course and you will know what I mean. Learning how your body reacts to stress can one day save your life- or hopefully, just give you a story to share with others!

Pathfinder Survival School ($350-$600)

Personally, I am working on becoming a certified survival instructor through the Pathfinder Survival School. This school is run by Dave Canterbury – a survival expert and the original co-host of the Dual Survival tv show.

This school offers the Instructor certification program if you reach out as well as a plethora of outdoor classes from basic survival, rope and knot classes, bushcraft classes, camp cooking, navigation and much more. I highly recommend all of them as the instructors there are excellent and they have programs for everyone to learn from- regardless of your interest in the outdoors.

The final class to become a certified survival instructor is the Advanced Survival Class. The school is no joke as they mimic true survival scenarios. To recognize the difficulty of this program, it is worth noting that the advanced survival class has an 80 percent tap-out rate. All in all, the courses prove to teach you a variety of outdoor skills.

Other Notable Courses

Single Pitch Instructor- AMGA

Would you call yourself a passionate rock climber? If so, then the single-pitch course run by AMGA could benefit you.

Wilderness First Aid- NOLS

If you are looking for a basic understanding of wilderness medicine, look into wilderness first aid courses. These are much more affordable than the Wilderness First Responder courses and can be great for someone who only wants a basic understanding of wilderness medicine.

Swift-water Rescue Technician ($400-$500)

If you spend your time in running water environments, then this is a course that could be a necessity for you.

Free-diver- PADI ($400-$600)

If you want to spend time in the underwater environment but like the self-reliance aspect of needing nothing but your lungs, then this free-diving course can be perfect for you. Plus, you will certainly learn to hold your breath for longer.

Spearfishing- PADI ($350-$500)

If you are looking for training on an ancient method of procuring food, PADI offers a spearfishing certification that will teach you the safety precautions involved with spearfishing. However, the free-diving course is a prerequisite to this.

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