Come learn the skills and lifeways of your ancient ancestors. In this 4-day class students will learn the principles of Holistic Survival; skills such as awareness, community, wood carving, plant ID, survival knowledge, stone tools, and friction fire. These skills will not only help keep you alive they will also make you happier, more connected and help you feel belonging to your local landscape.
Take a look at our video from a past Holistic Survival Weekend:
Location & Camping: Students will be camping on a beautiful 20 acre homestead, about 30 minutes outside of Asheville, NC. Students are required to bring their own camping gear and should be prepared for all weather. We strongly encourage all students to camp on-site overnight.
Class starts: Friday May, 23rd at 10am
Class ends: Monday May 26th at 12 noon
Ticket Cost: $750
Regardless of where you are at in your skills, nature, and camping journey, this class is for you! We welcome all humans with all skill and experience levels! Just like a good martial art practice, the fundamentals are so universal that anyone with any skill level can apply themselves and learn in this class. We will aim to create a space where it feels safe to share your authentic experience and to connect deeply to other students.
Skills we will cover in this class:
Mindfulness & Awareness practices
Survival 101 skills
Nature connection practices
Knife use & sharpening
Cooking over the fire
Bushcraft skills
Fire from the landscape
Local, wild, edible and medicinal plants
Community building & resiliency
Stone tools
2023 STUDENT TESTIMONIAL:
“The 4-day experience not only exceeded our expectations, but was truly transformational. The program invites the whole person (mind, body, and soul) into the experience through a combination of immersive activities that awaken the senses .. "
“… In addition to being a master of his craft, the program instructor (Luke) leads with his heart and exudes sheer metta (loving-kindness). As a result of Holistic Survival 101, I deepened my kinship with the natural world and befriended cairos time. The 4-days bestowed me with a new habit: to notice and observe what is. This gift has enabled me to be more fully present for myself and others. In this sense, the Holistic Survival 101 program has been a gift that keeps on giving. “
Victoria C.
Your instructor:
Luke McLaughlin: This class will be taught by Holistic Survival School’s lead instructor, Luke McLaughlin. Luke combines humor, knowledge, and patience to create an easy-going, yet informative experience. Luke is dedicated to meeting people where they are at, with love and compassion in order to help foster a new (actually old) way of being human.
““I initially went to Holistic Survival School looking for skills in case I got lost hiking again but it only took an introduction exercise for me to realize I had not only lost literal paths in the past but also a more general, metaphorical path to nature.“”
Food: Students will be required to bring their own food for the class. An outdoor kitchen and refrigeration will be provided for students to use on site.
What to bring:
personal camping gear (tent, sleeping bag and pad, hammock etc)
Personal hygiene gear
Rain gear
Personal eating gear (cup, utensils, plate etc)
A knife and saw
~100 ft. rope
Any fire starting tool you wish to practice with (lighter, ferro rod etc)
Water bottle
What not to bring:
Please leave your firearms, alcohol, drugs, and dogs at home.
Feeling hesitant? Got some questions? Feel free to email Luke: HolisticSurvivalSchool@gmail.com