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Wilderness Skills - Olympia - 2026

Day Hiking Course

Wilderness Skills

Learn the skills to get outside and safely enjoy Washington's wilderness.

Contacts

Robert Schanz
Robert Schanz
Leader

The Wilderness Skills Course provides skills and practice for hiking and the "groundwork" for backpacking in the Northwest. It will also be recommended to Basic Climbing and Alpine Scrambling students who would benefit from these skills. The 2026 course will include an evening zoom lecture on January 27 and a field day on January 31 at the Friends Meeting House/Squaxin Park in Olympia.

The course includes lessons on the ten essentials, Leave No Trace principles, stewardship, clothing, nutrition, hydration, and an introduction to navigation. Instructors provide hands-on demonstrations of different types of wilderness packs, equipment, and first aid supplies. The course finishes with an experience hike where students act out and respond to different scenarios of what can go wrong on a hike.

SCRAMBLING/BASIC CLIMBING STUDENTS ONLY should register following instructions from their course leaders after registering for Alpine Scrambling or Basic Climbing.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Wilderness Skills Online Lectures
Online Classroom
Tue, Jan 27, 2026
Registration closes Jan 23
46 participants
11 instructors
Robert Schanz
Wilderness Skills Field Day
Olympia Friends Meeting House
Sat, Jan 31, 2026
Registration closes Jan 23
46 participants
8 instructors
Robert Schanz
Roster
Required Equipment

In preparation for the field day students should assemble a day pack with the Ten Essentials, including: 

  • Navigation: compass; we will provide maps. We will provide some loaner compasses for students to share if you do not already own one. See the guidance document under “Course Materials” for information on selecting a compass.
  • Headlamp: plus extra batteries
  • Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes, and sunscreen
  • First aid: including foot care and insect repellent (if required)
  • Knife: plus repair kit
  • Fire: matches, lighter and tinder, or stove as appropriate
  • Shelter: carried at all times (can be a lightweight emergency bivy)
  • Extra food: beyond minimum expectation
  • Extra water: beyond minimum expectation, or the means to purify
  • Extra clothes: sufficient to survive an emergency overnight

Students should try to assemble this kit with items they already own and are not required to buy extensive new gear; the course will teach them how to improve or tailor gear to their needs and planned activities.

Students should also be prepared for rainy winter weather on the field day, with appropriate rain gear and insulation layers.

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.