Arts & EntertainmentISCO 3423

Survival instructor

A survival instructor is a person who guides groups into large natural areas and helps them work out how to meet their basic survival needs without comfort facilities or modern equipment to fall back on. The instructor coaches participants into mastering the skills that make that possible: making fire, producing primitive equipment, building shelter and obtaining water and food.

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Check yourself in a minute: survival instructor

Rate 5 of the 25 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

provide first aid

maintain camping facilities

read maps

manage student relationships

lead hiking trips

About survival instructor

The learning is largely self-directed, under the instructor's guidance. The instructor adapts teaching methods to each participant's capability, manages the relationships within the group, and helps participants use the equipment they do have. Rope fastenings, tracking principles and geographic memory for moving through country without a map are part of the subject knowledge.

Safety has to be maintained without taking away the sense of adventure. The instructor makes sure participants know the safety measures, the environmental protection rules and the risk management involved, without diminishing the level of adventure that brought them there. Risk management and first aid belong to the role as working skills rather than as formalities.

The human side matters just as much. The instructor encourages the group to produce its own leadership rather than supplying it, and mentors participants individually so that each one pushes their limits responsibly and works through any fears.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (25)

protection from natural elementsprotection from natural elementsForces of nature, such as weather patterns and seasonal conditions, their characteristics and any means of protection against them.risk managementrisk managementThe process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, and the method...primitive technologyprimitive technologyTechnology created for or fashioned from natural elements that assists in wilderness survival, such as handicrafts, survival tools, and weapons.natural food resourcesnatural food resourcesThe location, qualities, and preparations of safe, edible, and potable natural products, such as fruit, plants, meat, and fresh or recycled water.compass navigationcompass navigationThe monitoring of movement from a starting to a finishing point using a compass, rotated until the compass' orienting arrow aligns with the cardinal direction north represented by an 'N'.tracking principlestracking principlesThe various components to specifying an animal or person's whereabouts by reading and interpreting the trails and signs left behind by them such as foot or paw prints, faeces, or the disturbance of th...rope lashingrope lashingThe process of attaching several objects, such as poles, together by use of rope, wire, or webbing often to secure or create a rigid structure, such as a self-fashioned table, tree house, or latrine. ...provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.maintain camping facilitiesmaintain camping facilitiesKeep campsites or areas for recreation, including maintenance and supply selection.read mapsread mapsRead maps effectively.manage student relationshipsmanage student relationshipsManage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.lead hiking tripslead hiking tripsGuide participants on a nature walk on foot.adapt teaching to student's capabilitiesadapt teaching to student's capabilitiesIdentify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.apply teaching strategiesapply teaching strategiesEmploy various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating argument...inspire enthusiasm for natureinspire enthusiasm for natureSpark a passion for the natural character of fauna and flora and human interaction with it.assist students with equipmentassist students with equipmentProvide assistance to students when working with (technical) equipment used in practice-based lessons and solve operational problems when necessary.educate people about natureeducate people about natureSpeak to a variety of audiences about e.g. information, concepts, theories and/or activities related to nature and its conservation. Produce written information. This information may be presented in a...build a firebuild a fireSelect a safe location, away from trees and bushes, to build fire using tinder, a fire starter such as matches, a lighter or specific rocks, kindling wood, and logs. Ensure water is nearby to put it o...use rope access techniquesuse rope access techniquesApply ropework to work in elevated position. Safely ascend and descend ropes, wearing a harness.demonstrate when teachingdemonstrate when teachingPresent to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.assess nature of injury in emergencyassess nature of injury in emergencyAssess the nature and extent of injury or illness to establish and prioritise a plan for medical treatment.give constructive feedbackgive constructive feedbackProvide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evalu...use geographic memoryuse geographic memoryUse your memory of geographic surroundings and detail in navigation.teach survival skillsteach survival skillsInstruct participants in the theory and practice of wilderness survival, often, but not exclusively, for recreational purposes, more specifically in subjects such as food scavenging, setting up camp, ...encourage students to acknowledge their achievementsencourage students to acknowledge their achievementsStimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.

Optional (17) — show

animal evolutionanimal evolutionThe evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.teamwork principlesteamwork principlesThe cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.celestial navigationcelestial navigationThe science of celestial navigation and position fixing by using specialised measuring equipment.animal behaviouranimal behaviourThe natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.use modern electronic navigational aidsuse modern electronic navigational aidsUse modern navigational aids such as GPS and radar systems.represent the organisationrepresent the organisationAct as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.consult students on learning contentconsult students on learning contentTake students' opinions and preferences into consideration when determining learning content.prepare lesson contentprepare lesson contentPrepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.facilitate teamwork between studentsfacilitate teamwork between studentsEncourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.manage groups outdoorsmanage groups outdoorsConduct outdoor sessions in a dynamic and active way.use rigging toolsuse rigging toolsEmploy rigging tools such as cables, ropes, pulleys and winches to safely secure high structures.provide first aid to animalsprovide first aid to animalsAdminister emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians ...work with different target groupswork with different target groupsWork with a variety of target groups based on age, gender and disability.assess studentsassess studentsEvaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weakne...operate fishing equipmentoperate fishing equipmentOperate and maintain equipment used recreationally for fishing or in fisheries such as various kinds of nets and fishing gear.provide lesson materialsprovide lesson materialsEnsure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.climb treesclimb treesAscend and descend from trees in a safely manner.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a survival instructor do?

Survival instructors guide groups into vast, natural areas, and assist them in a self-directed instruction of basic survival needs without any comfort facilities or modern gear to fall back on. They coach the participants into mastering survival skills such as fire making, producing primitive equipment, shelter construction and procurement of water and nourishment. They ensure the participants are aware of certain safety measures without diminishing the level of adventure, of environment protection and of risk management. They encourage efforts of leadership from the group and mentor the participants individually so as to push their limits responsibly and help overcome potential fears.

What skills does a survival instructor need?

A survival instructor needs 25 essential skills, including protection from natural elements, risk management, primitive technology, natural food resources, compass navigation.

Will AI replace survival instructor jobs?

The AI disruption score for survival instructor is 8/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: read maps, use modern electronic navigational aids, provide lesson materials. Most resilient: build a fire, climb trees, provide first aid.

AI Replacement Risk

8/ 100

Very Low Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

read maps use modern electronic navigational aids provide lesson materials

Skills resilient to automation

build a fire climb trees provide first aid

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Quick Facts

SectorArts & Entertainment

ISCO GroupLegal, social, cultural and related associate professionals

Essential Skills25

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