True North Outdoor Skills Training

After several weeks behind the scenes planning courses and preparing for the Summer ahead, it's finally time for Terry and me to get back into the field.

July is shaping up to be one of our busiest land navigation months in quite some time. Over the next several weeks, True North will be conducting:

🧭 Basic Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Land Navigation
🧭 Advanced Military Land Navigation
🧭 SOF Overland Development (twice)
🧭 Tier One Navigation Development (twice)

One of the things we enjoy most about teaching land navigation is the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of clients — from special operations personnel preparing for Special Mission Unit (SMU) assessments to hikers, hunters, search-and-rescue volunteers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who simply want to become more capable and confident in the outdoors.

Although their goals may be very different, the fundamentals remain the same. Accurate navigation, sound judgment, and confidence in the field are skills that benefit everyone.

We look forward to seeing everyone in the woods over the coming weeks.

Prepare to Prevail | Explore with Confidence

To learn about our Land Navigation & Mil-Nav Programs, visit:
www.ExploreTrueNorth.com

Last summer, I happened to notice this plaque atop the Matthews International building on West Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh. It sits nearly four stories above a busy street, where thousands of people pass beneath it every day without ever looking up.

The quotation is attributed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Statue of Liberty. I stood there for several minutes thinking about its message. It struck me then, and it still does today.

Independence Day offers us an opportunity to celebrate our nation's founding. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the enduring value of liberty, the responsibilities that accompany it, and our shared obligation to preserve it for those who follow us.

From the True North crew, we hope everyone enjoys a safe, meaningful, and happy Fourth of July.

Earlier this month, two day-hikers in the Adirondacks required rescue after running out of food and water. They also lacked extra clothing and headlamps, and their cell phone batteries were running low.

What stands out about this incident is that there was no single catastrophic mistake. The hikers were not seriously injured, nor were they caught in extreme weather. Instead, several relatively minor problems combined to create a situation they could no longer manage safely on their own.

This is how many outdoor emergencies develop.

A dead phone battery. A missing headlamp. An unexpected delay. Running low on water. A wrong turn.

Individually, these issues may seem insignificant. Together, however, they can gradually reduce a person's options until the situation becomes difficult to overcome.

One of the most valuable habits outdoors is maintaining a margin of safety. Carry a little more water than you expect to need. Bring a headlamp — even on a day hike. Allow extra time for the unexpected. Develop skills before you need them.

These simple decisions provide options when things don't go according to plan.

The goal is not to prepare for what is likely to happen.

The goal is to prepare for what might happen.

That's one of the reasons we emphasize preparation, planning, and practical outdoor skills in every course we teach. Confidence outdoors isn't built by hoping everything goes right. It's built by being ready when it doesn't.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching land navigation is watching clients discover that navigating with a map and compass is neither mysterious nor complicated. Like any skill, it simply requires the right instruction and practice.

Join us July 18–19 for our next land navigation training weekend near Pittsburgh.

This weekend features two separate one-day courses:

📍 July 18 — Basic Land Navigation
📍 July 19 — Advanced Land Navigation

Attend either day individually or attend both for the most complete training experience.

Basic Land Navigation teaches the foundational skills needed to navigate with a map and compass. Advanced Land Navigation builds upon those fundamentals by teaching you how to use terrain features, plan effective routes, and travel more confidently and efficiently through unfamiliar terrain.

Whether you're a hiker, hunter, backpacker, search-and-rescue volunteer, or simply someone who wants to become more self-reliant outdoors, land navigation remains one of the most valuable outdoor skills you can develop.

✓ Small classes (maximum 6 students)
✓ Personalized coaching
✓ Real-world field instruction
✓ Trusted by outdoors enthusiasts & military personnel alike

Learn the skills. Develop the judgment. Navigate with confidence.

Space is limited.

To learn more about our Land Navigation Program, and to register, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/land-navigation

What an absolutely outstanding week.

True North recently returned from Medford, New Jersey, where we had the pleasure of providing Wilderness First Aid training to the Wilderness Trips staff of YMCA of the Pines.

Many thanks to Alba, Millie, Kate, Jen, and Mike — representing Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom — not only for their hard work and focus, but also for the enthusiasm, laughter, and positive attitude they brought to the course.

Throughout the training, they developed the skills needed to assess patients and manage a variety of wilderness medical emergencies, including fractures, wounds, heat-related illnesses, and allergic reactions. More importantly, they learned how to recognize and address potential problems before they become serious emergencies.

After spending the week with this exceptional group, we left confident that they are well prepared to help keep their campers and fellow staff members safe throughout the summer season, both on the river and on the trail.

Thank you for training with True North, and best wishes for a wonderful summer.

To learn more about the Wilderness Trips program at YMCA of the Pines, visit:
https://ycamp.org/wilderness-trips/

To learn more about our Wilderness Medicine Program, visit:
https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/wilderness-medicine

This past weekend, True North had the pleasure of working with an outstanding group of clients in our Basic Land Navigation and Advanced Land Navigation courses.

They traveled from across the region — from western Pennsylvania to New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Michigan — to develop practical navigation skills. Throughout the weekend, they learned how to use a compass and interpret topographic maps so that they could move with greater confidence in the outdoors.

A sincere thank you to Maria, Cara, Bob, Mike, Joseph, Mark, Ernest, and John for their hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning.

Whether you're a hiker, hunter, backpacker, search-and-rescue volunteer, or simply someone who wants to be more self-reliant outdoors, learning to navigate with a map and compass remains one of the most valuable outdoor skills you can develop.

Interested in joining us? We still have seats available in upcoming classes later this summer.

Learn more: https://www.exploretruenorth.com/courses/land-navigation

One of our favorite activities year-round is checking our backyard camera to see who is visiting, or has visited. Spring is especially rewarding, as the woods come alive with new growth and new life.

This mother deer and her newborn fawn were among our recent visitors — a simple reminder of how much is happening in the natural world when we take the time to look.

What wildlife have you been seeing this spring?

Another outstanding Wilderness First Aid course is in the books.

Many thanks to Lauren, Ron, Evan, Hayden, Bob, Tom, Sam, Matthew, Leo, and Rob for their hard work, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn throughout the weekend. They spent two days developing practical skills to assess and manage medical emergencies in remote environments where help may be hours away.

Of course, many thanks also to our furry friend who reliably attended both days around 4:00.

Congratulations to everyone on successfully completing the course — and thank you for training with True North.

If you'd like to gain the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies in the outdoors, consider joining us for an upcoming Wilderness First Aid class.

👉 Learn more at www.exploretruenorth.com

Today, we remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation.