The Hike & Survival course is a specialized training program. This course can be completed separately, but it's also a perfect complement to the BSI program and other outdoor sports courses, as preparation for the Wilderness Guide program in Canada and/or Hiking & Backpacking Guide. You can also enroll simply because you enjoy it and want to learn more. Participants receive intensive training in the many techniques offered by H&S. After completing the course, participants will be able to lead groups and provide instruction in Hike & Survival. This course is also part of the accredited Voshaar MBO program in Outdoor Sports & Guiding.
New is the 'private version'. This course runs parallel to the instructor training but is intended for those who are doing it purely for themselves and don't want to graduate as an instructor. For this group, the preparation for the Vosges Mountains and the Vosges trip is waived. These participants may also spread the course over two years.
The practical exam can be taken as training. Theory exams, projects, and logbooks are not applicable to the Private version. However, the Medic First Aid course and the exam are included.
This training has existed since 2010 and is organized every year.
The Hike & Survival course is recognized as a specialization course by the Wilderness Guides Association.
De Voshaar has meanwhile trained dozens of participants to become H&S instructors and is the only specialized Dutch training center in this field.
Start Course: Every year in October / November
Course duration: 8 months (8 weekends at the Voshaar in Eibergen, a 4-day winter training and a 3-day training in France).
In addition to the fixed course days, there is a 24-hour solo skill challenge. There are several moments for this, this date will be determined at a later time with the student, after the winter training.
Costs 2025-2026:
Instructor training: € 1600.00
Private version: € 1300,-
Excluding travel costs, accommodation costs abroad, food and insurance
Including H&S starter package (consisting of a knife, firestriker and the Voshaar nature guide).
Including the Online course Basic Flora & Fauna
Including the Online Wilderness Skills & Knowledge Course
Please pay a deposit of €800 upon registration. The remaining tuition fee is due by October 1st of the academic year for the instructor-only version.
For the Private version this is December 31st.
Refund Course Fees: When deregistering for or during a course, no course fee will be refunded. Of course we do think solution-oriented in case of injuries, illness or other unforeseen circumstances.
Number of students per year: maximum 30
Usually we work with 2 to 3 instructors in the group.
Much theory material can be found at: https://voshaaroutdoorcourses.com/
In October, you will receive a login code and access to these learning resources. The Wilderness Handbook 'Tracks of the White Wolf' must be purchased by yourself.
The list of participants will also be announced.
Most training sessions are at/around our location in Eibergen. In addition to these training courses, there is a winter training in the Jura or Vercors / Chartreuse and a training in the Vosges.
Examination: Exam weekend in Eibergen, covering many techniques. For those taking the private version, this is also a great personal test.
– Practical exam (focusing on orientation, making fire, time planning and flora identification)
– Theory exam (Tracks of the white wolf, Avalanche Awareness)
– Medic First Aid exam
– Project Vosges
- Log. The course participants must keep a log of the training days in France. This must be submitted digitally at the end of the course.
H&S Logbook own skills Training
H&S Logbook (multiple) Day hike
The total score of both the practical part and the theory determines whether you complete as an Instructor. To qualify as an instructor, the practical components must be completed satisfactorily and one must score at least 70% on the theory exam.
There is 1 resit for the theory exam, there is no resit for the entire practical part (if one component is insufficient, and the theory score is 7.0 or higher, a resit can follow)
The project assessment must be sufficient.
Everything must be completed and handed in before December 31 of the academic year (so approximately 14 months after the start)
To complete the course as an 'Instructor' it is necessary that the student completes the winter training and spring training in France.
subjects
Use of the compass (whether or not in combination with a topographical map)
Coordinate system in combination with the use of chart and chart protractor
Can read maps
GPS
Plot compass headings
Set out tours
Orienting with limited resources
Bivouac – shelters
Knots, lashings & tensioning techniques
Making fire with limited resources
Traps & snares
Fording and river crossing
Outdoor cooking
Winter travel & survival
Medic First Aid 'Outdoor'
Including examination MFA
Canoeing, flat water and rescue
Edible plants
Crafting
Logistics and organization
Didactics
As an instructor, it is important that you master the techniques and have the knowledge to teach the many different subjects.
The focus of the training is therefore on acquiring practical skills and knowledge. We also treat didactics theoretically and throughout the course you will see different types of teachers and teaching methods. In addition, accents are indicated during the training sessions regarding teaching and guiding groups. For the logistics and organization component, the students receive a theoretical assignment that they can work out 'at home'.
An instructor is mainly someone who teaches techniques (and therefore has to master these techniques well), a guide is someone who leads groups on (often multi-day) trips. A good guide is usually also an instructor (in our opinion, a guide must also know 'all' techniques, master most of them and have a great deal of knowledge), but an instructor is not always a guide.
Materials
You will need the following materials during the course. These materials are not supplied by the Voshaar.
– Good and suitable clothing
– Sturdy footwear
– Tent (optional, you can sleep under a tarp)
– Matt
– Sleeping bag, minimum -5 degrees Celsius resistant.
– Cooking, drinking and eating equipment (cooking equipment / burners can of course be shared)
– Waterproof marker and waterproof fine marker (a thin marker)
– Writing paper and pen
– Head lamp or flashlight
– AA batteries (for use of GPS)
– Sail, tarp or poncho
– Backpack of at least 50 liters.
– Personal first aid kit
– Card sleeve
– Map protractor
– Compass
– GSM
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