About BOSS

BOSS, the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, is the oldest and largest traditional living skills / survival school in the world. Based out of corporate headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, we have had a field office in Southern Utah's small town of Boulder since 1968. Courses range from 1 to 28 days in length and clients range from 18 to 70 years old (2008 average: 31).

BOSS is run by approximately 25 hardy souls who handle field operations (instructors, apprentices, backup/support, logistics, etc.) and customer service (course registration, brochure requests, general inquiries, etc.).

For more information on BOSS's Staff, visit the Staff page.

History

BOSS got its start in the late 1960's with a man named Larry Dean Olsen, the noted author of Outdoor Survival Skills. Olsen created a wilderness program featuring specific physical and mental obstacles that would produce more adaptable and resourceful people. 36 years later, BOSS is now regarded as the toughest and best wilderness survival school, with courses offered in the US, Canada, and Mexico,in several target-specific divisions: Field courses, Skills courses, Explorer courses, and Custom courses.

For more information on BOSS's History, visit the History page.

Philosophy

At BOSS, we teach you how to survive with technique, not technology. We place an emphasis on the skills that can provide fire, shelter, water, clothing, etc. without the need to carry a 60-pound backpack. As the saying goes, 'Know more, carry less."

At BOSS, we understand that technology has an important position in our world, but we do have other options. There are places where you can put aside the gadgets, silence the phones, disconnect the faxes, and get back to the basics. BOSS courses provide the opportunity to appreciate the natural world on its own terms. At BOSS, we not only survive without technology -- we thrive.

For more information on BOSS's Philosophy, visit the Philosophy page.