BOSS Course Offering
Since 1968, BOSS has been the leader in wilderness survival courses, thanks in part to our alumni and friends who've experienced our programs and enjoy spending time on the trail with us. To help you choose which BOSS course is right for you, you will find a brief summary for each course type below. When you've found one that interests you, click on the appropriate link to the left for more detailed information.

Field Courses
The BOSS Field Course has been our signature trip since 1968: Ultra-light travel through Southern Utah's mountains, mesas and canyons with little more than a blanket, poncho, and a knife. No tents, sleeping bags, stoves, or backpacks, and definitely no watches, radios, or cellphones. Your goal is to learn to 'live in the now' as your small group hikes many miles and learns the skills of traditional Puebloan cultures. Not for the faint of heart, a BOSS Field Course is for those seeking a challenge and a chance to renew; offered in 7, 14, and 28-day formats.

Skills Courses
BOSS Skills Courses are typically held in our Durfey Creek Basecamp, in an aspen meadow at 9,000', with possible day and/or overnight trips into the desert for gathering. Some of BOSS's best instructors will teach you primitive survival skills like cordage, fires, shelters, tracking, awareness, and flintknapping (turning rocks into precision cutting tools). Instruction is hands-on and class sizes are small to ensure good supervision. No previous outdoor skills or knowledge is needed. A wilderness kitchen is set up for meals, as we want you to focus on the skills and be prepared to learn from dawn until dusk.

Explorer Courses
BOSS Explorer Courses offer a rustic wilderness experience without the physically-challenging Impact phase of Field Courses. Hiking is common for Explorer courses, as we travel through different ecosystems and seasons to discover the beauty and mystery of Boulder Mountain, the Escalante River system, and the Kaiparowitz Plateau. Some courses target specific skills, like the Navigator courses, while others target specific experiences, like the Hunter Gatherer course.

Training Courses
BOSS Training Courses offer wilderness medical certification and recertification for guides, outdoor trip leaders, and others interested in have the Wilderness First Responder certification. These are coordinated with the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS and taught at BOSS's facility in Boulder, Utah in the spring.

Custom Courses
Looking for a personalized BOSS course? BOSS Custom Courses are designed specifically to meet your needs. In recent years, we've created a number of custom courses for Boy Scout troops, non-profit foundations, and even for people who just want to enjoy a modified BOSS experience. This category also includes the work we've done for newspapers and magazines, television programs, and movie studios, including 20th Century Fox, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, The History Channel, and National Geographic Television.