After flying from WY to Maine with my packing list items to become one of the frozen chosen at Josh’s course, where expert instruction from Josh and his entire teaching cadre covered so many topics that were carefully chosen to add life saving value to the knowledge I obtained from his foundational Wilderness Skills Course. I became confident in the extreme conditions that winter can throw at me. This course is a must for any out doors enthusiast that wants to learn.

After recently attending the Elite Master Navigator Course (8-11 Jun 2023), here are the facts:

This class is THE most comprehensive and thorough Navigation course you will ever take - PERIOD. If you struggle with navigation, or are an advanced navigator, you will learn a great deal from Josh, Chad and Dan as they are without a doubt top tier instructors. Each of them is approachable, open to questions, and give the right guidance and wisdom to help you understand the nuances. There is no ego, no compromise, and no shaming. They want you to meet the standard and succeed, but most importantly learn the skill.

In 20 years of military service, attending numerous navigation courses both military and civilian side, this can be said with 100 percent confidence; the Elite Master Navigator Course was the most comprehensive curriculum of navigation skills taught with expertise and relatability. This is not to say just because the instructors are masters of their craft, but because they continue to learn and expand their own skillset to make what they teach that much more usable for their students.

You will learn everything from basics to advanced including primitive navigation skills. The experience is enriching is many ways besides the skills. The atmosphere fostered within the outdoor classroom is driven by friendly competition, and support not just from the instructors, but by fellow students. Everyone’s goal here was to learn and succeed.

This class is 100 percent on the repeat list, as there is so much information to absorb. Plus, the team that wins the competitive side of this course wins a very unique and exclusive prize. So if you fall short of being top team, there are more opportunities to come back and earn your seat atop the hill.

I just recently completed the Master Navigator Course and it has been one of the more challenging, intensive and rewarding experiences outdoors, let alone while in a “classroom” environment.

This was my first class with Josh and the GB2 group and it went above and beyond in every way possible. The professionalism and elite level training were second to none, the cadre were equally skilled and supportive, and the other fellow students (many of whom are regulars) were welcoming and generous with their experience.

Aside from the numerous and varied navigation skills that we as a class were exposed to and made to demonstrate mastery of, what I found to be of particular reward was the group of people that were involved and the environment that was fostered.

With most things, action often speaks louder than words. I have since signed up for three more class this year with GB2… Wilderness Skills, Bushcraft and Vildsmarksliv Bushcraft… I suppose that’s all that needs to be said and will most likely take the Master Nav class again next year.

Land Navigation is a critical and vastly overlooked skill. Even in military occupations where excellent fieldcraft is a core necessity, Navigation is a skill set that is grossly neglected. If you are going to fail selection based on skill and not heart, it is going to be one of two things, Range Estimation or Land Navigation.

Where this course stands out from the GB2 program is it works wonders even as a stand alone class. Particularly for Military or Search and Rescue personnel that may be working in extremely rural areas with no access to digital RF or satellites. A good compass, map, and this 4 day class is all you will ever need to get where you need to go and fast.

This is the class you need before going to selection, moving to the objective while dodging enemy ISR, or recovering those lost hikers because there is no “middle of nowhere” after this course.

I have had the opportunity to train under Josh for several years now. We have covered a broad range of topics from fire craft to boiling water in Earth bowls. There has not been a single class that was short of exceptional. That being said, Master Navigation stands apart. It is mentally and physically immersive and will give you an opportunity to genuinely test yourself. The depth and breadth of instruction that you will receive is second to none and you will find yourself looking at navigation in a whole new light. The physical and cognitive demands are rigorous and it is recommended that you prepare for those rigors in advance. Despite these demands, you will find this to be one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences you will have under GB2. I have found myself counting down the days to the next offering and plan on attending this class as many times as possible!

If you’ve been interested in an outdoor class but are undecided --this is the course for you.

If you have some or much experience in the woods --this course is for you.

Why?

1. We had people who had never slept in the woods - by the end of the training, they didn’t want to go home and were asking about the next course. -- I want to stress this point. -- If someone with little or no knowledge can take the course, have success, and leave with no regrets, that should be a clue as to the curriculum and instruction offered by GB2.

2. Experienced outdoor types got a ton out of the weekend. They could ask more detailed questions based on their understanding of topics. Comments were often, “man, I thought I knew this stuff, but Josh and cadre are on another level.”

3. The crawl/walk/run teaching methodology provides a positive learning environment with the optimal balance of patience and pressure.

4. The cadre has professional experience outside the GB2 program, adding dimension to the teaching staff. - instructors were also available for one-on-one tutoring at almost any hour.

5. Although gear is essential, Josh covered items that meet job requirements without breaking the bank. Further, the equipment for this course is used in future classes (no need to buy a totally different bundle just to attend subsequent levels). Finally, the paradigm holds that the more experienced you are, the less gear you’ll need. GB2 is there to teach you skills, not shake you down to buy their products.

6. To get the most out of the training, purchase the Surviving The Wilderness book. Skim or read it. Test your gear before arriving, and get as much walking exercise as feasible - all the better with your pack and some (you’re judgment) weight.

7. Read the reviews here. You’ll get a distinct impression that this is a positive learning environment where people have fun. If you have fun at an activity, you retain more, you’re stress decreases, and you’ll feel good about the time spent in the woods.

This course has my highest recommendation.

As someone who intends on taking people into the wilderness and teaching basic land navigation skills, it is my commitment to finding the best possible training in the industry to do that. Having access to the knowledge and experience of a true subject matter expert is invaluable to me. This course exceeded my expectations in every way. The programming, tempo, physicality, instruction, and challenge level, were the ideal measure of professionalism. No matter what your experience level coming into this, you will walk away a much better wilderness navigator. What I really appreciate is how this course sets you up to succeed going forward. You walk away with the tools necessary to practice on your own and keep these skills sharp, so long as you put in the work.

If land navigation is important to you, do not pass up this training opportunity. It is second to none.

I’ve been following Josh around the US for years now, with a hunger for all that he and the cadre have to teach. This class was different in that the focus was on one skill, navigation. This event will have the brand new student leaving with a thorough knowledge of all the aspects of land navigation. For the seasoned navigators there is definitely going to be new information for them as this curriculum is jam packed with all of it, from primitive methods, to celestial body use to traditional compass use, night navigation and self mapping techniques. Truth be told, this requires a physical commitment and many, many miles of hiking with all of your kit on your back. This adds a level of stress to make everything that much more memorable.

GBGB always chooses great venues to hold these events and the Uwharrie National Forest is no exception. It is an excellent place with great, topography and terrain to really delve into the subject. I can absolutely recommend this course for anyone that is looking to take their navigation skills to the expert level. There simply is nothing else like this available to the public in the US.

I just returned from GB2’s wilderness survival course at the Lake George venue in mid-April 2022. I signed up wanting to learn some basics on navigation, but got so much more from this course. I have had some prior training in survival skills, but Josh and his team were able to give me some excellent tips and tricks to make me feel more confident in knife skills, fire craft, shelter building and team building. The instructors utilize a “crawl, walk, run” approach, which I found a great way to learn a new skill. The course was challenging, but very rewarding in the end. On day 2, I remember thinking to myself, “It would be so easy to get in my car and go home to my warm, comfortable house”, but I shrugged this thought off and kept at it. These experiences should be hard; they should push you and this is when the learning really happens. The venue itself was beautiful but cold, which added to the challenge of the experience. Mother nature will rarely give you those perfect sunny 70 degree days, so you should not expect to learn in such perfect conditions. You should expect to have some uncomfortable cold nights, but this will force you to assess and (hopefully) better your situation. The instructors will help you with this, but you need to make sure to ask.
Regarding the packing list… follow it! You don’t need more, but you should expect to put your gear to the test. You won’t be able to get a back-up jacket or tool from your car during the class, so make sure that what you bring with you is going to be versatile and appropriate for the expected conditions.
One of my favorite things about this course was the team building. It is a pleasure to come together with a group of like-minded folks to face a series of challenges. Maybe I was lucky, but my class worked together well. We all have our varying strengths and weaknesses, but together, as a group, we were able to use our strengths to the advantage of the group and overcome some of the limitations. I think that, overall,we all knew that we were there to help each other out and this showed in the overall success of the experience.
Overall, I would recommend this course to anyone, no matter your background or experience. Josh and the team provided a learning environment that encouraged questions, suggestions and openness. I look forward to signing up for more courses!

After four days and three nights out in the wilds of Maine, I am among the “Frozen Chosen” who have completed Joshua Enyart's Winter Skills Course. What an experience!

Like all of Josh's courses, there was expert instruction from Josh and his entire teaching cadre. They covered a huge array of topics that were carefully chosen to add value to the knowledge we obtained from his foundational Wilderness Skills Course.

We did two rounds of land navigation in snowshoes; learned about the environment and winter resources; made browse beds, leaf cribs, and super-shelters; created water from snow and turned beef into smoked jerky; learned to use axes and saws safely; learned effective traps for winter; built snowshoes and pack frames from saplings; and constructed signal fires that billowed columns of smoke. There were many smaller, invaluable skills within each one of those activities.

The difference between watching a video about this stuff and actually doing it is huge. If you want to truly learn these skills, while testing yourself and your gear, I recommend these courses.

If you're serious about adding another season to your outdoor experience, look no further than this training. Right from the start you're immersed in a winter environment with snow, ice, and cold. But you aren't left to fend for yourself. High quality instructors walk you right through what you need to do to "make it" through and they make it truly fun. Regardless of your skill level, they create challenges that are doable and very rewarding. I left with understanding so many more skills than when I arrived. Don't hesitate on this course, you won't regret it. Money well spent.

Unbelievable, unforgettable experience. If you have some basic woodsman skills, come see how you fare with an added layer of stress with the extreme cold temperatures. You will learn pertinent skills and, most importantly, more about yourself. Read my blog on this site for the full story of my and my son’s adventure in the Winter Skills course.

I took the GB2 Wilderness Skills course in the fall of 2021 in New York state. The course provided me with a fundamental set of skills for spending time in the wild. It also set me up for taking on more advanced training down the road.

We covered knife use, fire craft, shelter construction, land navigation, trapping, knots, wild plants, water purification, wilderness medicine, and more.

Every aspect of the learning environment contributes to your education - from where you sleep, to how you eat, working with others, and managing your personal resources. You will also learn to get the most from your gear. We put our equipment to the test and learned clever alternate uses for a lot of it. You can’t find this stuff in a book.

The land navigation portions of this class alone would easily justify the price. You get the theory, then you put it into practice right away. This solidifies the lesson and makes it clear how invaluable this skill really is.

Josh Enyart’s instruction is clear and organized. You can be sure that you are learning the right skills, in the right order, and done the right way. Students will find themselves among a cadre of teachers who are there to provide guidance anytime it’s needed.

The course succeeds in challenging you to push your limits without being gratuitously difficult. It was clear that the goal was to teach the students, not push us to failure.

If you want to take your wilderness skills to the next level, I highly recommend this course. Take it; you won’t be sorry.

I attended the Wilderness Skills course in November 2021 in the hills of Tennessee.
I was the only female of the 17 class members.
This could have been an intimidating feeling, but from the moment I arrived on site, I was treated with respect, care, concern, and kindness!!

All through the class- it was apparent that the goal was to make sure everyone was up to speed and help was given to show that we all were expected to finish the class and get a signed GB2 certificate. No one was left behind!!

I made sure not to skimp on supplies- and followed the packing list that was provided for the course- I didn't want my lack of planning to be a reason I couldn't finish. The recommendations on the packing list are well advised as they have been used, by Josh and the Cadre, and are known to be the best suited for what will be taught in class.

If I could suggest anything for a first timer- it might be - get some hiking with a backpack experience ahead of time!! We didn't have to hike far, but when you're not used to carrying 25 lbs up hill- it can make you doubt your abilities.

The skills taught were top notch! We learned several knot tying techniques, which aided us in setting up a rapid ridge line and our shelter.
We had land navigation two days, and I agree with some of the other reviewers, that this alone was worth the price of admission!! We walked to Identify various tree species for the best firewood, as well as for edible and medicinal plants. We were challenged in fire building techniques- to get our water to boil in a short period of time. There was a segment on first aid and for signaling and safety for hiking/or going out alone.

All in all- it was an experience that I can rely on to help me feel more prepared and self assured about my abilities! I've come home and found myself teaching others some of of the learned techniques! I find myself spending much more time outside- now that I'm home- because I want to practice and keep the momentum! I look forward to taking more classes with GB2!
And I love the Discord platform for asking questions or getting feedback almost immediately!!

I highly recommend the training to anyone who feels the draw to become proficient in skills that will keep you safe and more prepared in situations that would otherwise be daunting or difficult to navigate without someone else's help or guidance. First hand experience and preparation is key- and to be taught and mentored through the process by such a seasoned crew is empowering!!

With Immense Gratitude!! "Sleeping Beauty"

I’m not new to this type of training and this particular installment totals my classes with Josh at 6 now. My son and daughter have also been through classes with him before. This time we brought Mom along. This was her first go at anything like this. As always, the GB2 crew excelled with everything and we all learned valuable skills with just enough discomfort to add some realism. The curriculum at this course hits on all the basics and is probably the most comprehensive that I know of for a 4 day course. We were teamed up in “buddy pairs” for our exercises and I got to watch my son lead the team of my wife and him. He has quite a bit of experience in this subject, much of that thanks to Josh, and it was exciting to watch him lead his team and complete tasks without any input from me. I was with my daughter and that was a nice change of pace.

The medical portion of the course was filled with current legitimate information and delivered to us by a professional provider with actual experience.

I got to watch my wife build the first fire of her life and see how happy she was with the success. She had originally agreed to come do this for me as I have asking her to do it for years. She is an ultra endurance athlete like me and is often out in the backcountry on her own at events. It is a no brainer for us types to have these skills. I think something clicked on inside her because it seems she’s been bitten by the bug. She is putting together her own kit and has a quality puukko now to practice with. She wants to move on to the Bushcraft Class next :) This class was a special one for me as I got to watch the whole family go through it. Any man can appreciate that as a husband and/or father.

I can’t emphasize enough the caliber of the folks involved in this program. World class is all I can say. I’m jazzed enough by it all that I enrolled in the Instructor Training Program and will be joining them to teach more people these skills. This is absolutely the group I want to affiliate with to do that.