Survival course in Franche-Comté

Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).

In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.

ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.

A materials kit will be provided to you (one kit per pair) during the experiment, containing:

• 1 compass
• 1 firesteel
• 1 tarp, sardines, string
• 1 headlamp
• 1 heavy survival blanket
• 1 fixed blade knife
• 1 IGN map of the area

A complete list with a visual and checkable PDF sheet will be sent to you by email upon registration.

1. Required equipment

This equipment is necessary to ensure your safety. If you have any difficulty obtaining it, please contact us: we may be able to lend you the missing piece of equipment or direct you to where you can get it.

• One hiking backpack of at least 45L. Comfortable, ideally with a waist belt. If it's larger, no problem, just be careful not to fill it completely.
• 1 sleeping mat , insulating material for the ground such as an inflatable mattress or a foam pad. We offer these for rent with the sleeping bag.
• One sleeping bag . It must be suitable for the forecasted nighttime temperature. Check the comfort temperature (the highest temperature rating) to ensure the bag is appropriate. We offer sleeping bags for rent as an option.
• 1 pair of hiking shoes or trail running shoes. They should be comfortable, not too new, and have good grip.
• 1 metal cup that can go on the fire.
• Water , minimum 2L for 36h.
• Meals for the duration of the course: a simple lunch (sandwich, salad, or freeze-dried food if you have a camping stove; you must be self-sufficient in terms of heating for lunch as there is no communal fire), and for dinner, freeze-dried food or meals to be cooked over a campfire. We offer a social evening with the opportunity to share local specialties. Optional rations with 24 hours of meals (two hot meals), a camping stove, and breakfast are available.

2. Optional equipment for a survival course

This is the equipment we provide anyway. If you own this equipment, or plan to invest in it, please bring it with you; for pedagogical reasons, it's much more effective to work with your own equipment. Otherwise, we'll make it available (no need to let us know, we always plan for it).

• 1 compass , with a baseplate type orientation compass, the simplest model with a rotating dial is perfect.
• 1 firesteel , it must be of good quality.
• 1 notebook . There are waterproof notebooks like Rite in Rain, but any notebook + pencil will do.
• A tarp is a sheet approximately 3x3m with attachment points. Avoid agricultural tarps, which are not well-suited for this purpose.
• 1 headlamp , or a flashlight, with fresh batteries.
• 1 heavy survival blanket
• 2 to 6 meters of cord , string or paracord
• A first aid kit is required. This is optional as all our instructors are equipped. However, if you prefer to be self-sufficient, you may wish to bring a small medical kit. If you are on any medication or have specific medical needs, it is essential to have the necessary supplies to ensure your well-being during the course, but your doctor can advise you. Please inform the instructor of any medication you are taking.
• 1 fixed blade knife , with a single blade approximately 10 to 15cm long.
• 1 small folding saw
• One pair of cut-resistant gloves is strongly recommended.

Your clothing must be suitable for life in the forest :

• Durable clothing made of natural, non-synthetic materials (synthetic clothing may be damaged by fire)
• A pair of walking shoes , high-top or low-top, preferably waterproof, but above all comfortable and already broken in: avoid brand new shoes. Trail running shoes can also be suitable.
• A spare pair of socks
• A change of clothes to leave in the car for the return trip if you wish.

The 3-layer principle allows for the management of almost all situations:

• a long-sleeved base layer in breathable fabric (hollow fibers) and merino or thermal leggings
• a warm fleece jacket, durable hiking pants
• A windproof, waterproof, and breathable jacket such as Gore-Tex. If you take a down jacket, bring a loose-fitting cotton overshirt to protect yourself from embers.