A place on this Trueways Arctic Course will immerse you in one of Nature's most stunning environments and teach you how to survive there. Living in shelters made from snow and ice, managing food and fluids in relative comfort and navigating through its wide expanse with limited resources. Participants are sure to take away a skill-set and set of experiences shared previously by only a select few.

Skills for Life
Survival in an Arctic environment is a challenge. To be in some of the harshest weather in the world and operate in relative comfort takes inner strength, knowledge, skills and the right equipment - in that order. If you can provide the strength and some of the kit, we'll help you develop the knowledge and skills which you will keep for life

Our courses are based on a tried and tested methodology which has been refined over many years of real life, hands-on practical experience. Developing and applying skills where necessary through in-situ supervised practice and understanding the basic principles will ensure you are equipped for life, whatever you have in your pack.

Shelter 
First and foremost you need to protect yourself from the elements, and this means shelter. You'll learn how to best site and build shelter in a variety of Arctic environments with varying resources.

Shelter in Arctic conditions may mean construction using resources from the world's largest forest, the Taiga, or beyond the tree line from ice and snow.

Beginning with Arctic forest shelters, you'll then move on to building shelters from snow and ice and keep your body within safe and comfortable limits. You'll build and sleep in Quinzhee, Snow Hole and Snow Trench shelters under the stars and beautiful Arctic skies.

Fire
Clearly the need to keep warm and dry will be essential. That's why you'll be taught how to properly light and maintain a fire in Arctic conditions. Many of the same principles apply as in temperate climates, but you'll discover some vital differences in preparation, process and maintenance must be applied.

You will learn how to ensure your fire can be lit when it's needed most, and develop absolute confidence in your actions and abilities. This is something which will also make fire-lighting when you get back home like a walk in the park.

Signalling for Rescue
Should you find yourself needing urgent assistance in extreme cold weater conditions, would you know how to maximise your chances of being located?

Being found can be more difficult than it sounds, so knowing how to be found and practicing these essential skills will open your eyes to the realities of prioritising with survival in mind in the Arctic.

Acquiring Water
We can survive approximately three days without water under normal conditions, but we need far more water in cold, dry environments such as the Arctic. Simply getting water by eating snow can ensure you perish long before dehydration has an effect, so you will need to learn how to safely acquire water very early on during your trip. After all, it will be all around you, but you will be surprised at what you will learn about how to use it.

Food
In Arctic environments our requirement for food increases dramatically. Yet for thousands of years mankind has lived and thrived in the Arctic. Learn how to survive using the same resources and techniques as used by the indigenous Arctic peoples of the world. Learning how to uncover edible plants, fish through holes in frozen lakes and trapping and preparing animals will ensure your continued survival in relative comfort, providing the necessary calories to keep warm and keep going.

Survival Navigation
Retaining orientation when landmarks and distinctive features are limited or non-existent can be difficult. Unfortunately however, it's also absolutely essential if you plan to move anywhere in Arctic environments.

Learn how to safely navigate and avoid becoming geographically embarrassed by learning and practicing Survival Navigation Techniques using the stars and the sun. Practice your new skills for real in the most challenging place to do so under expert supervision and guidance.

Movement
When on the move in the an Arctic environment, we need to learn techniques to safely do so across snow pack, soft snow and ice along with emergency survival techniques.

Medical
Understanding the psychological and physiological effects of being in the Arctic are essential to survival and to safely living or just being outdoors in cold climates.

You will learn about the potential problems to be encountered, such as mental withdrawal, hypothermia, frostbite and dehydration, and how to recognise them and treat them.

Your instructors will help you develop the vital routines which become second-nature for Arctic and high altitude explorers, avoiding serious medical dangers and ensuring your safety in cold environments.

Your Journey to the Arctic Begins
Before setting off on your adventure, you will attend a pre-travel classroom course to take part in lessons and activities to ensure you are properly prepared and equipped for the course. You will also meet your travel companions and instructors. Experience tells us that understanding the risks and dangers before you arrive is essential in avoiding them. This fun and interesting day in the UK will also provide an opportunity to test your equipment with the instructors as well as checking out what goodies your travel companions have. Once everyone is happy with the safety elements of the course and all equipment is approved for use, you're all set for the trip, comfortable in the knowledge that you are properly prepared for what lies ahead.

Safety First
In accordance with UK Health and Safety Executive guidelines, a full risk assessment has been carried out for this course detailing emergency evacuation procedures and procedures for dealing with any nature of emergency, including liaison with local medical facilities. All activities are within easy reach of a heated and well equipped cabin and transport will remain near the group at all times. Instructors will carry communications equipment and are all current first aid trained with years of experience in cold climates.

Arctic Course Prerequisites
Due to the nature of our Arctic courses, certain prerequisites must be met. These are:

Required by the pre-travel briefing (End Jan, 2012)
• All necessary kit and equipment as detailed on the equipment list issued when booking
Required by the travel date of your chosen course
• Any necessary visas or documentation for authorised entry to Sweden during the dates of your course (EU residents do not require visas)
• Relevant medical insurance valid for the dates of your course or an EHIC card entitling medical treatment in Sweden
• Winter sports travel insurance valid for the dates of your course
• A valid 10 year passport
• A reasonable level of fitness

Environment & Location
For our 2012 Arctic course we have chosen a secluded area in Northern Sweden. The location offers a mixture of Arctic forest, open snow pack and frozen lakes and rivers. The course will begin from a fully equipped training area before moving on to forest shelters and then to a variety of snow and ice shelters.

Dates and Availability We are running 1 Arctic course in the last week of February 2012 into the first week of March 2010 for attendees with no or limited previous Arctic experience. Spaces on this course are limited to 12 attendees.

Your Arctic Adventure Pack
At the end of your course, you will be presented with a Trueways Arctic certificate and a 'Trueways Arctic Certified' badge. In addition to this, throughout the course Trueways instructors and attendees will capture much of the activity in stills. Each participant will receive a CD to keep of all available photographs.

1 An embroidered 'Arctic Certified' badge
2 A 'Trueways Survival Kit'
3 A Professionally Printed Survival Certificate
4 A CD full of Photos of the course

Pricing
Course places are priced at £1795 per person. (Places can be secured with a £500 deposit)

What's included and what's not
Course costs cover training during your time in Sweden for your course dates. All food and accommodation in Sweden during your course is also included. Course costs do not include travel to and from any pre-course briefings nor travel to and from Sweden. The closest airport is Skelleftea connections are recommended from Stockholm

Within Sweden, transfers to and from the airport from the course location on the start and end date of your course is included. Transport to and from the airport in your country of origin is not included.

Book a Place on the Trueways Arctic Survival Course 2012.

If you are interested in joining us on our Arctic Survival Course this February, please Call 0800 043 0832 and speak to a Trueways representative.

Alternatively you can Contact Us here