At MPSS we firmly believe that on the ground, hands-on experience is far and away the best way to learn. Whether you are interested in survival, primitive skills, or bushcraft, we can jump your knowledge level considerably- no matter what skills you have. We have access to private and public lands in Maine and Connecticut which allow us the seclusion and peace to practice ancient skills in a modern frantic world. You will come home with a new sense of awareness of nature, understanding that the wilderness is not the frightening place that it is made out to be.
Typically trips are 5 full days in the field with travel days before and after. Trips may be designed for a shorter or longer length of time depending on your wants and needs. Group rates are available for two persons or more. Gate fees, licenses, and travel expenses are extra. You must bring your own food and cooking equipment. A gear list will be made available, and camping equipment will be provided by request. All hunting, fishing, and trapping laws will be followed. Trips are run by Mal Stephens, Registered Maine Guide and you may contact him at mallorystephens(at)yahoo.com or (207)646-1856.
Our Guided Survival Trips are designed to gently but firmly teach you how to survive in the wilderness. Yes, you will learn how to take care of yourself in the woods, but more important, you will learn to be self-sufficient and therefore empowered. These trips are not your typical guided trip; these are teaching trips, and when it comes right down to it, survival is fun but also hard work. Don't plan on coming home well rested. We will stretch your personal boundaries, and you will have an adventure you will never forget.
Prerequisites: None
If you are interested in learning how to survive in the field and not the classroom then this is the trip for you. You will start off by setting up your camping gear, and we will instruct you through the Order of Survival: attitude/awareness, shelter, water, fire, food. As you progress we will move away from modern camping towards primitive survival. This trip will give you an idea of the skills you need to develop if you plan on surviving in the wilderness. You must bring your own food and cooking equipmen
Location: Maine or Connecticut
Cost: $600 ($500 if you have taken Earth Living 1)
Prerequisites: None
If you are interested in learning survival techniques using modern equipment then this is the trip for you. You will receive a list of gear to bring that we will put together into a survival kit that you will be using all week. You will learn your likes and dislikes about gear and how to improve your "go bag." We will teach you about various shelter systems, fire starting gismos, water disinfectants, hunting and trapping options. We will also go into land navigation, how to get found and how not to get found. You must bring your own food and cooking equipment.
Location: Maine or Connecticut
Cost: $600 ($500 if you have taken Earth Living 1)
Prerequisites: None
Survival training is a great way to bring people closer together. The needs of survival forces a group to cooperate. There is no better way to bond people than trying to stay alive. We will guide you through the Order of Survival and the process itself will create a team. This is not your typical structured team building course; it is fluid and creative yet requires discipline and determination - teamwork is the name of the game.
Location: Come to us or we will go to you
Cost: To be determined by needs
Our Skills Based Trips are designed to be less rigorous than our survival trips. We set up a base camp and spend the week practicing primitive or bushcraft skills while camping in the great outdoors. You may specify what you want to learn, or we can set up a program for you.
Prerequisites: None
On this trip we will set up a campsite using modern equipment which will allow us time to delve into the world of primitive skills without the pressure of trying to survive. We will cover skills that are more evolved than those necessary in a survival scenario such as basketry, tracking, bow making, trapping, stone tools, hunting and fishing techniques, hide tanning, and primitive cooking. This trip is much less strenuous than a survival trip, and we will have plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors in a relaxed setting. You may design your own program of studies, or we can do it for you. You must bring your own food and cooking equipment.
Location: Maine or Connecticut
Cost: $600 ($500 if you have taken Earth Living 1)
Prerequisites: None
We will be canoeing a remote Northern Maine river while learning the bushcraft skills of wilderness living. First we will spend time leaning about canoes and paddling them with emphasis on how to be safe on the water. Then we will pack our gear and load the canoes. On our journey we will learn how to set up a rustic camp, cook over an open fire, fish, gather wild edibles, and enjoy life under an open sky. We will only be traveling a few miles a day, so that we can spend time learning the skills associated with bushcraft. You will need a Maine fishing license if you wish to fish. Gate fees and travel expenses are not included in price. Food is included. 2 person minimum - 6 person maximum.
Location: Northern Maine
Cost: $700 ($600 if you have taken Earth Living 1)
"I've been reading about and practicing primitive skills for just a couple years and recently decided it was time to test my skills. Going on a week-long survival trip with Mal allowed me to move beyond mere backyard bushcraft and practice the order of survival. Sure, we brought plenty of food and modern gear, but each day of the trip we relied less and less on the gear and were even able to do a bit of foraging though the site we chose was not particularly rich with wild edibles. I slept several nights in a toasty warm debris hut and with a bow drill set, I was able to light a fire each morning to cook breakfast. We had no strict agenda, but instead approached each day with an open mind and the attitude of a caretaking wanderer. Mal has a calm demeanor and a ton of experience. If you are drawn to the skills of earth living and are looking for a week-long experience, talk to Mal about scheduling a trip. You won't be disappointed." --from a MPSS student
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