Survival Courses

Five core courses for remote, marine and polar operations, from Newfoundland and Labrador. Prepare. Lead. Respond. Sustain.

See the five courses Register interest

Illustration

Program-development edition. Courses begin only after site, instructor, permit, insurance and course approvals are in place. All participants must be 19 or older. RedHawk course completion is not a government licence or third-party accreditation.

One portfolio, clear pathways

RedHawk develops the training and Canadian Adventure Charters (CAC) coordinates expedition and group bookings. Courses combine classroom learning, practical field exercises and assessed scenarios. The usual progression is induction and screening, foundation courses, role-specific modules, supervised practice and assessment. Gooseberry Island in Bonavista Bay is the proposed home base.

RH-01

Expedition Leadership, Navigation and Risk Management

Expedition planning and logistics (objectives, routes, supplies, staffing, weather limits, evacuation options); map, compass and electronic navigation; group leadership, briefings and decisions under stress; emergency communications and check-ins; hazard assessment, stop-work decisions and environmental stewardship.

Length: Classroom plus supervised field exercises. Final hours are set when the course is approved.
Format: Classroom learning, supervised planning and communication exercises, and an assessed scenario (expedition plan, leadership briefing and debrief).
Who it's for: Guides, expedition staff, team leaders, research and government field teams, and private adult participants.

RH-02

Remote Wilderness Survival and Field Living

Shelter, water and lawful fire use; terrain navigation and emergency signalling; lost-person response; camp hygiene, food storage and nutrition; wildlife awareness, injury prevention and evacuation planning; human performance in the cold (cold stress, energy, fatigue).

Length: 42 contact hours: 7 modules of 6 hours each.
Format: Mostly hands-on (about 70% practical, 30% instruction and demonstration), with outcome-based assessment in each module.
Who it's for: Adults heading into remote areas: field workers, guides, researchers and outdoor enthusiasts.

RH-03

Traditional Harvesting, Island Foodways and Conservation

Ethical, lawful harvesting and conservation; field processing and butchering; expedition food preservation (smoking, curing, canning, freezing); wilderness and expedition cooking; small game and fish handling; food safety. An advanced Wild Game Academy track adds processing, HACCP food safety and cold-chain modules.

Length: A 7-day specialisation module; the advanced Academy has a 14-day core. Longer pathways are timetabled at approval.
Format: Daily instruction and practical stations, ending in written, practical and field-scenario assessment. Live activities depend on licences, seasons and qualified supervision.
Who it's for: Guides, expedition cooks, conservation staff and adults interested in sustainable harvesting and island food traditions.

RH-04

Antarctic Expedition Preparedness

Polar conditions, cold-weather readiness and logistics; biosecurity and shore-landing protocols; wildlife separation and environmental duties; planning for delayed rescue and weather closures; a linked Arctic (NORTH) regional extension.

Length: Set when the course is approved.
Format: Classroom preparation plus cold-environment field practice and scenarios.
Who it's for: Expedition staff, researchers and adult travellers preparing for polar trips.

RH-05

Instructor Development and Program Quality Assurance

Instructor qualifications and adult-learning methods; assessment, rubrics and secure records; professional conduct, participant screening and incident reporting; document control and course review; mentoring, plus an optional Expedition Photography and Storytelling elective.

Length: Set when the course is approved.
Format: Workshops, supervised teaching practice and observed assessment.
Who it's for: RedHawk and CAC instructors, field supervisors and employer training leads.

Formal certifications

Regulated credentials such as MED, SVOP, PCOC, radio operator certificates, firearms safety and first aid are delivered only by the authorized provider for each one. RedHawk courses do not replace them.