Residential Immersion Program: 8 Week Summer / Fall 2025

Explore the Residential Immersion Program at Maine Primitive Skills School: Summer / Fall Program 2025

Michael Douglas, the founder and director of Maine Primitive Skills School, brings unparalleled expertise to this transformative program. Michael founded the school in 1989, making it the oldest survival, tracking, and primitive skills school in New England. As a student of Tom Brown Jr., a global expert in tracking and wilderness skills, Michael's knowledge is steeped in generations of learning and mentoring. His extensive background includes training in American Judo, Kempo Karate, Wing Chun Kung-Fu, Philippine knife and stick fighting, Ju-Jitsu, American boxing, Muay Thai, and SCARS. A former Marine and martial arts expert, Michael trains the military, advises on nature documentaries, and prepares contestants for survival TV shows. He has lived in a survival shelter for over two years, hidden in the woods. Continuously seeking new skills and relationships with Indigenous cultures worldwide, Michael teaches and lectures globally, setting the standard in the field. Many of his students have gone on to start their own schools, and he has mentored over 36 Eagle Scouts. Michael is also a much-loved and respected medicine man within his community.

Experience a Different Paradigm for Nature-Connected Growth

Our immersion program is tailored towards sharing the skill sets and tools of talented outdoor educators, community builders, and contemporary hunter-gatherers with seasonal apprentices. This program goes beyond theory and lectures, providing apprentices with a wealth of first-hand experience and guidance from our dedicated staff as they explore a wide variety of skills.

The purpose of the Maine Primitive Skills School Wilderness Immersion, both Residential and Non-residential, is to provide the skills necessary to become an outdoor educator and community builder. This program specifically trains Outdoor Educators who can provide high-quality, instructor-led training in primitive/ancestral skills, bushcraft, wilderness survival, self-reliance, recreation guiding, and other outdoor education pursuits.

Additionally, successful graduates will be skilled in community living skills. These skills empower graduates to become community and outdoor leaders who have first become self-reliant individuals and have then been able to not only share their skills and knowledge through mentoring and facilitation but also draw out additional skills and knowledge present in community members. This creates a vibrant and resilient community that collectively supports and enhances the quality of life. Upon graduation, participants can return to their local community with skills and know-how to share them. In other words, bring the campfire back home.

You’ll live with fellow apprentices in our off-grid 'Apprentice Camp,' building a lively, self-sufficient community. Engage in activities such as tracking, raking wild blueberries on Maine’s incredible coast, building natural shelters, expanding nature literacy with awareness challenges and games, and much more.

Each session of our Residential Apprenticeship is 8 weeks long, with two sessions annually. Come for one or as many as you like! This full-time program is packed with classes, hands-on projects, and learning through living off the grid. Roughly 40 hours a week (in a 5-day period) are dedicated to instructional time, with Thursdays and Fridays off for rest and exploration.

What To Expect:

• Inventory Trip and Settling In: The program begins with an Inventory Trip to assess experience levels and group communication skills. Following this, participants will set up personal shelters and living systems in the off-grid Apprentice Camp.
• Daily Schedule and Routines: From Saturday to Wednesday, apprentices dive deeply into topics such as foraging, earth-living, awareness, and more. When classes aren't scheduled, apprentices work on projects, foraging outings, and skills like canoeing or tracking.

Join us and transform your relationship with nature through the unique offerings of the Maine Primitive Skills School. Whether you seek a profound commitment or a shorter immersion, our program equips you with the skills and experiences to thrive in nature-connected roles.

Price: $5000

This Eight Week Seasonal Experience is a stand alone life changing immersion into wilderness learning or it can be taken in series through the entirety of a years worth of four season knowledge and wisdom.

Learn more on our Wilderness Immersion Page at https://www.primitiveskills.com/wilderness-immersion-program/

or...

Click HERE to register now.

Contact the School to Request an Application and Curriculum Guide before Registering. We Recommend one 5 Day course before making the decision to apply. The cost of a five day course will be applied to your tuition should you decide to continue as a member of the Wilderness Immersion cohort.