BigPig Outdoors

09/05/2026

Fall is a great time to get outside, sharpen your skills, and learn something you can use for a lifetime.

FORAGING — September 12
Learn to identify and use common wild edible and medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachians.

LAND NAVIGATION — September 27
Get hands-on experience with map, compass, terrain association, and practical backcountry navigation.

WILDERNESS FIRST AID — November 7–8
Two days of practical medical training designed for emergencies when help may be hours away.

All courses are held in Tallassee, Tennessee, with plenty of hands-on instruction in the field.

Lessons Outside. Skills for Life.

👉 Registration and course details at the link in bio.

07/17/2026

There's an old military joke that officers are experts at getting their troops lost.

This future officer is doing everything he can to make sure that joke doesn't apply to him.

This National Guard Soldier is preparing for Officer Candidate School by putting in the work now, mastering one of the most fundamental leadership skills: land navigation.

To make it even better, this week's training wasn't under blue skies. We navigated through thunderstorms, because real-world conditions rarely wait for perfect weather.

Good leaders don't just give directions. They know where they're going, make sound decisions under pressure, and have the confidence to lead others through unfamiliar terrain.

Best of luck at OCS. The extra effort you're putting in now will pay dividends when it's time to lead from the front.

07/02/2026

06/06/2026

Looking forward to it!

See Big Pig Outdoors at Prepper Camp!

BigPig Outdoors is a top-tier bushcraft and wilderness survival school operating on over 1,400 acres in the Chilhowee Mountain range of the Great Smoky Mountains. Led by seasoned outdoor professionals, their instruction blends modern and primitive skills with real‑world scenario training so participants can develop wilderness confidence, mastery of emergency preparedness, and enhanced self‑reliance. With hands‑on classes in wilderness survival, bushcraft, land navigation, foraging, and wilderness medicine, BigPig Outdoors offers training tailored to every level—whether you’re aiming to survive an unexpected emergency or simply elevate your outdoor adventures .

In addition to skill-based courses, BigPig Outdoors strongly supports community resilience and search & rescue operations. They are proud supporters of Team BUSAR and the BUSAR Foundation, and many of their courses include elements of wilderness SAR and outdoor living preparedness . Their instructor team isn’t just academically knowledgeable—they bring decades of field-tested experience, ensuring every course is practical, immersive, and grounded in the realities of outdoor survival and self‑reliance .

Get tickets and information at www.PrepperCamp.com

****ms

06/04/2026

Thirty three years ago, I found myself on the other side of a search and rescue mission.

A climbing accident at Foster Falls changed the course of my life and ultimately led me into a career of public service, search and rescue, and outdoor education.

Today, whether I'm working a mission with BUSAR, teaching wilderness skills, or helping someone prepare for the outdoors, the goal remains the same:

Help people stay safe before an emergency ever happens.

I appreciate Richard Simms and for taking the time to tell this story and highlight the importance of preparation, education, and the people who answer the call when things go wrong.

The goal isn't more rescues.

The goal is fewer rescues.

Full article available. See bio for the link.

05/27/2026

Most people walk past these every day without realizing what they are.

Some can hurt you.
Some can feed you.
Some have been used for medicine for generations.
Some can help you build, craft, and survive outdoors.

Join us May 29 and learn the plants around you through hands-on instruction in the field.

Class details in bio.

05/12/2026

Fourth graders from Fairview Elementary spent the day outdoors connecting lessons from Hatchet with real-world wilderness skills.

From signaling and land navigation to fire building and medical skills, the students got hands-on experience learning what actually matters outdoors.

Huge thanks to Fairview Elementary for valuing outdoor education and giving students opportunities to build confidence, preparedness, and practical skills outside the classroom.

Lessons outside. Skills for life.

05/11/2026

GPS is a tool.
Not a survival plan.

Batteries die. Signals disappear. Weather changes.

Knowing how to navigate with map, compass, and terrain association can turn a bad situation into a manageable one.

Land Navigation Class • Wednesday

Real-world instruction built from backcountry experience.

Link in bio