Rated ★★★★★ by our Primal participants
OREGON WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CLASSES
BUSHCRAFT & NATURE CONNECTION
ONLINE SURVIVAL COURSE
Hello, and thanks for taking the time to explore this work. If you feel the call toward real skills, deeper connection, and a more Primal way of living, I’d love to have you join me!
—Joel
UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS: JOIN TODAY!
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL CLASSES
THE WILD IS CALLING YOU IN
We live with
comfort, routine, and predictability, yet we crave connection and adventure.
EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH SELF-RELIANCE
Take steps into expanding your ability, confidence, and self-sufficiency through immersive programs at Primal Skills Academy.
COMPETENCE IS BUILT THROUGH PERSISTENCE
Skills are learned and practiced. Mastery comes through repetition. Awareness comes with reflection.
YOUR UNTESTED INSTINCTS
Most people have never truly tested themselves in the natural world, yet many carry an uncertainty about what they would do if they had to rely on themselves. Life feels stable on the surface, but beneath it there’s a lingering question about capability.
Food comes packaged. Warmth comes from a switch. Safety is assumed rather than earned. Over time, this separation from real-world skills creates doubt: not always conscious, but deeply felt. We move through daily life without ever proving to ourselves that we could provide if circumstances demanded it.
“I walked into the course with very little knowledge of fire building mechanics, and was able to pick it up very quickly, thanks to your patience & guidance.”
—Michele Bradley
San Diego
Many people sense this uncertainty in small moments. Would I know what to do if things went wrong? Could I provide food and safety for my family without modern systems? Would I stay calm, resourceful, and effective under pressure? Without opportunities to test ourselves, confidence is an abstraction.
For most of human history, survival and hunting were not hobbies; they were how people learned responsibility, patience, awareness, and respect for life. Providing food and shelter was deeply tied to identity and purpose, shaping individuals who understood both their limits and their strength.
Today, many people live disconnected from those instincts. The skills that once grounded confidence have faded, leaving behind a vague unease and an unanswered question about what we’re truly capable of.
PRIMAL SKILLS ACADEMY
For thousands of generations, humans learned who they were through providing, problem-solving, and meeting the natural world on its own terms. These experiences didn’t just create skills; they shaped calm minds, steady hands, and grounded self-belief.
Primal Skills Academy exists to create space for that remembering. Not as nostalgia, and not as performance, but as a return to the part of yourself that knows how to stay present, resourceful, and capable when comfort falls away.
In reconnecting with these instincts, confidence is no longer borrowed from systems or assumptions. It is earned through lived experience.
Primal skills are not about fear or preparation for catastrophe. They are about restoring a relationship with your own instincts — the part of you that knows how to observe, adapt, and act with clarity when circumstances change.
To engage these skills is to step back into direct experience. When your hands build, your senses sharpen, and your decisions carry real consequence, something fundamental shifts. Confidence stops being an idea and becomes embodied knowledge. You don’t wonder what you would do — you begin to trust that you can figure it out.
“I’m excited to grow upon the skills that I learned this weekend as I continue to explore and experience nature and the wild.”
—Randi Ross
Florida
When people learn to provide, protect, and persevere, they do more than survive: they lead, adapt, and thrive.
We want to take you deeper into connection with the natural word.
YOUR GUIDE: JOEL VAN DER LOON
I’ve spent my life learning from the wild—deserts, jungles, mountains, and remote coastlines—living off the land and developing real-world skills. As a teenager, a Maasai elder introduced me to tracking and a deeper connection with nature, which set the course for everything that followed.
For over a decade, I traveled the world by sea, crossing oceans and exploring 40+ countries. In 2015, I began teaching survival skills, and soon started my own school. I teach from experience, not theory. To stay true to that, I’ve repeatedly lived and survived in extreme environments with minimal gear. There’s no substitute for firsthand knowledge.
Since 2016, I’ve led annual trips to Tanzania to live and learn with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers—an experience that’s deeply shaped my perspective.
I’ve been tested on shows like Alone and Bushcraft Build-Off, but the real work happens in the field.
This path is about more than survival—it’s about spirituality, resilience, and connecting deeply with nature and our humanity.
IN THEIR WORDS
“Joel’s method of instruction is clear and concise. You get the most amount of knowledge in the least amount of words. I highly value that as a United States Marine and an instructor myself.”
—Brian Wood
US Marine
San Diego, CA
“I met Joel through my mom’s research. I needed someone with great experience and knowledge to prepare me for the show Survivor. In Joel’s course I found not only the best help i can get but a great friend.
I took his Bushman Walkabout course, which really opened my eyes. We then drove down to Mexico and camped out near the Pacific Ocean. He taught me how to catch fish and make a meal with minimal supplies. Long story short, Joel is the man and his training is the bomb. Thanks for everything.”
—Eser West
Survivor Show Participant
Istanbul, Turkey
“We had an incredible experience working with Joel during a 5 day survival course. Joel offers a unique depth of experience combined with unmatched practical knowledge and bushcraft expertise. His command of the subject matter is exceptional and he consistently demonstrated both technical skill and understanding of traditional survival practices.
Joel’s passion for teaching and the outdoors was undeniable. He created a relaxed yet engaging learning environment, where we felt supported and encouraged. His effective teaching style allowed us to learn and reliably execute complex survival concepts. I highly recommend Joel to anyone seeking an authentic bushcraft experience.”
—Mike
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
San Diego, CA
“So happy I did this!!!
I came into the 2-Day Wilderness Survival Skills course as a novice but I left confident in the skills that I was taught. Joel is a knowledgeable and patient instructor that gives each student comprehensive training at their level.
Joel is encouraging and enthusiastic in his training and I was given a solid foundation of survival skills that will translate into any terrain I may encounter. I’m excited to growing upon the skills that I learned this weekend as I continue to explore and experience nature and the wild.
This was my first Bush Mechanics course and I know it won’t be my last. Thank you Joel for an epic weekend!”
—Randi Ross
Florida
“I cannot imagine a better guide and experience for the Hadza in Tanzania than with Joel and his associates. The experience is truly genuine, immersive, and is far-removed from many of the contrived pony shows which characterize other guided opportunities with Hadza and/or other tribes.
The trip was a unique combination of hunting adventure, cultural immersion, bushcraft skills, and mindful reflection—on our society, oneself, and our own species. While this trip is certainly not for everyone, I would say it is an ideal experience for the open-minded individual seeking to better themselves and their society, wanting to improve their bushcraft/wilderness survival, seeking insight into the human condition, and into our ancestors/ancestral past.
You are almost guaranteed to be personally transformed by this trip, and come away a better person with a better understanding of what life and human existence is about. Joel is not only adventurous and competent in the bush, but he is a caring & compassionate person that will ensure your experience is comfortable, reasonably safe, and somewhat catered to each individual.
In hindsight, it is hard to imagine my life without this experience. I fully plan to visit the Hadza in Tanzania throughout my life. Thank you Joel and crew!”
—James McMillan
Colorado
“THIS is a Survival course! If you are looking for a course to give you the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to be comfortable in the wilderness then look no further, you have found it! I completed the 2-Day Extensive Survival Skills course and it most certainly exceeded my expectations.
The hands-on experience gained from this class has given me more confidence and a real sense of being capable in a survival situation. Joel is a very professional and knowledgeable course leader. He does a great job breaking down the priorities of survival, and takes great care to see that you understand them.
Coming from an avid outdoorsman, I highly recommend taking this course. If you hike, bike, hunt, surf, sail, skydive etc...you need to take this course! Get your Survival on, you’ll be glad you did.”
—Morgan P.
San Diego, CA
“Joel is extremely knowledgeable of survival and bushcraft skills, particularly with his African experience. He is also a very nice person and a pleasure to learn from”
—Greg Raines
San Diego, CA
“I feel at least 10x more prepared going into this season than I did prior to the course. My approach will be vastly different based on the information and advice presented.”
—James McMillan
Colorado
“I have been to many survival schools, as I was training for a Survival program on Colombian TV, but this training with Joel was the best so far!”
Dual Survivor South America
and The Island TV show star
Colombia
“Joel is the man! He is professional and well-educated in his field. As an instructor myself I know as well as anyone that the devil is in the details and Joel is consistent about providing them which makes the difference! No ‘fluff or flashy’ survival tricks or useless usage of time.
I did the 2-Day Extensive Skills course and though I’m no stranger to the wilderness I learned so much that I’m already looking for the next opening in my schedule to do MORE! If you are interested in learning how to survive as well as thrive in any situation, I’m 100% confident that Bush Mechanics Survival Training with Joel will be a game changer!”
—Vince S.
The Arena MMA Coach
San Diego, CA
“Thank you Joel for an amazing experience with the Advanced Fire course. I walked into the course with very little knowledge of fire building mechanics, and was able to pick it up very quickly, thanks to your patience & guidance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the location of the course, along with the hiking and back country involved. I would recommend this course to anyone (of all ages!) with a passion for the outdoors and willing to learn new and old survival techniques.
The bow drill way of starting a fire is something that takes much patience and skill. Thank you for making it possible for me to master this skill on my first try! Looking forward to your next class. Thanks again Joel!”
—Michele Bradley
San Diego, CA
“We left feeling confident about what we learned and thirsty for more advanced Bush Mechanics Survival Training. Joel is a real gem and a great instructor! His experience and expertise are obvious, but he lacks arrogance or pretense.
He truly just wants to help you learn to be safe and equip you with the skills needed to survive when you find yourself in a pinch.”
—Jay Finney
San Diego, CA
STEP INTO THE WILD! SIGN UP TODAY.
IMMERSIVE COURSE: HOLISTIC FAIR CHASE HUNTING
AUSTIN, TEXAS
FEBRUARY 25–28th 2026
8 STUDENTS MAX.
FULL!
This 4-day immersive hunting course is designed to restore confidence where modern life has quietly removed it — by reconnecting you with the skills and judgment required to provide for yourself in the real world. Through hands-on instruction in scouting, strategy, shot placement, processing, and cooking wild game, participants gain a clear, ethical foundation in hunting that replaces uncertainty with practical capability.
Led by experienced bowhunters Cole Wilks and Joel van der Loon, the course emphasizes fair chase principles, responsibility, and respect for the land and animals. Rather than theory or internet shortcuts, students learn through direct experience in the field, building awareness, decision-making, and calm under pressure. Whether you are new to hunting or refining your approach, this course offers a grounded path toward self-reliance, confidence, and a deeper connection to the full hunting process.
INTRODUCTION COURSE: WILDERNESS SURVIVAL FUNDAMENTALS
SISTERS, OREGON
APRIL 4th, 2026
12 STUDENTS MAX.
AGES 10+
This one-day wilderness survival course is designed to replace uncertainty with calm, practical capability — giving participants a clear foundation for responding effectively when something goes wrong outdoors. Rather than focusing on endurance or gear, the course emphasizes awareness, simple skills, and good decision-making under stress, the elements that matter most in real survival situations.
Through hands-on instruction in shelter, fire, water, and emergency priorities, students learn how to slow down, think clearly, and act with confidence. Accessible for beginners and families alike, this course provides real experience with essential tools and techniques, helping participants build a grounded understanding of survival fundamentals they can rely on — whether spending time outdoors, traveling, or preparing for unexpected situations.
ONLINE VIDEO COURSE: WILDERNESS SURVIVAL
SISTERS, OREGON
AVAILABLE FOR LIFE!
This one-day wilderness survival course is designed to replace uncertainty with calm, practical capability — giving participants a clear foundation for responding effectively when something goes wrong outdoors. Rather than focusing on endurance or gear, the course emphasizes awareness, simple skills, and good decision-making under stress, the elements that matter most in real survival situations.
Through hands-on instruction in shelter, fire, water, and emergency priorities, students learn how to slow down, think clearly, and act with confidence. Accessible for beginners and families alike, this course provides real experience with essential tools and techniques, helping participants build a grounded understanding of survival fundamentals they can rely on — whether spending time outdoors, traveling, or preparing for unexpected situations.
CUSTOM PRIVATE EXPERIENCES
I offer private, custom-built training for individuals and small groups in Central Oregon, designed to meet you exactly where you are.
I’ve trained everyone from military and law enforcement to families, scouts, corporate teams, school groups, and individuals with disabilities—each experience tailored for real impact, confidence, and growth.
Prefer to train elsewhere? I can travel to you and help secure an ideal training site nationally in the US. Every private training is built around your specific goals, skill level, and desired outcomes, ensuring a focused, high-value experience.
Request a quote by contacting us below and include your preferred dates, location, and group size. Let’s build something exceptional.
DISCOVER YOUR PRIMAL PATH
Whether you seek to build practical skills, cross a personal threshold, strengthen a team, or experience life close to its roots, Primal Skills Academy can guide you on a range of paths.
SURVIVAL
AND HUNTING
Hands-on training that builds self-reliance, sharpens instinct, and grounds confidence through real-world experience.
TEAM BUILDING EXPERIENCES
Outdoor experiences that test communication,
build trust, and reveal leadership through shared challenge and real conditions.
PRIMAL
GATHERINGS
Intentional gatherings in nature that build connection, clarity, and belonging through shared experience and reflection.
AFRICAN SAFARI AND CULTURAL IMMERSION
A rare opportunity to step into ancient landscapes and living traditions, gaining perspective through deep connection with land, people, and way of life.
MESSAGE JOEL
Not sure where to begin? Send me a message!
