Level Up Your Survival Skills To The Intermediate Stage: Beyond The Basics

I’ve been involved in survival prepping or disaster/emergency support for much of my life in one way or another. In this post, I will be discussing how reaching the intermediate level in survival skills goes beyond the basics, like lighting a fire or having clean water. At this stage, you will build on your foundation, learn how to adapt, improvise, and react to a variety of situations. This confidence will give you an edge outdoors while helping you stay ready for surprises.

Many survival guides focus on foundational concepts, but moving up calls for super detailed know-how, ongoing practice, and creative problem-solving. Here’s my approach to expanding my survival skills from the bare minimum to the intermediate stage, with practical tips, training suggestions, and a new way of thinking.

Assessing My Current Skill Level

Before I work toward more challenging survival prepping skills, I review what I already know. This lets me spot the gaps and makes it easy to concentrate on what will help me the most.

Typical basic survival skills I look for include:

Starting and maintaining a simple campfire
Boiling or filtering water so it’s safe to drink
Setting up a simple shelter, such as a tarp or debris hut
Finding my way with a compass and reading a map
Handling basic first aid situations

Being confident in these means I’m ready for more advanced tests. If I need to brush up on anything, organizations like REI and the Red Cross are packed with resources and courses.

Expanding Shelter and Firebuilding Skills

Advanced Shelter Construction

For intermediate shelter building, I practice working with whatever materials I stumble upon in the wild. Instead of relying solely on a tarp, I experiment with lean-tos, debris huts packed with insulation, and if I lived in a colder climate, I would try snow caves. Knowing how to:

spot a safe location,
secure materials,
and creating proper insulation is crucial at this level.

Mastering Multiple Fire Methods

Campfire skills go beyond matches and lighters. I practice creating fire with:

a ferrocerium rod (the same one used on the Extracted TV show on Fox)
magnesium striker,
and bow drill. (I’ve never done this, so I bought one to learn after watching Extracted and seeing that the contestant couldn’t make it work.)

This way, I have more options if my regular supplies run out or get soaked. Figuring out how to keep a fire burning in difficult conditions, such as wind, rain, or snow, keeps me prepared for unexpected circumstances.

Trying these methods in various environments is key to knowing what works best when the chips are down.

Upgrading Water Sourcing and Purification

I started with boiling water or using a filter, but now I use additional methods and find water from different places.

Learning to spot natural water sources (dew, plant stems, or even digging for groundwater)
Building a solar still to capture water through condensation
Using chemical purification, like iodine or chlorine tabs, safely
Knowing the hazards of bacteria, such as Giardia, and learning to avoid waterborne illnesses

It’s vital to practice these techniques before trouble hits. I test out my water gear in the backyard or during day hikes to gauge its reliability.

Intermediate Navigation and Orientation

Map and Compass Mastery

At the intermediate level, I’m reading topographical maps, setting bearings, and plotting routes in totally new areas. I practice picking out natural navigation cues, such as the sun, stars, and prominent landmarks.

A topographical map example of Stowe, Vermont — A topographical map example. By USGS – Sample taken from the public domain USGS Digital Raster Graphic file for the Stowe, VT quadrangle, Public Domain.

Using advanced compass methods, such as following an exact bearing and triangulating my location, lets me move with precision.
Making my own basic maps from observations is a valuable skill, so I’m never at the mercy of losing a commercial map.

Improvising Navigation Tools

If I lose my compass, I’ve learned to make a quick one from a magnetized needle and a leaf (PDF), or to use the shadow stick method for direction. These backup navigation skills are a real confidence booster in the wild.

Remember that the sun rises in the east and goes down in the west. So if the sun is going down on your left, north is ahead of you, and south is behind you. If it’s coming up on your left, north is behind you, and south is ahead of you.

Food Foraging and Trapping

Intermediate survival isn’t about stashing energy bars. Instead:

I’m identifying several safe edible wild plants common in my area.
Harvesting with safety and respect for laws and sustainable methods.
Building simple snares and deadfall traps (making sure local regulations allow it).
Catching fish using both natural bait and handmade tools.

Practicing these in the field helps me understand the responsibility and methods behind foraging and hunting. I suggest checking out field guides and signing up for local workshops for hands-on learning. Tricks from the National Wildlife Federation can help with safe foraging and efficient trap making (source).

Read this – How to Forage on Your Homestead Property

First Aid: Going Beyond The Basics

Foundational first aid is good, but I want to handle serious injuries if help is far away. Improving here means:

I learn how to make a splint for a broken arm or leg using whatever I find nearby.
Treat burns, tough sprains, and stop bad bleeding.
Spot the signs of conditions like hypothermia, heat exhaustion, or dehydration—and deal with them right away.
Stock a beefed-up first aid kit and practice improvising with items in the environment.

A wilderness first aid class can provide hands-on experience, which boosts your confidence for remote adventures.

Improving Survival Mindset

Actual survival isn’t all about pitch-perfect gear or knowledge. It’s also a mindset. At the intermediate point, I focus on:

Keeping calm and putting priorities like shelter, water, fire, and food first.
Practicing decisions under stress with friends through mock scenarios.
Building confidence by testing myself in new places and tough situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stay safe when testing new skills?

I always practice new skills in a controlled space first. Keeping a backup plan, telling someone where I’m going, and starting small (especially with risky skills) make for a safer experience. Going with a buddy is always smart.

How can I practice if I don’t have access to the wilderness?

Many skills can be done at home or in urban spaces—fire starting with cotton balls and a lighter, reading maps, or even organizing shelter or navigation drills in a local park or yard.

What if I make a mistake?

Mistakes are natural. I review what went wrong, tweak my process, and keep going. Always have backup plans and a positive attitude so errors become lessons.

Tips for Taking My Skills to the Next Level

Join a local outdoor skills class to get hands-on practice with real experts.
Set mini-challenges, like spending a night outside using limited gear only.
Test different equipment and methods before betting big on them in the wild.
Keep a journal to track my progress and pinpoint strengths or weaknesses.

The real secret to building stronger survival abilities is steady learning and consistent practice. Every trip gets safer, more fun, and way more rewarding as I grow my skills and push past my comfort zone.

Survival isn’t just about making it through. It’s about growing, learning, and feeling at home in the outdoors. Keep practicing and enjoy the adventure ahead!

Level Up Your Survival Skills To The Intermediate Stage: Beyond the Basics

What’s your take on this? Do you feel like you can reach the intermediate level of survival after reading this? Do you have more tips, tools, or stories that could help fellow Golden Survivalists? Drop a comment below—your insight might be precisely what someone else needs. I read every comment and reply when I can. Let’s learn from each other.😎

Level Up Your Survival Skills To The Intermediate Stage: Beyond The Basics

Assessing My Current Skill Level