Coconino Community College - Flagstaff

Do you like to get out into the backcountry and explore? Are you prepared to spend a freezing night out in the woods even if you weren’t planning to? This is a hands-on course on what to do, what to pay attention to, and how to maximize your fun and stay safe on a cold weather hike in northern Arizona. Participants will learn the five survival priorities when faced with an emergency, and we'll practice building shelters and starting a fire, conditions permitting. We will also learn how Search and Rescue works when you engage them. In addition to the resources, lists, handouts, and knowledge you’ll take home, the class fee also includes SOL Heat Sheets, plastic match safes, and parachute cord. After you sign up we’ll also provide a list of things you’ll need for the class.

This class meets for two days:

• Friday, Jan. 30, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and
• Saturday, Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Instructor Shawn Nittmann has been with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Unit since 2013 where he is a member of the board of directors, an operations leader, and a navigation and survival instructor. He has completed over 200 Search and Rescue missions in Coconino County. He has also been a part-time Biology Instructor and Community Education Instructor at CCC for many years.

Assistant instructor John Penna has been with the Coconino County Sheriff's Search and Rescue unit since 2017 and is currently focused on Preventive Search and Rescue. John was previously an ops leader, navigation instructor, and a member of technical support, participating in over 200 incidents and 300 events.