Bushcraft and Ancient Crafts at Survival School SOS2012®

Highlights

Survival courses immersed in the forests of the Apuan Alps
Experience the wilderness on Vacation in Tuscany
Dynamic experiences suitable for everyone, ages 8 and up
Practical and forgotten skills to be rediscovered
ASI Certified Survival and Bushcraft Instructors
For those seeking true personal change

We have always dreamed of taking survival courses lost in the wilderness, and our adventurous spirit has been pushing us to explore our limits for some time now.
For this reason, welcoming Vincenzo Baroneand hisSurvival School SOS2012®on Vacanze Sportive is truly a great opportunity to discover this fascinating world (and philosophy of life) and to make it known to all the people who choose a holiday in Tuscany as a place for experiences in contact with nature and, in this case, as you will read, to (re)discover yourself and your instincts.

SOS2012® is not only a survival school but is concerned with transmitting and teaching how to use one‘s resources optimally and disseminating now-forgotten skills. It operates in 7 regions of Italy: Lazio, Campania, Marche, Sicily, Lombardy, Apulia and, of course, in Tuscany, specifically in Pescaglia in the province of Lucca, a small and ancient village nestled in the woods of the Apuan Alps in the Serchio valley.

SOS2012® is not only a survival school but is concerned with transmitting and teaching how to use one’s resources optimally and disseminating now-forgotten skills. It operates in 7 regions of Italy: Lazio, Campania, Marche, Sicily, Lombardy, Apulia and, of course, in Tuscany, specifically in Pescaglia in the province of Lucca, a small and ancient village nestled in the woods of the Apuan Alps in the Serchio valley.

Who is Vincenzo Barone and what is the SOS2012® Survival School.

Hi Vincenzo, or as they call you in bushcraft circles, “Wolfam,” can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your professional background and explain to those who don’t know your school, what is the purpose of your courses?

“Hi Gianni and Patrizia, first of all I am very happy to be part of your project that promotes a different way of understanding vacation and that is why it took me a moment to decide to support you.

I was born in the province of Milan, but I spent my childhood between the sea and the woods of the Amalfi Coast. I have had experiences the world over, from Mexico to Jordan, from Lapland to Kenya. I boast 20 years of actual permanent service in the Italian Navy as a Chief Marshal, which contributed to my operational and professional training.

I hold a degree in Organizational Science and Maritime and Naval Management and am an expert and scholar in Herbs and Botany with International University Certification in Phytotherapy and Medicinal and Edible Herbs. I have studied historical bow construction at the Bottega del Mastro Arcaio in Florence. I am experienced in Orientation and Topography, Fire Lighting Techniques, Experimental Archaeology and Flint Splintering, Survival Techniques and Bushcraft.

I am a MASTER FISSS Instructor, a qualification issued by the Italian Federation of Sport and Experimental Survival and a recognized Technical Instructor of CONI, ASI (Italian Social Sports Associations) and NATIONAL LIBERTAS, a Sports Promotion Body.

Survival School SOS2012® is a Federal MASTER FISSS School accredited by both CONI and ASI, with internationally certified Eurethics ETSIA instructors.

We carry out our activities in wooded locations such as, precisely, in Pescaglia, among the forests of the Apuan Alps. With on-site instructors, it is possible to conduct federal FISSS qualifying courses (operator and instructor).

The purpose of our courses is to lead anyone to acquire the skills necessary to deal properly with an emergency and long-stay situation in any type of environment. The courses have been structured so as to provide not just a simple notion, but a deep and structured technical and psychological training to deal with this.”

Tuscany holiday experiences and courses

Why should people looking for active and nature vacations come to Tuscany and choose your experiences? What types of people are your courses particularly aimed at?

“Because we offer the opportunity to turn a few days of participants’ vacation, into deep and unforgettable memories. People will learn practical and useful skills, interact with their surroundings, and discover forgotten skills.
Our goal is to teach how to assess an emergency situation, to react to it, using techniques learned both practically and psychologically, making optimal use of one’s resources.

The experiences we make available can be done all year round, are suitable for all types of people aged 8 and up, and are carried out in complete safety by trained instructors, who have successfully passed the internal level passing exams required by our federal school and all of them subsequently achieved the qualification of FISS Federal Survival Instructor and the recognized European Eurethics Etsia license with excellent results “DO WE STILL KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE UNEXPECTED?”

We know that you are not only involved in survival courses, you offer incredible experiences and spread, as you said, practical skills that have been forgotten. All perfect activities for those seeking an experiential vacation in Tuscany.

At our locations in Pescaglia, Tuscany and other regions of Italy, we promote a wide variety of activities in addition to survival courses 1st – 2nd – 3rd level:

Spontaneous Herbs Recognition Course

Historical Bow, String and Arrow Construction Course

Orientation and Cartography Course

Coastal and Marine Survival Course

Course on methods of lighting fire

Rope course, use and knowledge of equipment and suspension maneuvers

Wicker Weaving and Plant Fibers Course

Cheese Production Course

Soapmaking Course

Course on Self-Sufficiency and Self-Production

Forging Blades Course

Leather Workmanship Course

Leather Engraving, Carving and Tooling Course

Junior Survival Class 8-13 years old

Team Building

Very interesting! All these courses seem designed to make participants autonomous away from the modern society of comforts, addictions and vices.

At our locations in Pescaglia, Tuscany and other regions of Italy, we promote a wide variety of activities in addition to survival courses 1st – 2nd – 3rd level:

Spontaneous Herbs Recognition Course

Historical Bow, String and Arrow Construction Course

Orientation and Cartography Course

Coastal and Marine Survival Course

Course on methods of lighting fire

Rope course, use and knowledge of equipment and suspension maneuvers

Wicker Weaving and Plant Fibers Course

Cheese Production Course

Soapmaking Course

Course on Self-Sufficiency and Self-Production

Forging Blades Course

Leather Workmanship Course

Leather Engraving, Carving and Tooling Course

Junior Survival Class 8-13 years old

Team Building

Very interesting! All these courses seem designed to make participants autonomous away from the modern society of comforts, addictions and vices.

Reflections on the human condition

What do you think of the current state of society to which, we are aware, we are enslaved? Comfort, fake well-being, immediate pleasure seeking, we imagine you have a lot to say about riugardo….

“Modern society, undoubtedly, conditions our life choices; behind the façade of affluence and a secure social position lies the danger of not knowing how to cope with an emergency situation, whatever it may be.

To be totally dependent on what is basically superfluous is to be naked to this kind of real eventuality that each of us, at least once in our lives, will face. But when we are faced with the unexpected, do we know what to do? Panic and stress take over, make us less clear-headed and risk-ready, and we put our survival at risk.

Unscrupulous progress has conditioned the current evolutionary process by lowering the potential of human instinct, a lifeline in emergency situations. What are we if we cannot rely on ourselves and our ability to cope in every situation?”

We totally agree with you, there is absolute need for a “return to basics”: humanity, instinct and we add, love.

How does the approach of your survival courses translate into participants’ daily lives? What unique aspects of your training do participants take home with them?

“Our courses are aimed at anyone who out of curiosity, job requirements, or passion wants to prepare for any eventuality and feel able to cope with contingencies of various kinds and acquire practical skills in various areas.

Knowing how to assess and handle a tense situation requires more than just a good deal of strength and courage. The difference lies mainly in knowing how to respond mentally, as well as operationally. Learning the concept of analysis and planning is also useful in daily life.”

As it is easy to understand from this nice chat with Vincenzo, Survival School SOS2012^®offers not only a learning of survival techniques, but a real philosophy of life. Their approach aims to reconnect people with their instincts and their ability to face daily challenges with greater awareness and preparedness.

The school promotes personal growth, self-reliance and resilience, emphasizing the importance of knowing how to handle the unexpected in every aspect of life, with a transformative journey that tries to profoundly affect the way participants live.