Community

Associates & Partners

A network of makers, instructors, and conservationists we trust enough to put our name beside. Every partner here makes us stronger in the field.

At Nature Reliance School, we believe community is one of the most powerful survival tools you can have. That's why we proudly collaborate with companies and organizations that share our core values: self-reliance, integrity, and a deep respect for the natural world.

We partner with small businesses, large businesses, Veteran-owned companies, and mission-driven organizations that produce high-quality gear, provide valuable services, and support the outdoor and preparedness community. We don't just recommend them. We use their products ourselves and stand behind their work.

When you support our partners, you're investing in a network of experts and craftsmen who are as dedicated to your growth and safety as we are. Meet them below.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Built on Three Things

No partnership lives on this page that doesn't pass these three filters. They protect you, our students, and the work.

Field-Proven

If we don't use it ourselves, you won't see it here. Every product, course, or program has been tested in the conditions it was built for.

Earned Trust

These are relationships built over years, not transactions. Many are veteran-owned, family-run, or mission-driven, and all stand behind their work.

Aligned Mission

Every partner shares our commitment to self-reliance, conservation, and passing on practical skills to the next generation of stewards.

TRUSTED NETWORK

Our Partners

Seven organizations we work with, learn from, and recommend without hesitation.

Gear Maker

LT Wright Knives

Purpose-Built Blades for Those Who Depend on Their Tools

Craig has proudly worked with LT Wright Knives for years as an ambassador and collaborator, designing and refining blades that meet the real demands of the field. Together they developed the Shemanese and Shemanese Companion, knives purpose-built for practical bushcraft, survival, and everyday use. Handcrafted in the USA, durable and thoughtfully designed, these aren't just tools. They're reliable companions for anyone who lives a life of adventure.

USA-Made Ambassador Partnership Handcrafted
Visit LT Wright Knives
Gear Maker

Tuff Possum Gear

Trusted, USA-Made Equipment for Adventurers

Tuff Possum Gear embodies the spirit of adventure with durable, thoughtfully designed gear made in the USA. Whether you're navigating city streets or remote backcountry trails, you need equipment you can count on. From versatile pouches and packs to innovative accessories, Tuff Possum helps you stay prepared and confident wherever life takes you. A family business dedicated to resilience and quality, their gear is made to support your journey.

USA-Made Family-Owned Packs & EDC
Visit Tuff Possum Gear
VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS

Camp Hero of Kentucky

Building Strength and Connection Through Nature

Camp Hero is a place dedicated to empowering veterans, first responders, and their families through outdoor experiences and healing adventures. We're honored to partner with Camp Hero to deliver our Nature Immersion program. A blend of skills training and meaningful connection to the natural world, where participants learn practical outdoor skills while discovering the therapeutic benefits of focused time outside.

Veterans Mission Nature Immersion Kentucky
Visit Camp Hero of Kentucky
Training

Personal Survival Solutions

Real-World Training for Real-World Threats

Founded by retired Special Forces Veterans Shane Kerwin and his wife Calley, PSS delivers practical, experience-driven training to help individuals, families, and communities take ownership of their safety. Shane's background, from the Korean DMZ to Special Forces deployments worldwide, brings unmatched expertise in mindset, defense, medical skills, and tactical decision-making. Their courses build resilience and confidence to respond to violent situations.

SF Veterans-Founded Family & Community Medical & Defense
Visit Personal Survival Solutions
Gear Maker

Hill People Gear

Built for the Backcountry, Trusted by Professionals

Hill People Gear designs rugged, purpose-driven packs and equipment for those who rely on their gear in the toughest environments. As an official ambassador, Craig stands behind their innovative, USA-made designs that balance simplicity, durability, and unmatched modularity. From high deserts to dense forests, HPG products move with you, supporting backcountry travel and serious survival scenarios alike.

USA-Made Ambassador Partnership Backcountry Built
Visit Hill People Gear
Conservation

Kentucky Wild

Conservation Work That Protects Kentucky's Wild Places

Kentucky Wild connects people with the conservation work that protects our state's most remarkable species and wild places. Through their membership program, outdoor enthusiasts help fund critical research, habitat restoration, and wildlife monitoring across the Commonwealth. Members get behind-the-scenes access to biologists, project updates, and a front-row seat to how science shapes the future of Kentucky's outdoors. Their mission aligns closely with ours: caring for the land, understanding the wildlife that depends on it, and preserving natural resources for generations.

Wildlife Research Habitat Restoration Kentucky
Visit Kentucky Wild
Network

Campfire Co-op

A Community of Doers, Thinkers, and Builders

The Campfire Co-op is a growing network of independent manufacturers, instructors, and professionals who believe in collaboration over competition. As a member, Craig contributes to and benefits from a diverse community that shares knowledge, supports one another, and works to preserve and pass on critical outdoor, survival, and self-reliance skills. The Co-op isn't just a directory. It's a movement built on shared values, integrity, and practical experience. Knives, waxed canvas, textiles, backcountry skills, preparedness training, hands-on learning. The Co-op lights the way for those who teach and those who seek to learn.

Maker Network Skills & Craft Education
Visit Campfire Co-op
Non Profit

Boone Brothers

WE HUNT. KIDS EAT.

Boone Brothers is a Kentucky nonprofit working to help feed children facing food insecurity across the Commonwealth. Through partnerships with hunters, farmers, Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, schools, and community supporters, donated venison and beef are transformed into Boone Bites, a shelf-stable, protein-rich snack distributed through local elementary schools to children who need it most.

Their mission brings together conservation, responsible hunting, community service, and faith in a practical way: using the resources Kentucky provides to take care of Kentucky kids.

Nature Reliance School is proud to support Boone Brothers and a mission that puts outdoor skills and the hunting community to work for something bigger than ourselves.

VISIT WEBSITE

Get In Touch

Think We Should Work Together?

If you build trusted gear, run mission-driven programs, or lead conservation work that aligns with our values, we'd like to hear from you.

Contact Craig