Best-Selling Author, Backcountry Skills Expert and Instructor, Master Naturalist
Craig Caudill is a distinguished leader in wilderness education, serving as the Director and Lead Instructor of Nature Reliance School. Renowned for his best-selling books on backcountry skills and recognized as a certified master naturalist, Caudill offers comprehensive online and in-person courses that are highly regarded nationwide. These courses serve a diverse audience, including corporate entities, government agencies, and the public.
Caudill's expertise in backcountry survival and tracking has established him as a highly sought-after educator for first responders at all levels, significantly enhancing their skills in these critical areas. His influence extends to academia, where he has facilitated courses in survival, tracking, and wilderness navigation for students from 14 universities across the Southeast. But it's not just about education. He also collaborates with various conservation and stewardship organizations, using his skills to further their missions and broadening his impact. This aspect of his work is not just inspiring, it's a call to action for all who support the preservation of our natural world.
Caudill's media presence is extensive and varied, featuring prominently on major networks such as the Discovery Channel and History Channel, where he has contributed as a consultant. His reach and recognition have been further amplified through appearances on prominent platforms such as America's Most Wanted, Fox News Live, CNN, and Newsnation. His expertise has also been showcased on Public Education Television through shows like Kentucky Afield, Kentucky Life, Tim Farmer's Country Kitchen, and various regional and local news programs. These engagements have positioned him as a regular figure in national and regional news segments, where he shares his invaluable insights on safety, survival, and tracking skills. This broad spectrum of media appearances highlights his depth of knowledge and skill and solidifies his status as a leading authority in wilderness education and survival training.
Medicinal/edible plants instructor Social media maven. :)
Jennifer, the better half to Craig Caudill, wears many hats for Nature Reliance School. She is currently the social media maven for NRS. She is the one posting most of the wonderful things you see on our Facebook, Instagram and Youtube communities. She is also the camera lady and editor for Outdoor Core online content and other video support. She also teaches all of our edible/medicinal plants classes, whether it be dropping in on our weekend survival class or taking the presentations to public schools and libraries.
She has a BS in Education K-8 from Eastern Kentucky University. She has had a lifelong passion for artwork and has taught art in several area schools during her career. She is now leading the charge for the NRS programs to combat "Nature Deficit Disorder" for youth. Jennifer homeschooled both of her children for their entire K-12 careers. She is now focusing her attention on developing the youth to nature programs for NRS. These program have been taught in 5 different school systems. These programs are well on their way to helping school administrations meet their core objectives for national rank testing, and helping kids learn and appreciate more about their natural world.