Instructors
Jennifer Khan
Instructor
Jennifer Khan is an accomplished practitioner of the outdoor arts and has extensive camping experience in the Bancroft, Haliburton, Algonquin Park, Saugeen Valley, Bruce Peninsula, Sudbury, Espanola, and Parry Sound areas. Jennifer's backpacking and hiking excursions have taken her to French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Europe, Japan, Western and Eastern Canada, South America, Central USA, the West Indies, and the Hawaiian Islands. Her outdoor education credits include several advanced survival, first aid, edible/medicinal/useful plants, and water safety courses. She is an accomplished outdoor cook and teaches a course on the subject. Jennifer enjoys periodically writing for outdoor magazines.
As an instructor for Survival in the Bush, Inc., Jennifer teaches several Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme courses at Loyalist College and Georgian College. These include Moccasin Workshop, Buckskin Coat Making, Backpacking, Canoe Camping, Winter Camping, Bushwhacking, Orienteering, Hike Leader Certification, and Wilderness Survival courses. Jennifer also teaches Traditional Winter Camping for Conservation Nature Tours and Wilderness Survival at Laurentian University.
Gino F. Ferri
Instructor / Director of Survival in the Bush, Inc.
Gino F. Ferri, PhD., is the director of Survival in the Bush, Inc., a company which acts as an instructional and consulting firm for military personnel, educators, students, hunters, anglers, executives, outdoor leaders, and others interested in mastering any number of wilderness survival and living skills.

In 1977, at the North Campus of Humber College of Applies Arts and Technology, Toronto, he established a year-round wilderness survival programme. Gino has traveled extensively in the Canadian Northlands, and has taught survival techniques to the Inuit, Metis, and Native People. His book, The Psychology of Wilderness Survival, has been called "the most comprehensive book ever written on wilderness survival" by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. All copies of the first edition were sold out within two weeks of publication.
His other book, Crisis Intervention: Managing Wilderness Emergencies, was presented at SARSCENE 1999, a symposium hosted by the National Search & Rescue Secretariat. Professionals attending the conference called this book a milestone in the development of an action plan dealing specifically with emergency situations in a wilderness setting. Gino has written numerous articles for magazines such as Angler and Hunter, Bushwhacker, Canadian Hunting and Shooting, Canoeing Ontario, and Leisure World. Gino presently co-ordinates the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College. On many separate occasions, he was featured on The Great Outdoorsman television show.
Heather Reid
Instructor
Heather is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme through Loyalist College in Bancroft. She works part time as a medic in Canada's Army Reserve, and graduated from the Health Sciences programme at McMaster University and is currently attending medical school. Besides having a keen interest in working with Aboriginal peoples, Heather is an avid volunteer for many organizations. Her volunteer and leadership experiences have taken her across Ontario, several U.S. states, and as far as Guatemala. In 2005, Heather was named CIBC Young Miracle Maker for her dedicated work. Heather loves the outdoors and is constantly developing her wilderness and primitive living skills. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano, as well as sports such as fastball, hockey and sailing.
Jon MacDiarmid
Instructor
Jon is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme through Loyalist College, Bancroft campus. He started canoeing at the age of 7 and has toured Lake Superior and most of Georgian Bay by sea kayak. His interests include primitive living skills, backcountry camping, canoeing, flat water kayaking, hiking and general aviation. Jon is exceptional in map and compass skills, and teaches an interactive, hands-on Bushwhacking course. Jon has worked in the IT industry for over 16 years and also holds both a glider and commercial pilots license.
Dan Kieffer
Instructor
Dan is an avid outdoor enthusiast who can be found roving the wilds of Ontario, be it on the trails, lakes, rivers or rock walls. Having been with Survival in the Bush, Inc., since 1998, he has gained a wealth of experience in several disciplines such as kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, primitive living skills such as flintknapping and trapping and wilderness survival. Dan's true passion is wilderness medicine. He is the instructor of a dynamic and realistic hands-on wilderness first aid course. When he's not in the bush, Dan works as an advanced care flight paramedic in Northwestern Ontario and continues to pursue other opportunities in medicine. Dan is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College.
Kevin Good
Instructor
Kevin holds a diploma as a Fish and Wildlife Technologist and is currently employed with the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, working in the field of aquatic ecology. Kevin was also one of the first graduates of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme. He volunteers with various organizations including: Canadian Ski Patrol, O.P.P. and the Sault Ste. Marie Search and Rescue. Kevin enjoys backcountry camping, canoeing, snowshoeing, skiing, historical re-enactments and the practicing of primitive skills. Kevin has developed a passion for researching the Canadian fur trade and the lifestyles of the voyageurs and coureurs de bois.
Tyler Vander Molen
Instructor
Tyler is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College, Bancroft Campus. He is a skilled outdoorsman and a well qualified wilderness first responder. His interests include varying environmental concerns which have taken him to Peru, and different regions of Ontario and Western Canada. During his free time, Tyler enjoys guiding in the Yukon and Alaska, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, biking, and competitive team sports like hockey, rugby, and broomball. Tyler also has an avid interest in primitive skills and has successfully completed numerous survival courses. Tyler is currently studying at Trent University.
Jordan Webb
Instructor
Jordan is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College and is also a graduate of the Fish and Wildlife Technician programme at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Some of his interests include photography, backpacking, and canoeing. Jordan travels extensively and is a skilled outdoorsman.
Nathan Bamsey
Instructor
Nathan is a Masters student at McMaster University researching solar cell technologies. His travels have taken him to the UK, Mexico and several countries in South America. Nathan enjoys many outdoor activities including skiing, whitewater kayaking, canoeing, running and swimming. Among other things, Nathan is continually involved in gaining experience in wilderness edible plants, fire starting and backyard astronomy. Nathan is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College.
Lindsay King
Assistant Instructor
Lindsay is a graduate of from the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Environmental Studies with an honours degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Planning credit from England’s Oxford-Brookes University. She is also a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College. Employed by a Southern-Ontario Municipality, Lindsay is building a career within environment and development planning while continuing to pursue a variety of interests which include traveling, arts and heritage, sport and wilderness activities.
Kory Snache
Assistant Instructor
Kory is a recent graduate of the Algonquin College Outdoor Programme and the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme. As a guide, his travels have taken him to Central America, Europe, and parts of Canada and the United States. He is an avid hunter and fisherperson and activities in which he enjoys participating in are volleyball, hockey, fastball, sea kayaking, and researching local history. Kory currently resides in Rama First Nation.
Jessie Sparling
Field Assistant
Jessie is a Masters student at the University of Ottawa completing biological research, while keeping her outdoor activities balanced. Jessie has been involved in festivals, courses, and canoe races with Survival in the Bush, Inc, since June, 2000. She is continually expanding her knowledge of wilderness survival. Jessie enjoys the outdoors and sports like ice hockey, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. She has competed at the national level and coached in the sports of canoeing and kayaking. Jessie is a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College.
Robbie Fogal
Field Assistant
Robbie is a student at the University of Ottawa and a graduate of the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College. He is an avid mountain biker who also enjoys competitive team activities such as hockey, lacrosse, swimming and canoeing. Robbie has studied many environmental issues and remains an informative and resourceful researcher. His travels has taken him to Ireland, Eastern Canada, and several islands in the Caribbean.
Since 1995, Robbie has participated and assisted in numerous re-enactments with Survival in the Bush, Inc. He is skilled in fire starting lore, enjoys competitive voyageur racing, and is knowledgeable in the traditions of the Coureur de Bois.
Tanis McDivitt
Field Assistant
Tanis is a graduate of the Environmental Science and Education programme at Queen's University. Tanis has recently traveled to Ukraine on an exchange programme and traveled throughout Canada on various hiking and backpacking ventures. Her volunteer involvement with various programmes, such as Katimavik and Canada World Youth, has presented opportunities to spend many months in Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, assisting with agricultural research, inner city school programmes, survival courses and she enjoys participating in festivals at Ste. Marie among the Hurons, Midland, ON. Tanis enjoys outdoor wilderness pursuits, organic gardening, kayaking and is an avid hiker.
Dan Curley
Field Assistant
Dan recently graduated from the Wilderness Experience Certificate Programme at Loyalist College, Bancroft Campus. Dan enjoys various outdoor experiences and volunteer opportunities, such as building homes for the poor. His specific interests include primitive fire starting techniques and participating in sports such as rock climbing, soccer, hockey, broomball, golf, fishing and archery.
When booking the services of Survival in the Bush Inc., a 50% non-refundable deposit is required. The remaining funds are due 45 days prior to course commencement. Medical reasons notwithstanding, should the client withdraw from any course, a 50% cancellation fee is automatically deducted from the full registration cost. If withdrawing with less than 45 days notice prior to course commencement, there is no refund. Survival in the Bush Inc., reserves the right to refuse a student's participation in any course should safety become a factor. All courses are subject to applicable GST and College Fees.