Leon Pantenburgis a devoted wilderness enthusiast, writer, and educator whose practical approachto survival blends real-world experience with everyday common sense. With alifelong passion for the outdoors, Leon has backpacked in numerous mountainranges, canoed the entire length of the Mississippi River, and served as aScouting USA leader helping teach wilderness survival skills. His understandingof rural living and self-reliance was shaped further by a career as ajournalist and community-college communications instructor. He developed a keeneye for evaluating information and teaching practical skills. (survivalcommonsense.com)

In 2009, Leonlaunched his website, SurvivalCommonSense.com, to offer accessible andrealistic guidance on surviving both wilderness and urban emergencies. (survivalcommonsense.com) Rather than claiming to bea "survival expert," he emphasizes that preparedness hinges on sound judgement,straightforward skills and a resilient mindset: "Survival - in any situation -is a science, and the skills and techniques to survive can be learned." (survivalcommonsense.com) Today, Leon brings thissame philosophy to our community-college course, where he will guide studentsthrough core survival principles, hands-on techniques, and the mental frameworkneeded to confidently navigate unexpected challenges in the wild or in urbansettings.