Leon Pantenburg is a devoted wilderness enthusiast, writer, and educator whose practical approach to survival blends real-world experience with everyday common sense. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors, Leon has backpacked in numerous mountain ranges, canoed the entire length of the Mississippi River, and served as a Scouting USA leader helping teach wilderness survival skills. His understanding of rural living and self-reliance was shaped further by a career as a journalist and community-college communications instructor. He developed a keen eye for evaluating information and teaching practical skills. (survivalcommonsense.com)

In 2009, Leon launched his website, SurvivalCommonSense.com, to offer accessible and realistic guidance on surviving both wilderness and urban emergencies. (survivalcommonsense.com) Rather than claiming to be a "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 this same philosophy to our community-college course, where he will guide students through core survival principles, hands-on techniques, and the mental framework needed to confidently navigate unexpected challenges in the wild or in urban settings.