"Some people don't have a backyard. I can try things out in a public parking lot, I guess, but starting a fire or making a shelter there might get you weird looks at least, and possibly a trip to the police station. I can just imagine --"

Bingley - not beating up on you here.
If you want to learn - you have to GO OUT there.
when I was single, and later married (no kids) i was out there in the wilderness just about every weekend. we were always gone. always. if I wasn't at work or asleep - I was out there. THAT is how you learn. it's what is vitally important to move up the learning curvem because if you are out there a lot then you will experience all possible conditions ... good, bad and awful. when you are out in the wilderness areas, start trying out the techniques yourself. pick a chapter from a good book and start doing it. it's plain simple. no "wilderness police" to mes with your mind - just don't burn the place down. better to practice on BLM land, and not national parks.

Pete2