The Santa Barbara-Ventura Sierra Club’s Basic Backpacking Course will begin in March, offering a comprehensive program designed to introduce beginners to the essentials of backpacking and survival skills.

Classes and excursions are hands-on learning activities that cover a range of backpacking skills, the club said. A textbook “The Complete Guide to Backpacking” and a compass are provided to all students.

Registration opens Nov. 1 for the course that runs Thursdays, March 5-April 16. Sessions take place 7-9:30 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 5654 Ralston St., Ventura.

The Sierra Club Basic Backpacking Course offers seven weeks of classroom sessions; a local day hike; a car camping weekend; and two weekend backpacking outings.

To register, visit https://www.basicbackpackingcourse.com/. The Santa Barbara-Ventura Sierra Club is a nonprofit organization.