Some tips on where to begin to learn more about nature and survive in the wild? Maybe an REI class? I'm a little embarrassed to admit that should I ever venture out into the wilderness, I would definitely not survive. I lack basic survival skills and nature would eat me alive. That being said, I always admired folks who could go camping for days (or weeks), who could cook up a warm (and edible) meal over a campfire.
1) Just go out to a forest/whatever and eat a packed lunch.
See what you're missing. Maybe an insulated container for food/drinks? Camp-compatible cutlery? Something to sit on? Better shoes? Windproof clothes?
When you feel comfortable enough, graduate to step 2
2) Make a meal in the wild, maybe have a nap or read a book.
Get a Trangia or Primus gas cooker and some ingredients you can cook a meal with. A ready-made camping meal is just fine or you can get fancy and cook everything from scratch.
Again see if you're missing something. Maybe something to wash the dishes? If you're cooking something, you either need to carry more water or have a way of purifying an existing source. Maybe a small solar panel + powerbank for your device(s). A better backpack that can fit all the gear without weighing you down?
For napping, nothing beats a Ticket To The Moon hammock. They're light but durable and you're not laying on the ground. They do need trees though, so for deserts they're not really optimal :) The pro-models with the integrated mosquito net are amazingly simple to set up.
Again, repeat steps 1 & 2 until you feel comfortable enough to move to the next step:
3) Sleeping outdoors
This is the costliest bit. The two main routes to take are either hammock or tent. For both you need a sleeping bag. Good tents are expensive, so maybe look into borrowing or renting. For hammock camping you'll want an underquilt and a tarp on top so you don't get cold or wet.
I recommend being brave about this and doing the first night(s) on your backyard or a friend's. If there are any issues you can just abort and walk inside.
After you're comfortable and equipped for all three steps, you can start planning longer multi-day trips along popular paths.
I heavily recommend getting/renting a Garmin inReach if you're going solo or outside of cell range.