Description

2-Day Survival for Beginners
Location: Mountain Camp, Colorado – 9,500 ft elevation, pine and aspen forest, private land

Most outdoor emergencies don’t happen deep in the wilderness,  they happen on day hikes, weekend camping trips, or when a simple plan goes wrong. This two-day beginner’s course is designed for everyday people who want the confidence to handle a 72-hour emergency.

You’ll learn the mindset, awareness, and fundamental skills that keep people alive in real situations. This class is not about memorizing theory,  it’s about practicing the core survival skills every human should know, in a safe but challenging outdoor environment.

What You’ll Learn

• Mindset & Awareness: The psychology of survival, Rule of Threes, situational awareness, and decision-making under stress.
• Preparedness & Lost-Proofing: How to plan a safe outing, what to pack, how to avoid getting lost, and how to recover if you do.
• Gear & Tools: Safe and effective use of knives and basic survival tools; selecting the right gear for short trips.
• Firecraft: Multiple modern fire-starting methods; how to build and maintain reliable fires for warmth, signaling, and comfort.
• Shelter: How to select a site and construct an emergency shelter that protects from the elements.
• Water: Where to find water, how to make it safe with modern methods, and how to ration responsibly.
• Signaling: Methods to alert rescuers using sound, sight, and movement.
• Animal Safety: Understanding Colorado wildlife, avoidance strategies, and what to do in an encounter.
• Knots & Cordage: Basic knots for shelter, tarps, and camp craft.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will:

• Know how to plan and prepare for safe trips outdoors.
• Understand how to avoid panic and make good decisions when things go wrong.
• Be able to build a fire, purify water, erect an emergency shelter, and signal for help.
• Have practiced each skill enough to do it confidently in real conditions.

This class is approachable for families, beginners, or anyone who wants to reconnect with the fundamentals of being outdoors. It’s the perfect first step before advancing to our 5-Day Survival Basics course.

General Daily Flow

Day 1 – Foundations & First Skills
Orientation, safety, and survival mindset. Lost-proofing and trip planning. Knife safety. Modern firecraft (lighter, matches, ferro rod) with first successful fires. Emergency shelter site selection and quick tarp/debris builds. Evening campfire discussion on signaling and real-world scenarios.

Day 2 – Water, Signaling & Mini-Scenario
Modern water finding and purification (boiling, filters, tablets). Signaling methods (whistle, mirror, improvised). Wildlife awareness and avoidance. A short team scenario combining fire, shelter, and water under light time pressure. Wrap-up, and next-steps guidance.

Take the First Step

Reserve your spot today and build the confidence to handle the unexpected.