Frequently Asked Questions

The Survival University FAQ Guide for Courses, Training, and Immersion Programs

These Are Some of Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

This guide covers the most common questions asked by students about TSU courses, outdoor skills training, logistics, expectations, immersion programs, private events, and more. Whether you are brand new to the outdoors or preparing for serious instruction, you will find clear answers here.

Choosing The Right Course

These questions help you decide which TSU program best matches your goals, experience level, and what you want to learn.

How do I know which course is right for me?

Start by deciding what you want to walk away with. If you want a solid foundation in fire, shelter, water, and mindset, start with a beginner course. If you want more hands-on time, primitive skills, and deeper challenges, look at our intermediate options. If you want a full reset, long-term training, and real competency, explore the 50 Day Immersion Program.

If you want help choosing, use our Find Your Own Path guide here: Find Your Course Path

Do I need experience before enrolling?

No. Most people who train with us have very little experience. We teach everything step by step, without talking down to anyone.

At the same time, we also train seasoned outdoorsmen, high-level practitioners, and people who already live and work in demanding environments. The difference is in how we teach: we meet you exactly where you are, whether you’re brand new or already experienced.

Are your courses good for day hikers and people who live in cities?

Can I take multiple courses in a row?

Yes. Our courses are designed to build on each other. The 2 Day, 3 Day, and 5 Day programs can be taken in sequence with very little overlap, and each one increases the challenge, the depth of instruction, and the hands-on experience.

For students who want extended training, our 26 Day and 50 Day programs take this progression even further. These programs combine multiple classes back to back and are structured to develop real outdoor capability through consistent training and real field experience.

Do you train families, kids, or teens?

We do, but we currently do not offer public classes designed specifically for youth groups. Kids and teens are welcome to attend many of our courses as long as a parent or guardian participates with them. Some classes may be too challenging for younger students, so if you are unsure whether a course is a good fit, contact us and we will help you choose the right option.

We also offer private family and youth-focused events on request.

Do you offer private courses or one-on-one instruction?

Yes. We offer private training for individuals, small groups, teams, and corporate organizations. These sessions can be customized to match your goals and the specific skills you want to learn. Private and one-on-one instruction is billed at a higher rate than standard public classes, and custom program design may adjust pricing depending on the depth and duration of the training.

If you want a private or personalized experience, contact us and we will build a training plan that fits your needs.

What To Expect in TSU Courses

These questions explain what training feels like, how challenging it is, and what the overall experience is like at TSU.

How tough are your courses?

How physically fit do I need to be?

Will I be sleeping outside?

Most of our courses involve camping at our mountain property, and you can choose the style of camping that works best for you. Students are welcome to stay in tents, hammocks, vehicles, campers, or shelters they build. Some people also choose to return to town at the end of each training day, which is perfectly fine for most programs.

For advanced programs, such as the 26 Day and 50 Day courses, students will be sleeping in primitive shelters or similar structures as part of the training experience. For most classes, dispersed camping is the norm and most people bring a tent.

Do your courses run in all weather?

What is the student to instructor ratio?

Skills You Will Learn

This section outlines the core outdoor, survival, and primitive skills taught across beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs.

What skills do beginner courses cover?

What skills do intermediate courses cover?

What do advanced courses cover?

Do you teach plant medicine?

Do you teach practical survival without relying on gear?

Logistics and Planning

These questions cover location, gear, meals, sleeping arrangements, and what to expect when preparing for your course.

Where is the training location?

We train on two private mountain properties near Cripple Creek, Colorado. Our primary site, the Mountain Camp, is about 200 acres inside a larger 1,000 acre private valley that we have access to. About 30 minutes away, we also use a second training area called the Chapman Ranch, which is roughly 4,000 acres of private land. Both locations offer rugged terrain, privacy, and an ideal environment for hands-on learning.

What elevation is the training area?

What should I bring?

How do meals work?

Can I sleep in my vehicle or bring a camper?

Yes. Most courses allow you to sleep in a vehicle or bring a camper. All campers and vehicles used for sleeping must remain in the designated parking area so the training valley stays clear and functional. There are no hookups, and quiet hours are enforced, so generators cannot run through the night. Some advanced programs require primitive shelters, so check your course details if you are unsure.

Do you provide water on-site?

Safety, Medical, and Wildlife

This section explains how TSU manages safety, instruction quality, medical concerns, and wildlife awareness.

Is wilderness experience required?

Do I need medical training before attending?

Are your instructors qualified?

Yes. Our instructors come from diverse backgrounds that include outdoor education, advanced skills training, tracking, navigation, wilderness medicine, and real-world field experience. Every instructor who teaches at TSU is certified as a Wilderness First Responder or higher, and many hold additional specialized credentials. You are learning from people who live these skills, not weekend hobbyists.

What emergency response support is available at TSU?

We work directly with Flight for Life, local EMS teams, and the regional fire department during training exercises, so they are familiar with our locations and how to access them quickly. Flight for Life can reach our Mountain Camp in about 8 minutes from Colorado Springs. The nearest fire department is roughly 18 minutes away, and ground ambulance response is about 25 minutes out.

We know these times because we train with these agencies, not because we have had to call them for student incidents. Our safety record is strong, and clear communication with emergency services ensures an added layer of protection during every course.

Do you have medical equipment on-site?

What about wildlife?

Colorado wildlife is part of the landscape, but true incidents are extremely rare. All of our instructors are trained in animal behavior, situational awareness, and how to manage encounters safely. We will teach you exactly what to do, how to avoid problems before they start, and how to move through the environment with confidence.

Most students never see more than deer or the occasional elk. You’ll be prepared either way.

Are the courses safe?

Our safety record is excellent. Any activity in the outdoors carries some inherent risk, but we take every reasonable precaution to keep training controlled, structured, and as safe as possible. Our instructors are trained to manage risk, monitor students, and teach you the same skills that help prevent problems in real backcountry situations.

The goal is simple: challenge you, teach you, and send you home safe and confident.

Gear, Tools, and Equipment

These questions address what tools you need, what you can bring, and what TSU provides during training.

Do I need an expensive knife or gear kit?

No. Bring what you already have. Most of our courses only require a handful of simple items, and we’ll tell you exactly what those are after you sign up.

What we strongly recommend is this: do not run out and buy a bunch of gear before talking with us. Big box stores and gear shops will happily sell you whatever is on their shelves, but most salespeople are trained to promote products that fit their hobby, not real-world survival or fieldcraft. We see people show up with hundreds of dollars of unnecessary gear all the time.

If you’re unsure what to bring or what to buy, contact us first. We will point you in the right direction and save you money, frustration, and a lot of wasted weight in your pack.

Can I bring my own tools?

Yes. Bring your own gear. All courses allow personal knives, axes, saws, cook kits, tents, sleep systems, and other equipment. We also have a limited amount of loaner gear available for use and/or rent, as well as tools and TSU-designed knives for sale at our on-site store.

If you’re unsure what gear to bring, contact us. We’ll help you choose the right tools so you’re set up for success.

Do you sell knives or tools on-site?

What should I wear?

Dress for mountain weather. Conditions can shift quickly at higher elevation, so plan for sun, wind, cold nights, and sudden temperature drops. Avoid cotton whenever possible or at least bring one full set of clothing that is quick drying and moisture wicking. Cotton holds moisture, dries slowly, and can make you cold fast.

Choose layers you can add or remove throughout the day. Bring good footwear, a hat, sunglasses, work gloves, and sunscreen. Expect to get dirty and work hard, so wear clothing you don’t mind putting to use.

For a full breakdown of how to layer properly, read our blog: The Principles of Clothes Layering

Can I bring a firearm to camp?

Yes, but strict safety rules apply. Firearms must remain holstered and secured at all times unless a real threat requires otherwise. They are not to be handled casually, shown to other students, or removed for any non defensive reason. Unsafe firearm handling will result in immediate removal from the course.

Firearms are not used in non shooting classes. If you want firearms training, contact us about our shooting and tactical programs.

Groups, Corporate, and Private Training

These answers explain how TSU works with teams, organizations, schools, and private clients.

Do you offer team-building events?

Yes. Our corporate programs are nothing like the typical trust falls and balance-an-egg-on-a-spoon nonsense. We put teams into real environments where they have to think, communicate, problem solve, and rely on each other in ways that actually matter.

Every event is customized to your group. We can keep it light with a guided nature experience that focuses on connection and awareness, or we can turn up the heat and run your team through challenges that make people rethink their comfort zones and rediscover what they’re capable of together.

No gimmicks. No forced games. Just real experiences that reveal strengths, weaknesses, communication gaps, leadership tendencies, and how teams respond when things get uncomfortable.

If you want a team building event people will actually remember, this is it.

Can you customize a course for my group?

Do you travel to teach private events?

The 50 Day Immersion Program

This section focuses on the structure, expectations, and outcomes of our flagship 50 Day training experience.

Who is the 50 Day program for?

What skills does the 50 Day include?

Is it physically demanding?

Where do students sleep?

Do I need experience to join?

Do graduates receive certification?

Yes. All graduates receive a printed certificate documenting the skills they completed during the program. There is no official governing body for survival training, so the value of that certificate comes from the depth of the training and the reputation of The Survival University.
Students also earn a Wilderness First Responder certification through Off Grid Medic, which is widely recognized by organizations such as NOLS and SOLO.

Payments, Refunds, and Policies

Here are the most common questions about tuition, payments, transfers, refunds, and discounts.

What is your payment policy?

What is your cancellation or refund policy?

Policies vary based on the course. Guest instructor programs and immersion programs have stricter terms due to limited availability and scheduling commitments.

No call and no show participants are not eligible for refunds under any circumstances. If you contact us in advance, we will do our best to work with you, but last minute cancellations for guest instructor courses or immersive programs are rarely transferable. In some cases and at our discretion, we may allow a credit to be used for a future date, but this is not guaranteed.

A portion of your payment may be retained depending on how close your cancellation is to the course date. Full policy details and disclosures can be found in the footer at the bottom of our website.

Can I transfer to another course?

Possibly. Transfers depend on the type of course and how early you contact us. If you reach out within a reasonable timeframe, we will do our best to help.

Guest instructor courses can only be transferred to another course taught by the same instructor, and only if that instructor is offering an additional date. Otherwise, your spot may need to roll over to the following year. Transfer options are not guaranteed, so the sooner you contact us, the better we can guide you.

Do you offer discounts?

Miscellaneous Questions

These questions cover additional details that students often ask before attending.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, dogs are allowed, but they must be well behaved and under control at all times. If a dog is disruptive, aggressive, gets into people’s gear or food, or makes the environment unsafe for others, we may require the owner to leash the dog or leave the course.

Not everyone loves your dog as much as you do, so please be respectful of other students and the learning environment.

All dog owners must sign a pet waiver. You are fully responsible for your dog’s behavior, actions, and any damage or injuries they cause. The Survival University is not liable for injury to your pet under any circumstances.

Is alcohol allowed?

Can I arrive early or stay late?

Do you have bathrooms on-site?

Is there cell service?

Cell service varies by location. At Mountain Camp, major carriers usually have a strong or intermittent signal, while smaller or off-brand providers may not connect reliably. At Chapman Ranch, cell service is typically unavailable. We do maintain Starlink on-site for emergency use only.

Our courses are designed to help you disconnect from technology and stay present in the training, so we encourage students to limit phone use during class.

At The Survival University, we believe in open communication and want every one of our students to feel comfortable. We understand that it can be challenging to find the information you need, which is why we welcome your questions. We are always here to help. The very nature of our business can be intimidating so we work hard to make the process less scary. If you have any questions whatsoever and you don’t see the answer here, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the answers you need, in a timely and professional manner. We value your input and are always looking for ways to improve our customer experience.

Don’t hesitate to ask – we are here to help!

Creating a safe and welcoming environment is a top priority for The Survival University. We are always here to help you navigate your journey to our campus and answer any questions you might have about our courses and programs. We value your experience with us and encourage you to reach out through our Contact Page with any additional questions we may not have answered here. We promise to get back to you in a timely manner as our team of professionals are dedicated to providing you with the answers you need to feel successful.