SURVIVAL STORE

A collage of wilderness survival and adventure activities in the Colorado backcountry, featuring people foraging for wild berries, gathering reeds in a river, sitting around campfires, building shelters, and enjoying nature. The text reads “Colorado Wilderness Adventure & Skills Training” with The Survival University logo centered.
Jess sits on the forest floor beside a hammock shelter, holding a spoon and smiling at the camera. In the foreground are a Jetboil stove and a package of REAL Turmat freeze-dried meal.
A shirtless man with long hair, sunglasses, and a bandana stands waist-deep in a pond holding freshly harvested cattail roots. Forested hills and tall grasses surround the water.
Jason takes a survival selfie while leading a group of hikers through lush greenery along a narrow trail beside a rocky mountain stream. All are wearing large backpacks and outdoor gear.
Jason demonstrates setting up a primitive deadfall trap using a large wooden trigger stick, supported by a log and branch in a wooded area.
Jess demonstrates knot tying using red paracord on a line stretched between two trees, with several people and a dog watching in a forested area.
Three men in outdoor gear pose together in a forest clearing surrounded by tall grass and colorful autumn trees.
A woman crouches next to a small campfire, smiling, in front of a reflective emergency tarp shelter in a forest clearing. A backpack sits nearby.
Two women sit under a tarp shelter in the forest, smiling near a smoky campfire made with large logs and rocks. One is flashing a peace sign while the other adjusts her hat.

Survival Skills and Backcountry Hiking Adventure

$645.00

Wilderness Survival, Self-Reliance & Situational Awareness with Colorado Mountain Man Jason & Wildkind Jess

Learn essential wilderness survival skills from the priorities of survival and situational awareness to the hard skills of making fire, expedient shelter and drinking safe water. This important two-day training will build confidence for any of your outdoor adventures as well as offer relevant skills that could be life-saving if faced with unexpected emergencies. We will teach mindfulness skills that will develop your senses for greater situational awareness. Jess will introduce the idea of holistic survival so that students recognize the importance of community, a healthy mind and body as well as a positive mental attitude. Join the founder of the Survival University Jason Marsteiner and Founder of Wildkind Outdoors Jess Caldwell for a course designed to prepare you for the challenges we currently face in today’s modern world.

Description

Survival Skills and Backcountry Hiking Adventure

2-Day Beginner Survival Course and Guided Colorado Backcountry Experience

Join us at The Survival University’s main camp in Colorado for a unique blend of hands-on survival training and a guided hiking adventure through scenic backcountry terrain. This two-day wilderness survival course for beginners is perfect for hikers, backpackers, outdoor-curious individuals, and anyone looking to gain real-world skills and confidence in nature.

On day one, you’ll learn the fundamentals of survival, including how to pack essential gear, build shelter, start a fire, work with your knife, and prepare for emergencies in the wild. Then we’ll take those core skills and head into the backcountry to put them into practice.

You’ll hike through diverse Colorado landscapes, discover hidden swimming holes, and take in unforgettable views while learning and applying essential survival techniques. This course is the perfect mix of adventure, outdoor education, and personal growth.

What you’ll experience:

  • Beginner-friendly wilderness survival instruction

  • Guided backcountry hiking adventure

  • Hands-on practice with fire-starting, shelter-building, knot tying, and foraging

  • Gear tips and essentials for outdoor preparedness

  • Nature awareness and connection-building exercises with instructor Jess Caldwell

  • Group bonding, campfire storytelling, and cooling off in mountain streams

  • Sleeping under the stars in Colorado’s high country

Whether you’re just getting started with hiking or want to deepen your connection to the outdoors, this course offers a chance to learn practical skills, unplug from the modern world, and build your confidence for future adventures.

Come train, explore, and recharge in the wilderness—one step, one skill, and one moment at a time.

Course Overview

  • Course: Survival Skills and Backcountry Hiking Adventure
  • Duration: 4 days
  • Class starts: 9:00 AM.
  • Class ends: 5:00 PM.
  • Required arrival for check-in: 8:00 AM, one hour before class starts.

Instructor

Resident Instructors: Jason Marsteiner and Jess Caldwell

Training Format

Pack weight

If you are not an experienced hiker, your backpack and gear should not be any more than 25% of your body weight. Please check your gear weight before arriving. Also keep in mind that we will be operating at elevations from 9500 feet to 7,000 feet above sea level. If you are not used to this altitude, you will move slower and tire quicker.

Course Progression

Course Itinerary

Day 1 – Core Survival Skills at Base Camp

  • Welcome and course overview
  • Gear check and packing basics
  • Shelter-building fundamentals
  • Knife safety and tool use
  • Fire-starting: modern and primitive methods
  • Group dinner and campfire discussion

Day 2 – Practical Skills and Wilderness Prep

  • Water purification methods
  • Foraging basics and plant ID walk
  • Knot tying and cordage practice
  • Lost-proofing and self-mapping techniques
  • Leave No Trace principles
  • Evening wrap-up and prep for backcountry hike

Day 3 – Backcountry Hiking Adventure Begins

  • Break camp and pack out
  • Guided hike through diverse terrain
  • Field application of survival skills
  • Swimming and nature connection stops
  • Camp setup and dinner in the wild

Day 4 – Exploration and Return

  • Morning coffee and nature-based mindfulness
  • Navigation exercises and route finding
  • Scenic hike back with group reflections
  • Course conclusion and takeaways

Before You Arrive

Arrival and Directions

Arrive by 8:00 AM for check-in. Class begins at 9:00 AM. Plan your drive so you are at the meeting location one hour before instruction begins.

Course Arrangements

Overnight field participation is part of this scheduled survival and backcountry training program. Enrolled students remain with the program during the planned field activities, including the backcountry portion, where modern lodging is not provided. Students carry their personal shelter and sleeping equipment according to the course gear instructions. Use of the training property overnight is limited to enrolled students and authorized program participants. Campsites are not independently rented or offered to the general public.

Please call or email us before the course to confirm the shelter and sleeping equipment for your scheduled program. Hotels and Airbnb rentals in the surrounding area are options for lodging before or after the course; students make their own reservations directly with the provider.

Facilities

Sanitation/Hygiene: A portable restroom and potable water will be provided at main camp.

Food and Water

Water will be provided at main camp but water filtration system will need to be purchased for remote camping along the river and will be included in the gear list. Students may store any desired foodstuffs at camp for the first three days. After day three, we recommend quick field expedient meals such as freeze dried hiking meals, trail mix, trail snacks and energy/protein bars. They can quickly be made during your adventure and won’t slow down the learning process. However, students may bring any food that they wish to cook over the campfire or on their own personal camp stove. Food can be purchased locally at nearby facilities.

What to Bring

UPON REGISTRATION YOU WILL BE SENT A GEAR AND CLOTHING LIST TO PACK SUCCESSFULLY FOR THIS TRIP.

Course Notes

Due to the different levels of prior experience and knowledge among students in each class, individual outcomes may vary. Weather conditions can also be a factor in changing class content slightly. Nonetheless, our instructors will always endeavor to be as accommodating and consistent as circumstances will allow to ensure students get the best training experience and value for money.

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