EVENT DESCRIPTION

Calling all adventurous teens and parents: Get ready for an action-packed 2-Day Survival Class like no other! Say goodbye to those ordinary high school survival classes – this is the real deal, tailor-made for teenagers who crave excitement and want to learn the skills that matter.

At The Survival University, we’re thrilled to introduce our Teen Survival Adventure! This isn’t your average program; it’s a dynamic journey where teenagers and parents are invited to join forces, bond, and embark on an unforgettable learning experience together.

Picture this: Teens and their parents side by side, engaging in thrilling outdoor activities that go beyond the classroom. Our Teen Survival Adventure is a masterclass in practical survival skills that will leave you amazed by your newfound abilities. This isn’t just about theory – it’s about hands-on training that will put your skills to the test.

We know you’re not just looking for any program; you’re seeking an experience that will shape your teen’s love for the outdoors and equip them with valuable life skills. That’s why our Teen Survival Adventure is designed with input from local teachers, youth leaders, search and rescue teams, and childhood development experts. It’s an immersive blend of fun, education, and adventure that will ignite your teen’s passion for exploration.

Now, let’s get to the details. If your teen already has a solid foundation in survival skills or is yearning for a more mature crowd, our Teen Survival Adventure is perfect. It’s not just about survival – it’s about pushing boundaries, building confidence, and bonding with like-minded individuals.

While we have our TSU Kids 101 and TSU Kids 201 classes for younger adventurers, the Teen Survival Adventure is the next level. Imagine learning survival skills through exciting challenges, team activities, and interactive learning sessions. From fire safety to navigation, animal encounters, camp setup, and more, your teen will emerge with a toolkit of skills that will last a lifetime.

As outdoor educators, we understand that nature has its surprises. That’s why each class is an adventure of its own, with a core curriculum that covers essential skills while leaving room for unexpected learning moments. So, whether you’re a teen ready to spread your wings or a parent looking to share an extraordinary experience, our Teen Survival Adventure is your chance to bond, learn, and create memories that will last forever.

Join us for an exhilarating journey that promises to awaken the adventurer within and empower your teen to become their own hero. The excitement awaits – discover more about our Teen Survival Adventure below and get ready to embark on an unforgettable experience!

RECOMMENDED AGE

13-18

• Parent(s) are required to attend with their children but are free to attend.
• Family discounts available to immediate family only.

MINIMUM OBJECTIVES:

As outdoor instructors, we are always adjusting the schedule to the environment and opportunities that the mountain gives us, but at a minimum this time around we will:

Teen Survival Adventure Class Objectives:

• Develop Practical Survival Skills: Learn and master essential survival skills, such as shelter construction, fire making, water purification, and basic navigation, to confidently handle real-world outdoor challenges.
• Enhance Problem-Solving Abilities: Engage in challenging scenarios that require critical thinking and decision-making under pressure, fostering the ability to adapt and overcome unexpected situations.
• Build Teamwork and Leadership: Collaborate with fellow teens and parents to conquer tasks that emphasize teamwork, communication, and leadership, nurturing effective collaboration and shared accomplishments.
• Navigate with Precision: Acquire advanced navigation skills through map reading, compass use, and wayfinding techniques, enhancing the ability to confidently traverse unfamiliar terrains.
• Master Advanced Firecraft: Delve deeper into firecraft by learning various fire-building methods and techniques, including fire-by-friction, and gain a comprehensive understanding of fire safety protocols.
• Refine Wildlife Awareness: Develop a heightened awareness of animal behavior and learn strategies for coexisting safely with wildlife, gaining a deeper appreciation for nature’s inhabitants.
• Experience Nighttime Survival: Acquire skills for surviving the night, including nighttime navigation, shelter building, and nocturnal adaptations, boosting confidence in handling extended outdoor experiences.
• Participate in Realistic Scenarios: Engage in immersive scenarios that simulate survival challenges, allowing teens to apply their skills under controlled stress, reinforcing their abilities and decision-making skills.
• Practice Advanced Knot Tying: Learn an array of advanced knots and lashings to enhance campsite setup, gear management, and shelter construction, promoting self-reliance and craftsmanship.
• Promote Leadership Growth: Encourage leadership development by taking the initiative to guide peers through survival tasks, fostering self-confidence and the ability to lead in dynamic situations.
• Strengthen Resilience and Self-Sufficiency: Cultivate mental fortitude and self-sufficiency by experiencing solo tasks, problem-solving, and personal survival challenges, igniting independence.
• Embrace Outdoor Ethic and Responsibility: Instill a sense of environmental stewardship and outdoor ethics by learning Leave No Trace principles, fostering a deep respect for nature and responsible wilderness practices.
• Celebrate Achievement: Conclude the course with a symbolic final challenge that synthesizes acquired skills, teamwork, and problem-solving, highlighting personal growth and accomplishment.
• Cultivate a Lifelong Connection to the Outdoors: Forge a lasting bond with the natural world through thrilling outdoor adventures, instilling a love for exploration and a desire for continued learning.

Join us on this remarkable journey as we equip teens and parents with the tools, skills, and mindset to thrive in the great outdoors. The Teen Survival Adventure is your gateway to exciting challenges, unforgettable memories, and valuable life skills.

LENGTH

2 days/1 overnight
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ACCOMMODATIONS

If students do not wish to camp with us, the town of Cripple Creek is a short 15 minute drive from our location and Woodland Park is 30 minutes away. Students will be responsible for making their own reservations with nearby hotels. We do have a central community campfire location with a few designated campsites but mostly offer dispersed camping. Students will be able to drive their car within 100 feet of the main camp and will not have to hike gear in for long distances.

• Shelter Lodging: Students can stay in one of our 20 person GP Medium tents when not running field exercises or may stay in their own tents, campers, vehicles or a primitive shelter. Our tents are complete with wood burning stoves for cold weather conditions. This is a shared tent for all students that wish to use it.
• Sanitation/Hygiene: A portable restroom and potable water will be provided at main camp.

FOOD AND WATER REQUIRED

Water will be provided but students will need to bring their own food. We recommend quick field expedient meals such as freeze dried hiking meals or MRE’s. They can quickly be made at our primitive camps 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. Walmart and several local eateries are within a reasonable driving distance.

SUGGESTED GEAR LIST

We do not provide students with gear unless they have purchased it from us ahead of time. Not much gear is needed for our courses, though good equipment does speed the learning process up greatly! Gear does not have to be purchased from our store to attend the course, but we recommend survival gear of equivalent quality.

• Comfort items for kids if necessary – favorite blanket, stuffed animal, etc
• Fixed blade knife (Preferably a full tang bushcraft style knife WITHOUT a serrated edge)
• Ferrocerium rod
• Poncho or Rain Gear
• Outdoor Clothing and appropriate footwear
• Folding hand saw
• Overnight Camping Gear: Tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, etc
• 100’of 550 Paracord
• Headlamp
• Cooking pot and eating utensils
• Single walled metal canteen
• Small Backpack

CLOTHING REQUIRED

Warm outdoor clothing, warm gloves and hat, outdoor boots and wool socks. Cotton clothing is highly discouraged in the mountains! Wool will keep you warm even when wet and synthetics will dry faster. Layers are important in Colorado. You will want a water wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer, and a waterproof breathable outer shell. Check out our Clothes Layering Basics if you are unsure of what to wear.

Check Recommended Items List for more details!

If it is still not clear what gear is needed for our survival courses, then we have assembled a complete kit that is still high quality but for a budget friendly price. All the items in this kit were hand selected by our instructors to be the best bushcraft tools on a budget. This survival kit is a useful starter kit that can be used in all of our courses. These are all must have tools at a good price. It’s a great survival kit, bug out kit, go bag, or use it as a solid foundation to build a kit that perfectly fits your needs. With this kit and our training anybody can survive like a king in almost any environment!

NOTE

As a result of varying levels of prior experience and knowledge among students in each class, individual outcomes may exhibit variability. Furthermore, weather conditions can contribute to potential modifications in class content. Nevertheless, our dedicated instructors are committed to maintaining the highest level of adaptability and consistency within the scope of prevailing circumstances. This ensures that students receive an optimal training experience that delivers both value and quality.