Wilderness Skills

Ages 11-18 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Woodland Park Pickup/Drop-off

Become the ultimate wilderness survivor in one action-packed, hands-on day! This isn't just learning—it's doing. You'll master the essential skills that could save your life in an emergency and make you completely self-reliant in the backcountry. Feel the primal satisfaction of starting your first fire using nothing but flint and steel (no matches allowed!). Learn multiple water purification techniques to ensure safe hydration anywhere. Build emergency shelters from natural materials that actually protect you from the elements. Under expert supervision with comprehensive safety training and protective gloves, you'll gain confidence with bushcraft knives and primitive techniques our ancestors used to thrive in the wild. From cordage making to rescue signaling, from wilderness first aid to survival decision-making, you'll pack more practical, potentially life-saving knowledge into this single day than most people learn in years. Walk away knowing you have what it takes to handle whatever the wilderness throws at you!

Your Day of Survival Mastery:

Morning (8:30 AM - 12:30 PM): Depart Woodland Park for wilderness skills locations in Park or Teller County where natural resources and teaching environments are ideal. Jump right into fire starting fundamentals—understanding fire safety, fire types, tinder preparation, and the critical role fire plays in wilderness survival. Now the real fun begins! Master primitive fire techniques starting with flint and steel, learning the technique, rhythm, and persistence required to create fire without modern tools. Try your hand at the challenging bow drill method and other fire-by-friction techniques that connect you to ancient survival skills. Experience the incredible feeling when your first primitive fire catches! Move on to water purification—the second survival priority. Learn and practice multiple methods including filtering systems, chemical treatment tablets, and boiling techniques. Understand which method works best in different wilderness scenarios.

Midday (12:30 PM - 1:15 PM): Put your fire skills to practical use by cooking lunch over the fire you created! Nothing tastes better than a meal prepared with your own primitive fire-making skills.

Afternoon (1:15 PM - 5:45 PM): Receive comprehensive knife safety training including proper grip, cutting techniques, safety zones, and bushcraft basics—all while wearing protective knife gloves provided for every student. With safety mastered, use your new skills for practical bushcraft tasks. Learn emergency shelter building using natural materials like branches, leaves, and debris, plus modern lightweight materials like tarps—techniques that could save your life in an unexpected overnight situation. Discover the art of cordage making, creating rope from natural materials, and tie essential survival knots. Master signaling and rescue techniques including whistle signals, visual signals, and emergency procedures. Engage in survival scenario discussions where you apply everything learned to real-world decision-making and priority-setting. Practice all skills using Leave No Trace principles and ethical wilderness survival methods. Complete a comprehensive skills review that integrates all the techniques before returning to Woodland Park as a certified wilderness skills expert!

Bring your own lunch (option to cook over your fire!) | All bushcraft tools, protective gloves, and equipment provided | Park/Teller County wilderness areas | Hands-on practice with every skill