(For Men & Women to Gather and connect with self, nature and Community)

Experience Aliveness in Nature
Experience Aliveness and the profound effects of nature immersion at the Beautiful Chapman Ranch with Wildkind Jess & Primitive Skills Practitioner Ryan Maguire. Set up camp on the river with no cell service and plenty of good times. This rewilding retreat will be a reset for the nervous system as we rest, laugh, hike in the backcountry, enjoy the swimming holes, make campfire meals together, learn fire-craft, enjoy yoga, share stories, and welcome holistic healing of mind, body & spirit. Nature skills will be shared including wild foraging, how to make fire from natural materials and some basic blade school and bushcraft.

Reconnect with Nature, Reconnect with Yourself
Step away from the noise of daily life and enter a space where your senses awaken and your spirit feels alive. The Adventure River Camping Retreat at Chapman Ranch is more than just a camping trip—it’s an opportunity to realign with the rhythms of nature, slow down, and experience deep inner peace.

• No cell service, no distractions. Just the sound of the flowing river, birdsong, and the crackle of the campfire.
• Settle into simplicity. Camp by the river, with only the essentials, surrounded by wild beauty.

What You’ll Experience
This retreat is designed to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or personal growth, you’ll find it here.

• Backcountry Hiking: Explore hidden trails and immerse yourself in breathtaking natural beauty.
• Swimming Holes: Take a dip in pristine waters, refreshing both body and spirit.
• Campfire Cooking: Share the ancient tradition of preparing meals over an open fire, creating both nourishment and community.
• Wild Foraging: Discover the bounty of the land, learning to identify and harvest wild foods.
• Fire-Crafting & Bushcraft: Develop primal survival skills, including fire-making from natural materials and basic blade handling techniques.
• Yoga & Holistic Healing: Start your mornings with gentle yoga and end your days with meditation and reflection, allowing your body to release tension and stress.

A Space for Deep Connection
This retreat is not just about nature skills; it’s about building connections—with the earth, with others, and with yourself. Under the vast open sky, you’ll have the chance to engage in meaningful conversations, share stories around the campfire, and open your heart to the healing power of nature.

• Storytelling Circles: Gather around the fire as we share experiences, wisdom, and laughter.
• Mindful Reflection: Take time for quiet moments, soaking in the beauty and allowing yourself to just be.
• Community: This is a place to form new friendships, share in the joy of the outdoors, and support one another’s journey of growth and relaxation.

A Reset for the Nervous System
In the fast pace of modern life, our nervous systems are often overwhelmed. This retreat is designed to bring you back to a place of calm and balance. Surrounded by the elements, you’ll experience:

• Grounding Energy: Feel the earth beneath your feet and breathe in the fresh air, allowing nature’s energy to rejuvenate your entire being.
• Restorative Practices: Through movement, stillness, and play, you’ll release tension and rediscover the joy of simply being alive.
• Holistic Healing: Reconnect your mind, body, and spirit, feeling whole and refreshed by the end of your stay.

Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience
This Adventure River Camping Retreat will leave you feeling rewilded, renewed, and deeply connected to nature and yourself. Wildkind Jess & Ryan Maguire are ready to guide you through this journey of adventure, healing, and connection.

Spaces are limited for this intimate retreat. Reserve your spot and step into a world of nature, adventure, and deep relaxation.

Colorado’s winter backcountry is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. For those who have completed our Basic Winter Survival Class, this 3-day Winter Survival Adventure Hike is your next challenge. This immersive cold-weather experience pushes you beyond the classroom and deep into the raw wilderness—off-trail, off-grid, and face-to-face with the brutal reality of winter survival.

This is not a casual winter hike. We’ll cover approximately 9 miles of rugged terrain over three days, including snow-covered slopes, thick timber, old game trails, and remote sections of wild, frozen landscape. You’ll be carrying your gear, managing your body heat, and applying survival knowledge in real-time under real stress. There are no shortcuts, no groomed paths—only experience earned the hard way.

Course Overview

This advanced winter adventure is designed to test your physical resilience and expand your survival skill set. While training is built into the experience, the focus is on applying what you’ve already learned under pressure, in unpredictable conditions. You’ll build fires when everything is frozen, set up shelter with limited resources, and learn how to endure freezing nights with nothing but what you carry on your back and what nature provides.

What to Expect

Expect snow. Expect sweat. Expect discomfort, problem-solving, and deep cold. Over the course of this 3-day trek, you’ll refine practical skills while pushing your limits in backcountry terrain that doesn’t care if you succeed or fail. This course is equal parts winter survival training and mental toughness challenge.

Skills Taught and Refined

• Advanced shelter-building techniques using natural materials

• Cold-weather firecraft with minimal resources

• Snow assessment and terrain awareness for safety

• Winter foraging and sustainable resource use

• Gear management for multi-day exposure

• Emergency fieldcraft: dealing with injuries, cold stress, and changing weather

• Real-time application of both primitive and modern winter survival skills

What You’ll Walk Away With

• Sharpened winter survival instincts through real-world practice

• Confidence in your ability to stay alive in the wild during winter conditions

• A deeper understanding of how to move, live, and endure in freezing backcountry environments

• A hard-earned experience that few others will ever attempt

Prerequisites This course is open to those who have completed our Basic Winter Survival Class or have equivalent field experience. It is physically and mentally demanding. A high level of fitness, cold-weather readiness, and mental grit is required.

Limited to 10 Island Lovers so make your deposit now to register:

Wildkind Outdoors Founder Jess Caldwell welcomes you to paradise for a 5-night Rewilding experience…Island Style.

Yoga | Beach Walks | Ocean Swims | Hula | Lei making | Wild Plant Walk | Forest Hike | Farm to Table Fare | Waterfall adventure | Farmers Market | Aliveness Integration | Sisterhood

This is an all Inclusive retreat experience that includes our group lodging in Makawao, nourishing farm-to-table catering, shuttle to and from the airport, all activities and adventures including daily yoga. You just need an airplane ticket!

Treat yourself this February (love celebration month), to an escape from winter to the warm embrace of the beautiful island of Maui. Experience the Aloha in community with other women who value rewilding as the new self-care…

To reserve your spot, a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total retreat cost is required. Early Bird pricing of $2800 is due in full by December 31, 2024. A PayPal invoice with the remaining balance will be sent to your email.

Please note that if the full Early Bird price of $2800 is not paid by December 31, 2024, even if you’ve paid the deposit, you will be required to pay the full retreat price of $3300.

Cancellations made 60 days before the retreat will receive a 50% refund minus the deposit. Cancellations made 30-59 days before the retreat will receive a 25% refund minus the deposit. Cancellations less than 30 days before the retreat are non-refundable. You may transfer your spot to another person if you are unable to attend. We highly encourage purchasing travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances. In the event of force majeure, we will provide retreat credit for future use.

(For Women to Gather and Connect with self, nature and community)

A Nature Immersion Experience for Women to Reconnect, Rewild, and Restore

Step into the wild with us for a weekend of soulful connection, practical wilderness skills, and outdoor sisterhood. The Wild Women’s River Camping Retreat is a unique opportunity for women to unplug, slow down, and reconnect with themselves, the natural world, and a supportive community of like-minded adventurers.

Whether you’re an experienced backpacker or simply feeling the call to be in nature, this retreat is designed to welcome all women who want to deepen their connection to the outdoors while embracing healing, movement, and joyful reconnection.

Experience Aliveness and the profound effects of nature immersion at the beautiful Chapman Ranch with Wildkind Jess and Wildcard Jacks. Set up camp on the river with no cell service and plenty of good times. This rewilding retreat will be a reset for the nervous system as we rest, laugh, hike in the backcountry, swim at Mermaid Cove, make campfire meals together, learn fire-craft, enjoy yoga, share stories, and welcome holistic healing of mind, body, and spirit.

Nature skills will be shared including wild foraging, how to make fire from natural materials, and some basic blade school and bushcraft. We will also make dream catchers from harvesting willow and scavenging for small nature treasures!

“In this unique time of modern living, we are being called to live in greater communion with ourselves, humanity and the natural world. Through wilderness immersion, we can awaken our senses to engage life in a more meaningful way. Through embodiment we will feel greater aliveness and through the love and presence of fellow nature lovers, we find ourselves held in the nourishing web of community.”
~ Jess Caldwell

Course Highlights

• Remote camping in pristine Colorado wilderness

• Daily swimming, hiking, and nature immersion

• Wilderness survival and backcountry skills for women

• Campfire cooking and shared meals

• Bushcraft, foraging, and nature crafting

• Fire-making from natural materials

• Nervous system reset through rest and presence

• Daily yoga, embodiment practices, and quiet reflection

• Journaling, sit spots, and story sharing

• Connection and community with like-minded women

This women’s camping retreat is designed to nurture your wild heart and strengthen your connection to the land, yourself, and others. It is an invitation to awaken your senses, practice useful outdoor skills, and find peace and joy in a rhythm that flows with nature.

Join us at the river’s edge for a weekend of rewilding, renewal, and radiant connection—where every woman is welcome, and every story matters.

With Instructors: Wildkind Jess & Colorado Mountain Man Jason

Experience the wild beauty of Colorado like never before with our 2-Day Backcountry Hiking Adventure. Led by seasoned outdoor educators Jess Caldwell and Jason Marsteiner, this immersive hiking and survival course takes you deep into the Colorado wilderness, through remote canyons, across mountain streams, and into unforgettable terrain.

This course is designed for outdoor enthusiasts, backpackers, and beginner hikers who want to learn real-world wilderness survival skills while exploring breathtaking backcountry locations. You’ll learn essential outdoor techniques while connecting with nature and building confidence in your ability to handle diverse terrain and conditions.

Looking to start with foundational skills? Pair this hike with our 2-Day Survival for Beginners course offered just before this adventure, and enjoy the full 4-Day Colorado Wilderness Adventure & Skills Training experience.

What to Expect on Your Hiking Adventure

Over two full days, you’ll hike through rugged, remote wilderness while learning and applying vital backcountry skills. Your instructors will guide you through hands-on lessons in:

• Wilderness navigation and route-finding

• Identifying edible and medicinal plants

• Fire-starting using modern and primitive tools

• Water purification techniques

• Shelter construction in natural environments

• Trail safety and hazard awareness

This is more than just a hike—it’s a true adventure training experience where each mile offers new challenges, deeper awareness, and the chance to practice survival techniques in real terrain.

Nature Connection and Community

As you traverse canyons and camp under the stars, you’ll experience a powerful connection to the natural world. Breathe the fresh mountain air, soak in stunning views, and take time to slow down and rewild your senses.

Along the way, you’ll bond with fellow adventurers. This course is built not just around hiking and survival skills—but also around community, connection, and personal growth. Shared experiences, group challenges, and campfire stories bring people together in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Logistics

• Duration: 2 days, 1 night in the backcountry

• Location: Remote wilderness near TSU’s Colorado base

• Return: Students will hike out and be transported back to main camp by the end of day two

• Suggested Prerequisite: 2-Day Survival for Beginners (optional but highly recommended)

• Part of: 4-Day Colorado Wilderness Adventure & Skills Training Program (if bundled)

Why Take This Course?

• Perfect for new backpackers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts

• Combines hiking with survival skill development

• Builds confidence, resilience, and self-reliance in remote settings

• Offers a rare chance to unplug and fully immerse yourself in nature

• Learn from passionate, experienced wilderness instructors

Lead Instructor: Jacks Genega
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Student Limit: 15 Participants

The Survival Training Expedition Program (STEP) is a 5-day immersive backcountry survival course designed for adventurers, backpackers, bushcrafters, and outdoor practitioners who want to take their skills to the next level. Held in the rugged wilderness of Colorado, this course combines survival training and physical challenge in a self-reliant expedition setting. You’ll hike through diverse terrain—dense pine forests, exposed ridgelines, rocky gulches, and stream crossings—learning to survive with minimal gear and maximum resilience.

This hands-on survival expedition is structured around building practical wilderness skills while carrying only what you need in a lightweight day pack. Participants will receive expert instruction in primitive survival techniques and then put them into practice during a multi-day hike, culminating in a solo overnight challenge that puts your training and mindset to the test.

This is not just a class—it’s a transformational wilderness experience.

Survival Training Highlights

• Friction fire techniques (bow drill, hand drill, and fire maintenance)

• Primitive fishing and survival trapping methods

• Wilderness navigation without GPS, using map, compass, and terrain association

• Edible and poisonous plant identification in field conditions

• Wildlife safety and behavioral awareness

• Creating primitive tools, containers, and natural cordage

• Shelter construction with natural materials

• Low-impact camping and bushcraft skills using Leave No Trace principles

Course Structure and Phases

Phase 1: Survival Skills Foundations
Orientation, gear check, safety briefing, and skills workshops on self-aid, fire craft, emergency shelters, and water procurement.

Phase 2: Guided Wilderness Expedition
Multi-day hiking expedition into off-grid valleys and gulches with hands-on training in foraging, navigation, natural shelter-building, and primitive food procurement.

Phase 3: Solo Overnight Challenge
Scout and select your own camp location. Apply all learned skills during a solo overnight experience. Rejoin the group for reflection, feedback, and post-expedition skills review.

Requirements to Attend

• Must be 18 years or older

• Physically fit enough to hike 5–10 miles per day with 20 lbs. of gear

• Basic familiarity with survival priorities is recommended

• Mental readiness for rugged conditions, variable weather, and self-reliance

Gear List

Participants are responsible for bringing specific personal gear including:

• Fixed-blade knife or cutting tool

• Fire-starting materials (ferro rod, lighter, etc.)

• Water bottles or containers

• Nylon poncho or tarp

• Emergency blanket or bivvy sack

• Headlamp with spare batteries

• Paracord (50 ft. minimum)

• Compact first aid kit

Additional optional items: sunscreen, bug repellent, trekking poles, gloves, and sunglasses. Food must be limited to 5000 calories for the expedition portion to simulate real survival situations.

What to Expect

• Expert instruction by a Wilderness First Responder and licensed HAM Radio operator

• Potable water will be available at basecamp

• Students may tent or hammock camp during the expedition

• Evenings will include group discussions and story sharing

• No meals provided—bring your own food, snacks, and energy sources

Important Participation Guidelines

• Firearms, alcohol, and drugs are strictly prohibited

• Students assume personal liability for injury or incident

• Participants must remain committed through the expedition—leaving early compromises group safety and will not be permitted

• Be prepared for an emotionally and physically challenging experience that will test your limits and grow your capacity for self-reliance

Why Join STEP?

This survival expedition offers more than just skill-building. It’s a powerful journey into the wild that strengthens your awareness, adaptability, and connection to nature. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, backcountry traveler, aspiring survivalist, or bushcraft learner, STEP will give you the real-world skills, confidence, and mindset to venture deeper, push farther, and live more intentionally in the outdoors.

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.

A Transformative Experience for Runners, Primitive Skills Enthusiasts, and Nature Seekers

Rediscover running in its most primal form. The Primitive Skills Run is a unique, immersive training experience that blends ancestral running techniques, primitive survival skills, and deep nature connection in the wild backcountry of Colorado.

Led by renowned wilderness expert, ultra-endurance athlete, and mindfulness practitioner Ryan Maguire, this multi-day experience invites you to challenge your physical and mental limits while learning to move through the landscape with the skill, awareness, and intuition of our ancient ancestors.

Who This Course is For

This course is designed for:

• Trail runners and ultra athletes seeking a deeper connection to their movement

• Primitive skills practitioners who want to train their bodies and minds in motion

• Ancestral living enthusiasts looking to explore natural human movement

• Wilderness lovers and backcountry explorers craving raw, authentic experiences

If you’re ready to strip away modern distractions, test your endurance, and learn how to run, survive, and connect like our ancestors, this is for you.

What You’ll Learn and Experience

Ancestral Running Techniques

Learn natural, minimalist running skills once used for persistence hunting and long-distance travel. Tap into body mechanics, barefoot or low-tech running, terrain harmony, and meditative movement practices to enhance both performance and awareness.

Wilderness Survival While in Motion

Running and survival aren’t separate. You’ll train in navigation, situational awareness, terrain adaptation, and movement efficiency across diverse ecosystems—from cool pine forests at 10,000 feet to hot high desert scrub at 7,000 feet.

Primitive Camping & Skills Training

Beyond movement, you’ll develop foundational primitive living skills—including shelter building, fire by friction, water sourcing, and basic foraging—designed to support you on foot in the wild.

Community, Storytelling & Nature Connection

Gather around the fire with a tribe of like-minded runners, survivalists, and nature lovers. Share insights, reflect on challenges, and build lasting connections with others who seek the same reconnection with the land and themselves.

Course Location & Environment

Held in the stunning backcountry of Colorado, this course takes you from alpine forest to high desert over multiple days and elevations. Prepare for physical challenge, diverse terrain, unpredictable weather, and one of the most meaningful backcountry experiences you’ll ever have.

Minimalist running. Primitive survival. Deep connection.
This is more than a course—it’s a return to what it means to be human.

Experience the ultimate jungle survival adventure in the heart of Costa Rica with The Survival University! This unforgettable expedition combines hands-on survival training with immersive exploration through one of the world’s most biodiverse environments—where the rainforest meets the ocean.

Designed for adventure seekers, outdoor enthusiasts, and wilderness survival learners, this course takes you deep into the Costa Rican jungle and along its stunning coastlines. You’ll learn practical jungle survival skills like fire-making, shelter building, sourcing wild foods, water purification, and fishing in tropical environments. Along the way, you’ll hike to hidden waterfalls, explore lush rainforests, observe exotic wildlife, and relax on pristine beaches.

Led by expert instructors, this immersive experience focuses on both beginner and advanced jungle survival techniques. You’ll gain real-world skills while enjoying a deeper connection with nature and a renewed sense of self-reliance. This isn’t just survival training—it’s a transformational adventure that challenges your limits and reawakens your wild spirit.

Bring your essential gear and clothing in your luggage—we’ll safely store it before we trek into the bush. Brushing up on your Spanish is encouraged for a richer cultural experience.

A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED!
AIRFARE TO AND FROM COSTA RICA IS NOT INCLUDED

Adventure into the backcountry with us as we retreat into the wild to enjoy 3-days of remote river camping in the mountains of Colorado. We will spend our days immersed in skills training, bushcraft, foraging, crawdad fishing and campfire cooking.

Welcome in aliveness with this immersion into nature. We will hike, explore, jump into swimming holes, tell stories around the evening fire and celebrate our shared love of the outdoors through our group connection. This unique adventure experience will include learning wilderness skills like fire-making, working with your knife and the fundamentals of setting up a basecamp along with nature crafting.

Allow the nervous system a reset with plenty of time for rest and renewal. Instructor Wildkind Jess will facilitate experiences to breathe more fully, awaken the senses and boost intuition. We find great value in periodically retreating into the wild and returning to the simplicity of nature. Bonus fun that we will be celebrating TSU Founder Jason Marsteiners Birthday during our trip!

This course is for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers and those who need a retreat from modern day stressors. We will gaze at the stars, swim under the sun, laugh around the campfire and welcome new friendships through this shared epic experience. Those new to the outdoors are welcome!

“In this unique time of modern living, we are being called to live in greater communion with ourselves, humanity and the natural world. Through wilderness immersion, we can awaken our senses to engage life in a more meaningful way. Through embodiment we will feel greater aliveness and through the love and presence of fellow nature lovers, we find ourselves held in the nourishing web of community.
~ Jess Caldwell