Life in the city comes with its own set of challenges, even more so when emergencies arise. From power outages to civil unrest, gridlock to supply chain disruptions, many families are realizing how unprepared we’ve become for the unexpected. The world feels a little tense right now. We see it on the news. Global conflict. Rising costs. Protests. Tensions at home and abroad. It’s hard to know what’s coming next but one thing is certain: relying on someone else to come to the rescue isn’t a plan.

Our Urban Survival Course is designed for everyday people who want to feel more confident, capable, and self-reliant in the environments they already live in. This is not a tactical bootcamp or a political survivalist group. We are not training extremists. We are not teaching people how to riot. We’re offering practical, common-sense skills for real-world situations that can happen anywhere, whether it’s a natural disaster, power outage, civil unrest, or simply being caught off guard in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This course teaches you how to assess your environment, create realistic plans, and take action when needed to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Whether you live in a major city or a smaller town, these are skills every modern household should know.

Key Topics Covered

Situational Awareness
Learn how to read your surroundings, recognize potential threats, and make safer decisions in dynamic environments.

Developing a Personal and Family Emergency Response Plan
Create a clear plan tailored to your lifestyle so everyone in your home knows what to do during different emergencies.

Everyday Carry (EDC) Essentials
Discover what items are worth keeping on you or nearby at all times and how to use them.

Gear Selection and Use
Understand what tools and supplies matter most in an urban setting and how to avoid being sold unnecessary junk.

First Aid Fundamentals
Learn how to treat common injuries when help may be delayed using basic tools and good judgment.

Communication in Emergencies
Explore ways to stay in touch or get help when cell towers are down or signals are unreliable.

Networking and Community Building
Learn how to build relationships with neighbors, friends, and local resources so you’re not alone when things get difficult.

Threat Assessment and Urban Planning
Identify potential problem areas in your neighborhood or city and make proactive plans for sheltering or evacuation.

Evacuation and Shelter Strategies
Understand when to stay put and when to leave, and how to do either safely and smartly.

Urban Foraging and Water Purification
Explore how to find clean water and usable supplies in a city setting without relying on stores or systems that may be shut down.

Short-Term Bartering and Supply Management
Learn how to stretch what you have, trade with others safely, and manage household needs during a disruption.

Camouflage, Stealth, and Grey Man Tactics
Know how to blend in and avoid drawing attention when tension is high or things are uncertain around you.

This course is open to adults and mature teens and is especially beneficial for families, couples, and individuals who want to feel a little less helpless in uncertain times. It’s not about panic. It’s about preparation. The more you know, the less you fear, and we’re here to teach you how to stay calm, capable, and collected when it matters most.

Come join us. Learn how to take care of yourself and those you care about. Because being prepared doesn’t mean you expect the worst, it just means you’re ready if it comes.

DISCLAIMER

Participating in urban survival practices has inherent risks and dangers and should be done by trained professionals only. By performing urban survival skills as an individual, you take on the sole responsibility of the potential personal risks. The Colorado Mountain Man Survival LLC, as an entity and its instructors are not responsible for any damages, loss of property, or injuries sustained while performing urban survival activities.

All information, tools and instructions taught by the Colorado Mountain Man Survival LLC. and The Survival University are for educational use only.

Over the course of two days, our expert instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of marksmanship, covering key topics such as proper stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control, and breathing techniques. You’ll learn to identify and correct common shooting mistakes, enhance your accuracy, and build confidence on the range.

This course includes extensive live-fire practice and individualized coaching, ensuring that each participant receives the guidance needed to improve their shooting skills, whether for hunting, sport, or self-defense. By the end of the training, you’ll not only have mastered the basics but will also have the confidence and knowledge to continue honing your skills on your own.

Key Course Highlights:

• Firearms safety and handling
• Stance, grip, and sight alignment
• Trigger control and follow-through
• Breathing techniques for precision
• Live-fire drills for real-world application
• Personalized feedback from expert instructors

Whether you’re new to shooting or looking to refine your skills, this course will provide the foundation for becoming a confident and accurate marksman. All skill levels are welcome!

Prerequisites: None. Course Length: 2 days Location: The Survival University

Along with classroom instruction, the course includes hands-on practice in handling and using firearms on a range, ensuring that participants gain confidence and competence with their firearm. Whether you’re a new gun owner or seeking to refresh your skills, this course will empower you with the knowledge to use your firearm safely and responsibly.

Key Topics Covered:

• The four universal gun safety rules
• Safe loading, unloading, and handling of firearms
• Firearm storage and security
• Range etiquette and basic shooting techniques

No prior experience is necessary, and this course is open to all skill levels.

Dates:

October 26-27 2024

Prepare yourself for the ultimate test of survival and resilience with our Civilian Resistance Training. This SERE A (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) civilian course, modeled after the rigorous training programs used by US military Special Forces. This experience is designed to equip you with the skills and mindset needed to survive and escape from dangerous situations, including potential kidnappings.

Led by elite instructors who have undergone high level SERE training and possess real-world combat experience, this course dives deep into the art of survival and evasion. You’ll learn how to navigate hostile environments, blend in with the crowd, and outsmart adversaries using a combination of social engineering and psychological manipulation tactics.

The class covers essential survival skills such as finding food and water, building a shelter, and starting a fire, all while remaining undetected. But we don’t stop there. You’ll also master the art of lock picking, allowing you to escape restraints, and discover how to use Grey Man techniques to stay off the radar in any situation.

In addition, our experts will guide you through the intricacies of surveillance and counter-surveillance, teaching you how to detect and evade those who might be tracking you. You’ll practice escaping from captivity, counter-tracking your pursuers, and camouflaging yourself in various environments.

But survival isn’t just about physical skills; it’s about mental toughness too. That’s why we delve into the psychological aspects of SERE, including how to resist torture and maintain mental fortitude under extreme conditions. Our hands-on, scenario-based training will put all your newfound skills to the test in realistic settings, ensuring that you leave with the confidence and competence to handle whatever comes your way.

Whether you’re preparing for high-risk travel, looking to enhance your personal security, or simply seeking an adrenaline-fueled adventure, this SERE A class offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from the best and push your limits. Are you ready to take on the challenge?

I. Introduction to SERE Training

Overview of SERE and its military origins

Importance of SERE training in both military and civilian life

Introduction to instructors: US military Special Forces with SERE training and combat experience

II. Social Engineering and Psychological Manipulation

Understanding social engineering tactics

Recognizing and countering psychological manipulation

Role-playing scenarios to practice skills

III. Basic Survival Skills

Food: Identifying edible plants, trapping, and hunting basics

Fire: Various methods to start a fire, including without matches

Shelter: Building effective shelters with limited resources

Water: Finding and purifying water in different environments

IV. Lock Picking and Escape Techniques

Basics of picking padlocks, door locks, and handcuffs

Hands-on practice with various types of locks

Escaping from restraints using everyday objects

V. Grey Man Techniques

Understanding the concept of the “Grey Man” in high-risk environments

Techniques to blend in and avoid detection

Exercises in urban and rural environments to apply these skills

VI. Surveillance and Counter-Surveillance

Basics of surveillance techniques used by kidnappers or hostile forces

How to detect and avoid being followed

Practical exercises in identifying and evading surveillance

VII. Escape and Evasion Tactics

Strategies for escaping from unlawful detention

How to move through different terrains without being detected

Techniques to counter tracking and hide your trail

VIII. Camouflage and Hiding Techniques

How to effectively camouflage yourself in various environments

Techniques for hiding in urban and wilderness settings

Building natural and improvised camouflage

IX. Making Improvised Tools and Weapons

Identifying resources in your environment for tool and weapon-making

Techniques for constructing improvised weapons

Safety and ethical considerations when using improvised tools

X. Resisting Torture and Maintaining Mental Fortitude

Techniques for resisting physical and psychological torture

Importance of mental resilience in high-stress situations

Strategies for maintaining morale and hope during captivity

XI. Scenario-Based Training

Realistic scenarios where participants apply all learned skills

Simulated environments: urban, rural, and wilderness

Debriefing and feedback from instructors

Hands-On Wilderness Medicine Training for Outdoor Emergencies

If you spend time in the backcountry, you need more than a basic first aid kit—you need real skills. The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course at The Survival University offers hands-on medical training for remote environments, taught in the rugged mountains of Colorado at 10,000 feet elevation.

This intensive 18-hour outdoor medical training course is ideal for hikers, backpackers, hunters, wilderness guides, survivalists, and anyone who ventures off-grid. Whether you’re responding to injuries, illness, or unexpected emergencies far from help, this class gives you the confidence and training to act quickly and effectively.

You’ll gain practical experience through immersive scenarios, including night training and realistic simulations in the field. Taught by certified instructors with real-world experience in wilderness medicine, this class is perfect for those who want more than a classroom lecture—it’s about learning to think, act, and respond under pressure in the wild.

If you’re looking for more advanced wilderness medical training, check out our Wilderness First Responder course. There are no prerequisites for either course.

What You’ll Learn in Wilderness First Aid

• Wilderness patient assessment and medical decision-making

• Managing soft tissue wounds, bleeding, and shock

• Treating musculoskeletal injuries (sprains, fractures, dislocations)

• Head, neck, and spinal injury care in remote locations

• Burns, bites, stings, and venomous animal responses

• Environmental emergencies: heat, cold, altitude, and exposure

• Improvised evacuation techniques and litter carries

• Building and organizing a functional wilderness medical kit

• Wilderness medicine mindset and planning for backcountry safety

• Basic anatomy and physiology for field care

Day and night practical exercises are a critical learning tool for this material. This program is physical in nature, and a reasonable level of fitness is expected of all participants. Certification is valid for two years. Adult, child, and infant CPR and AED use is included as part of this program.

Optional CPR & AED Certification

For an additional fee, you may stay after the course to complete standalone CPR certification, covering adult, child, and infant CPR, the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and how to treat choking incidents.

Why Take Wilderness Medical Training at The Survival University?

We train outdoors, rain or shine. Our high-elevation mountain classroom simulates real backcountry challenges—not a padded indoor setting. Whether you’re preparing for long treks, guiding trips, or simply want to protect your friends and family, this course gives you field-tested skills in wilderness emergency medicine.

Ready to take your preparedness to the next level? Register today and join us for this immersive wilderness medical training experience in the heart of Colorado.

Track Like a Rhodesian Selous Scout

Tactical Human Tracking for Law Enforcement, Military, SAR & Special Operations

This advanced tactical tracking course is specifically designed for active-duty law enforcement officers, military personnel, special tactics teams, SWAT, Search and Rescue (SAR), border patrol, forest rangers, and anyone whose profession may involve tracking criminals, fugitives, or lost persons through rugged terrain.

If you are not active duty law enforcement or military and are interested in this course, please contact us first to discuss enrollment.

Instructor: Jimmy Dunn

Your lead instructor, Jimmy Dunn, is a veteran tracker and former law enforcement officer with over 20 years of experience with the National Park Service. Jimmy trained directly under world-renowned tracker David Scott-Donelon and served as an instructor under him for four years.

Jimmy has an extensive background in tactical tracking, high-angle SAR operations, and served on the Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) as well as a multi-agency Tactical Tracking Unit. He was also the primary tracker for the National Park Service Special Event Tactical Team (SETT), supporting operations including border security, drug interdiction, presidential inaugurations, and high-threat event management.

Course Overview: High-Risk Tracking Operations

This course delivers advanced skills in high-risk human tracking through both classroom instruction and field-based tactical exercises. You will learn to track armed suspects, fleeing criminals, and missing persons in wooded, wilderness, and rural environments using team formations, command communication, and visual detection skills.

You’ll be trained in how to assess track evidence, recognize human and vehicle movement, and distinguish signs of individuals who may be intentionally evading detection. These techniques are grounded in both tactical and Search and Rescue principles, making them ideal for real-world missions.

Training Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Operate as a member of a tactical tracking team or SAR unit

• Analyze terrain, weather, and environmental indicators to locate human tracks and sign

• Identify movement patterns (day/night travel, evasive maneuvers)

• Execute lost track recovery procedures

• Work effectively in high-stakes or hostile tracking environments

Topics Covered

• Roles and duties of individual trackers

• Team tracking formations and communication

• Tactical vs. SAR tracking strategies

• Lost track procedures and re-acquisition methods

• Identifying and aging tracks in varied terrain

• Evidence interpretation and track sign recognition

• Chain-of-command responsibilities during high-risk tracking ops

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

• Active duty law enforcement officers

• Military and special operations units

• SWAT teams and tactical response personnel

• Border patrol and federal agents

• Forest rangers and conservation officers

• Search and Rescue teams

• Hunters and rural landowners seeking advanced tracking skills

Learn to Track Lost Persons in Wilderness and Rural Terrain

This intensive human tracking course is designed for Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel, law enforcement, and outdoor professionals who need reliable, field-proven techniques to locate lost or missing persons in forested or remote areas. Whether you’re a first responder, ranger, hiker, or rural landowner, this course will equip you with the foundational skills and confidence to track human movement through natural terrain.

Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on field exercises, you’ll learn how to identify subtle clues left behind by a person in motion—called “sign”—and interpret that evidence to help guide rescue operations or backcountry investigations.

Who This Course Is For

• Search and Rescue personnel

• Law enforcement officers and corrections teams

• Forest rangers and land managers

• Ranchers and rural landowners

• Hikers, guides, and outdoor educators

• Wilderness survivalists and preppers

What You’ll Learn in This SAR Tracking Course

Students will gain a working knowledge of how to track lost or evading individuals using visual cues, terrain features, and weather patterns. You’ll be trained to determine the direction of travel, whether movement occurred during the day or night, and how to identify when a subject may be actively avoiding detection.

You’ll also develop communication and teamwork skills specific to SAR tracking operations.

Core Training Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to function as an effective member of a SAR tracking team, utilizing visual tracking methods and environmental awareness to locate human track and sign in varied terrain.

Topics Covered Include

• Roles and responsibilities of individual trackers

• Duties of a tracking team member

• SAR tracking team formations and communication

• Lost track procedures and re-acquisition techniques

• Command responsibilities during a SAR tracking operation

• Identifying, aging, and interpreting human tracks

• Recognizing and documenting “sign” such as scuff marks, disturbances, and environmental cues

Course Benefits

• Gain real-world skills used by SAR, law enforcement, and military professionals

• Improve your terrain awareness, tracking focus, and decision-making in remote environments

• Increase your value and versatility in the field as a SAR responder, ranger, or outdoor guide

• Be better prepared to assist in locating missing persons or intruders on rural property

Practical Centerfire Rifle Training with Kevin Estela

Train with Kevin Estela, a nationally respected wilderness survival expert and firearms instructor, in this hands-on course designed specifically for hunters and anyone relying on a bolt–action rifle for hunting or backcountry survival. This course focuses entirely on practical shooting techniques rooted in real-world application—not theory.

Whether you’re pursuing big game in rugged terrain or preparing for self-reliance in remote areas, you’ll learn how to get the most out of your centerfire rifle through expert instruction and field-proven marksmanship.

What You’ll Learn in This Rifle Course for Hunters

This immersive, skill-focused training covers everything you need to shoot more effectively in unpredictable wilderness environments:

• Ballistics & Trajectory Fundamentals
  Learn how environmental conditions, wind, elevation, and range impact your rifle’s performance and your shooting accuracy.

• Rifle Setup and Zeroing for Field Accuracy
  Set up your bolt-action rifle for maximum reliability and dial in your zero to match real-world conditions.

• Shooting Positions & Sling Use
  Practice stable shooting from various positions—standing, kneeling, prone—with and without sling support, just like you’d encounter while hunting in the field.

• Practical Marksmanship Drills
  Engage in real-life application drills that build the skills you’ll need to place accurate shots when it matters most.

Why Take This Rifle Training Course?

Hunting in the wild doesn’t allow for do-overs. Every shot counts—and this course prepares you to make them confidently. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or just stepping up your game, this class improves your ability to ethically and effectively harvest game with your bolt–action rifle under real-world conditions.

About Kevin Estela

Kevin Estela is a highly respected survival and firearms instructor with years of experience training hunters, outdoorsmen, and military personnel. He brings a no-nonsense, field-first teaching style that’s rooted in practical experience—not just theory—helping students become sharper, more capable shooters in rugged terrain.

Course Highlights

• Bolt-action rifle skills for hunters

• Real-world centerfire marksmanship

• Ballistics and environmental shooting factors

• Rifle zeroing and setup

• Shooting positions and sling stability

• Survival marksmanship and gear application

• Taught by expert instructor Kevin Estela

Take Your Navigation Skills Off-Trail, Off-Grid, and to the Next Level

If you’ve already learned the basics of map and compass navigation, this is the course that pushes your skills into real-world, rugged terrain. Our Advanced Land Navigation Course is designed for students who want to move beyond trails, develop elite-level terrain association, and travel confidently across challenging landscapes using traditional tools and advanced route planning techniques.

This course builds directly on the foundation taught in our Land Navigation: Map & Compass Skills for the Backcountry course. While not required, we strongly recommend completing it before enrolling in this advanced session.

What to Expect in the Advanced Navigation Course

Over three days, students will train in remote and physically demanding terrain, navigating longer distances while overcoming natural obstacles like elevation changes, water features, and thick vegetation. You’ll use detailed topographic maps, an orienteering compass, and terrain association to travel across wilderness landscapes—without trails, GPS, or modern crutches.

• Day One: Introduction at basecamp with refresher skills, basic wilderness survival training, and emergency signaling techniques. Then we relocate to a remote training area.

• Days Two & Three: Students will practice advanced map and compass navigation, learning to move across rough backcountry, sleep in primitive field conditions, and apply route planning and real-time decision making in the wild.

You’ll spend the night away from main camp, fully immersed in your environment. Proper overnight gear, durable footwear, and foul weather clothing are required.

Advanced Navigation Skills You’ll Learn

• Topographic map interpretation and detailed terrain analysis

• Use of orienteering and military-style compasses in real-world settings

• Triangulation and back azimuth techniques for pinpoint location awareness

• Planning and executing backcountry routes with dead reckoning and terrain association

• Navigation over elevation, through brush, and across water

• Night navigation and emergency reorientation strategies

• Establishing safety bearings, backstops, handrails, and checkpoints

• Field signaling techniques for wilderness emergencies

Why Take This Course?

The ability to navigate off-trail with confidence is one of the most empowering skills in the outdoors. Whether you’re a hunter heading deep into public land, a SAR team member working in unfamiliar zones, or a backpacker chasing remote peaks, advanced navigation training gives you the tools to go farther and return safely.

This isn’t just another orienteering challenge—it’s the real-world application of wilderness travel. You’ll leave this course with the skills, mindset, and confidence to move through the backcountry like a local, even when the trail disappears.

Who This Course is For

• Hikers and backpackers ready to go off-grid

• Hunters and anglers pursuing remote locations

• Military and tactical professionals

• Search and Rescue members

• Orienteering competitors seeking real-world terrain challenge

• Anyone serious about mastering map and compass navigation

Course Outcome

After completing this advanced navigation course, you will be able to confidently plan and navigate cross-country routes through rugged terrain using only a map, compass, and your own terrain awareness. You’ll understand how to move, adapt, and reorient in the field—day or night.

• Interpretation and use of topographical maps
• Use and selection of compasses
• Terrain identification and navigation
• Using back azimuths and triangulation to determine your location
• Route planning
• Navigation using dead reckoning, terrain association
• Safety bearings, backstops and guide rails
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to navigate confidently through the wilderness over rugged terrain. This is an excellent course for hunters, hikers, military and search and rescue.

Master the Art of Navigation with a Map, Compass, and Confidence

Do you worry about getting lost in the woods? Does using a map and compass feel confusing or intimidating? You’re not alone—and this course is here to change that. Our Land Navigation 101 course is designed to eliminate the fear of getting lost and replace it with real-world skills, hands-on training, and true backcountry confidence.

This intensive 30-hour wilderness navigation course teaches you how to read topographic maps, use both orienteering and lensatic compasses, and apply terrain association to travel through the backcountry—without ever needing a GPS. Whether you’re a hiker, hunter, search and rescue volunteer, or backcountry adventurer, this course gives you the tools to navigate like a pro.

What You’ll Learn in This Land Navigation Course

• Topographic Map Reading
  Learn to interpret map legends, terrain features, contour lines, relief shading, grid systems, UTM coordinates, and more.

• Compass Selection & Use
  Understand the differences between orienteering compasses and lensatic compasses, and how to shoot accurate azimuths and bearings with both.

• Terrain Association
  Develop the ability to read and match terrain in real life to what you see on the map, including ridges, spurs, saddles, valleys, and reentrants.

• Route Planning & Field Navigation
  Practice plotting and following your own routes, measuring distance using your pace count, and navigating with safety bearings, back azimuths, and guide rails.

• Hands-On Map & Compass Exercises
  Apply your skills immediately on our 1,100-acre training site, with real terrain challenges and navigation exercises—including elements that simulate orienteering and even basic geocaching scenarios.

• Advanced Navigation Techniques
  Learn how to navigate using triangulation, dead reckoning, and nighttime navigation under limited light.

What’s the Difference Between Land Navigation and Orienteering?

Orienteering is a timed sport that involves navigating between checkpoints using a map and compass. This course, while incorporating some orienteering-style challenges, focuses on the real-world application of navigation in wilderness settings—no time limits, no competitions—just solid skills to get you in and out of the backcountry safely and confidently.

Why Take a Map & Compass Navigation Course?

Learning land navigation opens up the outdoors in a way that GPS can’t. Whether you’re searching for remote hunting spots, hiking off-trail, or curious about geocaching, this class gives you the tools to explore beyond the beaten path—and return safely.

Who Should Take This Course?

• Hikers, backpackers, and trail explorers

• Hunters and anglers venturing off-grid

• SAR and emergency personnel

• Military service members and civilians preparing for self-reliance

• Orienteering beginners who want foundational map and compass skills

• Advanced orienteering competitors looking to sharpen terrain association and improve speed and accuracy in real-world environments

• Anyone who wants to go beyond GPS and navigate with confidence

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will:

• Navigate confidently using a topographic map, compass, and protractor

• Identify and interpret terrain features in real environments

• Plan and follow routes with terrain-based navigation strategies

• Use back azimuths, triangulation, and pacing in practical field conditions

• Understand the difference between GPS navigation, orienteering, and traditional map-and-compass travel

• Move through the wilderness independently—day or night, with or without trails