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.

Families can enroll in “TSU Kids and Family 101” or “TSU Kids and Family 201” in any order. There’s no requirement to complete 101 before 201.

When enrolling for the class, you only need to sign up and pay for your child. Parents attend for free, so there’s no need to include yourself in the payment process. We encourage parents to actively participate in the learning experience, fostering a collaborative and supportive atmosphere in which you will learn skills too.

As parents, we have wanted for a while to develop a kid’s program to lay the foundation of safety, learning, and skill for future adventures. The Survival University has teamed up with local teachers, youth leaders, search and rescue teams, and childhood development experts to put together a program that is not only safe and fun, but truly plants the love for outdoors and adventure in the hearts of younger children. The entire TSU KIDS program is based around skills taught through games and stories that your little adventurers are sure to enjoy, remember, and, more importantly, apply when you go out on your own adventures. The curriculum is designed around building confidence and skill should you ever be separated from your little people, but it is delivered in such a way as to let fun trump fear. The emphasis is on getting more out of their time outdoors and enjoying every hike, fishing trip, camp out or even just a stroll through the park. All through history children were using skills we now expect only from the highest trained experts, not because they were in an emergency situation, but simply because they wanted pancakes for breakfast or to play in the woods. It is our most sincere desire to help you return your little adventurer to the skill level of their ancestors and help them take steps towards becoming their own heroes.

As outdoor educators we are subject to nature around us. Because of this, every class will have extra adventures and learning moments that pop up. Knowing this we design each class with a core of things we wish to bring to our students and have a host of back ups to deal with any opportunities that may arise. A small sampling of what our young adventurers should expect to learn about is staying found, basic kids survival skills, fire safety, what to do around animals to stay safe and have a great time, signaling, games to make hiking fun, camp set up, camping games, folklore, a host of starter woodcraft skills to peak ones interest in the outdoors, and of course how to keep the smoke from the fire out of your eyes and the bugs off of your body.

WILL MY CHILD FIND THIS CLASS CHALLENGING ENOUGH?

We are commonly asked if the TSU KIDS and Family 101 and TSU Kids and Family 201 classes are too easy for your kids. We absolutely want to get you in the correct class. While this class is beneficial to 5 year old’s, we find even Eagle Scouts and advanced students get a great deal from this class. A quick test to see if this class is right for you and your child.

1. Can your child make fire with completely drenched wood and no lighter or match?
2. Can your child accurately follow a map to find an exact tree in the woods?
3. Can your child carve a spoon safely and efficiently?
4. Can your child make and bake fresh bread at the fire?
5. Can your child build a warm and water proof shelter with limited resources and only one foot of rope?
6. Can your child perform several indigenous skills like making cordage?
7. Can your child purify water with no modern gear?
8. Can your child signal accurately over long distances with hand made signaling devices?
9. Can your child track and deal with animals on the trail?
10. Can your child treat common ailments such as hypothermia, frost bite, broken legs, severe bleeding, food poisoning etc?

RECOMMENDED AGE

5-12

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

SKILLS TAUGHT WILL INCLUDE

• Proper gear/clothing selection for the outdoors
• Signaling
• Staying Found (Lost Proofing)
• Fire Safety
• Primitive and Modern Fire
• Primitive and modern shelters
• Animal Encounters
• Safe Adventuring
• Weather Conditions
• Water and Hydration
• And More!!!

Outdoor Survival Skills and Adventure Training for Children and Parents

Join us for TSU Kids and Family 101, a fun and engaging introduction to outdoor skills for children and their parents. Families can take TSU Kids and Family 101 and TSU Kids and Family 201 in any order—there’s no prerequisite between the two.

This course is perfect for adventurous families who want to build outdoor confidence, develop essential kids survival skills, and reconnect with nature through play, stories, and hands-on learning.

How Enrollment Works

When signing up, you only need to register and pay for your child. Parents or guardians attend for free and are encouraged to actively participate. This creates a supportive, collaborative environment where both kids and adults learn valuable outdoor and survival skills together. This is not a drop-off program. Parents or guardians are required to remain on-site with their child for the duration of the class. Please note that this course is not structured as childcare or daycare—active participation is part of the experience.

What This Course Is All About

We designed the TSU Kids program to plant seeds of confidence, curiosity, and outdoor safety in young adventurers. Developed in collaboration with teachers, youth leaders, child development specialists, and SAR professionals, the program uses storytelling, games, and exploration to make learning survival fun, not scary.

Kids ages 5 to 12 will learn age-appropriate wilderness survival skills through activities designed to build resilience and self-reliance. From making fire to staying found, this course helps prepare children for safe and enjoyable experiences in the outdoors—on hikes, camping trips, or even a walk through the park.

We believe that children are capable of far more than we give them credit for. Throughout history, kids used practical survival skills simply to make breakfast or play outside. We’re here to help them return to that legacy of competence, connection, and joy in the natural world.

What Your Child Will Learn

Because nature always has surprises, each class includes a core curriculum plus spontaneous learning opportunities based on the environment. A sampling of skills includes:

• Staying found (lost-proofing basics)

• Fire safety and building fires with natural materials

• Primitive and modern shelter-building

• Signaling for help

• Safe hiking and animal encounters

• Fun hiking games to boost endurance

• Camp setup, camping games, and outdoor storytelling

• Beginner woodcraft and tool safety

• Understanding weather and how to prepare for it

• Natural bug repellents and smoke safety

• Water collection and basic purification

• Confidence-building through real hands-on experience

Will This Class Challenge My Child?

While TSU Kids and Family 101 is accessible for ages 5 and up, even experienced young outdoorspeople—such as scouts or kids with prior outdoor experience—find the course fun, engaging, and educational.

Here’s a simple test:
If your child can already do all of the following, they may be ready to jump into a more advanced class like Kids and Family 201.

• Make fire with soaked wood and no modern fire starter

• Navigate with a map to find specific landmarks

• Safely carve a spoon

• Bake bread at the fire

• Build a waterproof shelter with limited rope

• Make cordage from natural materials

• Purify water without a filter or bottle

• Signal long distances with handmade tools

• Respond to animal encounters calmly and safely

• Treat common outdoor injuries like hypothermia, bleeding, or broken limbs

If not—this course is a perfect fit to build those foundational skills in a supportive and exciting way.

Recommended Age

Ages 5–12
Parent attendance is required.

Family discounts apply to immediate family members only.

Part of the Essentials of Survival Series

Join Hutch at Majestic View Nature Center in Arvada, Colorado for an in-depth, 5-hour class on how to pack, organize, and use a survival kit. Whether you are just starting your outdoor adventure journey or are an experienced outdoorsperson, this class will teach you the skills you need to stay safe and self-sufficient in the wild.

In this hands-on class, you will learn how to:

• Select the right items for your survival kit
• Pack and organize your kit for quick access
• Use the tools in your kit for fire making, shelter building, first aid, and food gathering
• Prioritize your survival needs in different situations
• Adapt your kit to various environments and emergencies

Each paying student will leave the class with a high-quality survival kit valued at $100, fully stocked with the tools and equipment you need to be prepared for the unexpected. You will also gain the knowledge and confidence to use every item in your kit efficiently.

The price of the class is $200 per student. While this class is geared toward adults, any adult may bring one child with them.

This class is perfect for anyone who wants to be more prepared for outdoor adventures or improve their survival skills. Sign up today and get the knowledge you need to survive and thrive in the wild. Space is limited, so reserve your spot soon.

Prepare yourself, gain new skills, and walk away with the confidence to face any challenge in the outdoors.

Skills Taught in the Class:

• How to choose and use your gear
• Fire skills
• Water purification
• Shelter building for different climates and seasons
• Proper clothing for outdoor survival
• Using ropes and knots for survival tasks
• Knife safety
• Lost-proofing techniques
• Self-mapping to stay on track
• Basic navigation skills
• Signaling for help
• Effecting self-rescues in emergencies
• Specialized kits for specific survival needs
• Traveling on airplanes with survival kits
• Survival basics and much more!

Part of the Spirit of Adventure Series

Bring the whole family out for an exciting and educational experience at Majestic View Nature Center in Arvada, Colorado. This hands-on family navigation class is designed to teach essential outdoor navigation skills that are fun, practical, and easy to learn—perfect for parents and kids alike.

In this 3-hour session, expert instructor Hutch will guide your family through the basics of navigating in the wild, helping you feel confident whether you’re out for a short hike or planning a bigger backcountry adventure.

This class is ideal for beginners and families who want to be more self-reliant outdoors, stay safe on the trail, and build essential map and compass skills—all while spending meaningful time together.

What You’ll Learn

• Compass basics and how to properly use one

• Navigating with and without a map and compass

• How to use a compass when no map is available

• Reading and following a map without a compass

• Simple techniques for navigating without any gear

• How to stay “lost-proof” and avoid getting turned around

• Basics of self-mapping to track your movement

• When it’s okay to leave the trail—and when it’s not

• Leave No Trace principles for responsible outdoor travel

Why This Class Is Great for Families

This course offers a fun and educational way to bond as a family, develop wilderness awareness, and build navigation skills that can be used on any outing. Whether you’re new to the outdoors or want to sharpen your backcountry confidence as a team, this class is a perfect fit.

Space is limited—reserve your spot now to make lasting memories while learning skills that could one day make a real difference.

Part of the Essentials of Bushcraft Series

LOCATION: Majestic View Nature Center in Arvada, Colorado

9am – 11am May 24

Join Hutch at Majestic View Nature Center in Arvada, Colorado for a hands-on class that will teach you the art of carving a spoon using basic bushcraft skills. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, this two-hour class will guide you through every step of the process in a fun and relaxed environment.

In this class, you will learn the techniques for safely carving a spoon from wood using simple tools. You will also gain an understanding of the tools and materials that make this skill so rewarding. Each student will leave with their very own hand-carved spoon and a high-quality carving kit valued at $25, so you can continue practicing your new skill at home.

This class is perfect for anyone looking to explore the world of bushcraft, sharpen their carving and woodcrafting skills, or just enjoy a peaceful outdoor activity.

The cost of the class is $100 per student, which includes everything you need to participate. All you have to bring is a sense of adventure and a willingness to learn. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon.

Come connect with nature, challenge yourself, and walk away with a beautiful handmade spoon and a new skill to enjoy for years to come.

Covered:

• Choosing quality tools without breaking the bank
• Knife and carving safety
• Making Quicky spoons
• Making Gift level spoons
• Making Spoons with no special gear
• Carving spoons

Cost is $320 per child. Parents attend for free.

Join us for The Spirit of Adventure, an exciting joint program by The Survival University and Ready Set Adventure Box, designed for families eager to explore the great outdoors together! This hands-on class is perfect for families interested in bushcraft, survival skills, prepping, and outdoor adventures of all kinds.

Cost: $220 for the first child. $25 for each additional immediate sibling.
Parent/parents are required to attend but do so at no cost.

Please note: Discounted sibling pricing is reserved exclusively for immediate siblings—meaning brothers and sisters living in the same household. It does not extend to cousins, friends, or other extended family members.

We ask for your honesty in registering. This helps us maintain fair pricing and continue offering high-quality programs.

Get outside and reconnect with what it means to be human. Wild Skills: Learn to Survive is a fun, hands-on, two-day course for families who want more than just another summer activity. It’s for kids (and their grown-ups) who want to build real-world skills, get dirty, laugh a lot, and leave with memories they’ll never forget.

Designed for families, homeschoolers, Scouts, and young adventurers of all kinds, this experience blends outdoor education with active play and challenge-based learning. Participants will learn practical survival skills through interactive games, real-world problem solving, and team-based activities. No boring lectures here—just fire, shelter, water, and confidence.

What you’ll learn together:

• How to build safe and effective shelters

• How to make and manage fire using both modern and primitive methods

• How to find and purify water in the wild

• Outdoor cooking basics

• And much more!

What to bring:

Participants must bring their own gear for this class. A recommended gear list will be provided after registration.

Whether you’re looking to prep your kids for backcountry adventures, build your own confidence in the outdoors, or just spend unforgettable time together as a family, this course delivers.

Get ready to move, think, build, and bond. We’ll see you in the wild.