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.

A Hands-On Weekend Adventure

Learn Practical Survival Skills for Camping, Hiking, and Emergencies

Prepare for an immersive outdoor survival training experience designed to teach you real-world skills for camping, hiking, hunting, and emergency situations. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced outdoorsman, this class will help you build the confidence and capability to handle the unexpected in the wilderness.

You’ll learn how to select the right survival gear, use it effectively, and adapt when that gear fails or gets lost. This course blends modern tools with proven survival techniques—covering fire, shelter, water, navigation, and more—making it ideal for anyone looking to become more self-reliant in the backcountry or beyond.

What You Will Learn:

• How to choose the right survival gear
• How to pack and organize your gear for quick access
• How to use your gear for fire-making, shelter building, water purification, navigation, food gathering, and more.
• How to adapt to different environments and emergency situations
• What to do if an adventure goes wrong, and how to prevent that so you can enjoy more adventures, from day hikes to long vacations in the woods.
• Transferring your skills to an urban environment to be ready for day-to-day adventures too.

Each student will leave with a high-quality survival kit ($100 value), stocked with essential tools and gear to help you face any outdoor challenge. This kit is yours to keep and use in your future adventures. Not only do you keep the gear, but you will also be trained on each item by our highly sought-after instructors.

Class Details:

• Location: TSU private property in Teller County
• Duration: Two days and one night
• Price: $Up to you, but I need $55 back to me to buy the gear.
• Age: Adults may bring one child at no extra cost (survival kits are provided only for paying students)

This class is perfect for anyone looking to gain confidence and the skills needed for self-sufficiency in the wild. You will walk away prepared and ready for your next outdoor adventure.

Space is limited, so sign up today and start your journey toward mastering outdoor survival skills.

Whether adventuring in the outdoors or enjoying a book about adventuring in the outdoors, fire always comes up. In fact, it has been said that fire is directly related to every other survival priority. Not just survival, but most outdoor adventures are enhanced with safe, effective fires. It helps regulate core body temperature, boils water for purifying, cooks food, signals for rescue, makes tools, scares away the bumps in the night, and so much more. This is also one of the areas that I see most people struggle with, especially if they do not have the perfect situations and resources. There is a great deal to learn and master with fire, including basic principles about tinder, ignition tools, strategies, and techniques.

Teaching different methods of fire is, without a question, one of my favorite subjects. This 2 day series will be a culmination of over 30 years of professionally teaching pioneer, survival, primitive, boy scout, military, and every other type of fire hack. We will explore both modern and historical ways of making fire as well as looking at safety and dealing with poor fire situations. At the end of this series you will look at fire in a totally different way and will be able to achieve it with a tiny spark, sticks only, modern tools, pioneer tools, wet wood, windy weather, no wood, and more.”

Every class is slightly different based on what the mountain gives us, weather conditions, student interest and more. That being said, the core of the class stays relatively the same, it is just all the extras that get affected by different resources and times of year.

This is one of my most requested and sought after classes throughout the year. It is my absolute honor to keep the stories and skills in this class alive. Please join me in keeping them alive, and who knows, one day they may do the same for you.

COURSE TOPICS

1. Fire safety and basics
2. Pioneer and Heritage fires from around the world like flint and steel, cedar rolling, fire from bamboo sparks, trench matches, and other historical spark based fires
3. Modern fires like mastering the ferro rod, getting fire from wet wood, bullets, batteries, and other modern tools used by military, search and rescue, pilots, and seasoned outdoor professionals.
4. Primitive and indigenous skills from around the world like, bow drill, hand drill, pump drill, fire saw, cedar rolls and more.
5. Solar fire, ranging from modern to primitive; things like fire from ice cubes, convex lenses, fire from trash, parabolic fires and loads of other improvised ways to use the sun for fire.
6. Using fire as a tool and using fire to make other tools.
7. Cooking, baking, and preserving food with fire
8. Using fire with shelter and as a shelter. We look at fire lays from around the world that have been proven for centuries to make the difference in getting a good night’s sleep, preserving food, staying alive and chasing away the things that go bump in the night.

COURSE OUTCOMES AND DEMONSTRATED SKILLS

• Students will be able to identify and assess fire hazards and understand basic fire safety measures. Demonstrated Skills: Identifying fire hazards, implementing basic fire safety measures, understanding fire extinguishers and their use.
• Students will be able to start fires using traditional methods from different cultures around the world. Demonstrated Skills: Starting fires with flint and steel, cedar rolling, bamboo sparks, trench matches, and other historical spark-based fires.
• Students will be able to start fires using modern tools and techniques. Demonstrated Skills: Starting fires with ferro rods, wet wood, bullets, batteries, and other modern tools used by military, search and rescue, pilots, and seasoned outdoor professionals.
• Students will be able to start fires using primitive and indigenous techniques from around the world. Demonstrated Skills: Starting fires with bow drill, hand drill, pump drill, fire saw, cedar rolls, and more.
• Students will be able to start fires using solar energy. Demonstrated Skills: Starting fires with ice cubes, convex lenses, fire from trash, parabolic fires, and other improvised ways to use the sun for fire.
• Students will understand how to use fire as a tool and to make other tools. Demonstrated Skills: Using fire to shape and manipulate metal, wood, and other materials to create tools.
• Students will understand how to cook, bake, and preserve food with fire. Demonstrated Skills: Cooking and baking food over an open fire, using smoking and drying techniques to preserve food.
• Students will understand how to use fire in shelter construction and as a shelter. Demonstrated Skills: Building fire lays from around the world, creating and maintaining fires to provide warmth, light, and protection, and using fire to keep away predators and other nighttime threats.

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

(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.

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

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.

Colorado is known for its world-class skiing and rugged backcountry terrain—but it’s also notorious for its sudden snowstorms and extreme winter weather. Blue skies in the morning often give way to whiteout conditions by afternoon, catching even experienced hikers and backcountry adventurers off guard. Many have died here not from lack of experience, but from being unprepared for how quickly Colorado’s winter conditions can turn deadly.

This 3-day Winter Survival Course in Colorado is designed to teach you how to stay alive when the temperature drops and the snow starts falling. You’ll learn how to manage cold exposure, keep your body temperature stable, and stay dry in freezing conditions where traditional survival techniques may fail.

We’ll cover how to build both snow and primitive shelters that offer real protection from the elements, how to get a fire going and keep it burning in wet, windy environments, and how to use snow safely as a water source. You’ll also gain a better understanding of winter-specific dangers like hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, snow blindness, and avalanche risk—and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re a hiker, hunter, skier, or just someone who ventures into the wild during winter, this course provides practical, hands-on skills to help you stay safe and come home alive.

What to Expect

Over three days, you’ll be immersed in hands-on training focused on winter-specific survival skills. While the emphasis is on staying warm and dry with shelter and firecraft, we’ll also touch on gear prep, snow navigation basics, and cold-weather fieldcraft. Expect to spend full days outdoors, practicing what you learn in real conditions.

Skills Taught Will Include:

• Proper cold weather gear and clothing selection

• Hypothermia wrap and emergency warming techniques

• Primitive and snow shelter construction (snow dependent)

• Modern and primitive fire-starting in winter conditions

• Full-length body fire and all-night fire builds

• Using snow as a water source safely

• Firecraft maintenance in cold and wet environments

• Avalanche awareness and terrain assessment

• Cold-weather tool use and knife skills

• Situational awareness and winter mindset training

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.