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Women’s Wilderness Survival 101 class is directed towards women of all ages to encourage more female participation in the field of wilderness survival. Students from all skill levels are welcome and no experience is required. Whether you are a proclaimed survivalist, a weekend bushcrafter, a homesteader, an ultralight hiker, or just a general everyday woodswoman this class is designed to promote a sense of community through our shared love of nature. Together we will build skills that promote confidence both within ourselves and out in the woods.
Throughout the weekend we will learn to take care of our immediate needs in wilderness survival as we discuss self-aid, fire, navigation and shelter. Other topics will include self-defense, hygiene, and signaling for rescue. This class is for participants who desire to both learn and grow, as well as how to develop a sense of resilience through self-reliance in both community and as individuals in the wild.
Take the first STEP! Get ready to experience Colorado’s wild frontier, rich with dense pine forests, rocky outcrops, and stream crossings, that will excite your curiosity and challenge your endurance on this thrilling wilderness adventure where nature becomes your greatest mentor. STEP (Survival Training Expedition Program) is a guided wilderness skills hike designed for outdoor enthusiasts seeking immersive survival training on the move while carrying minimal food and supplies, or the essential gear in a hiker’s day pack. Over the course of four days, you will witness an untouched landscape armed with little tools to deepen your connection with both the natural world and your lionheart within. Students will complete multiple phases with the last being an evening solo where they will implement the skills they’ve developed.
Day hikers are statistically more likely to confront danger in the wild due to their lack of knowledge, skill, and gear. This excursion is designed to be a ‘path to preparedness’ as you will learn crucial techniques such as fire-building, disinfecting water, foraging for edible plants, primitive food procurement methods, creating improvised shelters, navigating without a GPS, on top of several exercises to enhance your survival mindset while under the guidance of experienced instructors. Opportunities to learn and grow in resilience while tasting and testing your self-reliance will leave participants filled with courage to take their first step in future backcountry adventures. Participants will test their creativity in how to utilize environmental resources on top of the items they’ll depend on - a cutting edge, poncho, water container, and fire-starting tool. Each phase of the journey presents new challenges that will foster personal growth that will unlock your potential on your personal hero’s journey.
Phase 1 of the course begins on Day 1 where kits will be inspected, safety precautions will be thoroughly discussed, and an introduction to critical skills such as self-aid, fire, shelter, and water will be presented. Students are not required to stay on site on this night but are highly encouraged to do so to promote social bonds as we prepare to travel together in the remote wilderness.
The following day will begin Phase 2 where we will embark on the expedition off the grid and dive into valleys and through gulches to gather materials from the forest floor for the evening’s fire. This phase emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, encouraging participants to engage fully with the environment while developing confidence in their abilities. Students will learn primitive trapping and fishing methods, friction fire off the landscape, how to read weather patterns, navigate via terrain association, and how to conquer both environmental and personal challenges. Whether you're seeking to prepare for the unexpected, challenge your skills in a remote setting, grow as an outdoor enthusiast, or simply embrace the simplicity of life on the trail, this immersive experience promises to leave you with invaluable survival training and unforgettable memories. By the end of the journey, you’ll walk away with an enhanced confidence, practical skills, a new appreciation for the natural world—and an ability to overcome that will continue to grow and inspire others.
Participation in the expedition phase requires full commitment. Once the journey begins, quitting at any point is not an option, as it impacts the safety, learning, and cohesion of the group. This phase is designed to challenge you and foster growth through resilience and teamwork. While it may push you outside your comfort zone, instructors will support you throughout, ensuring your safety and success.
Consider this commitment carefully before joining—once on the trail, perseverance is key to completing this transformative experience.
The final phase, Phase 3, will begin the afternoon of Day 4 and involves preparation for an individual evening alone. Students will complete the final leg of the expedition and gather materials needed for food and fire before scouting their desired location for a night in solitude. The following morning we will gather in community and discuss our challenges and triumphs of the previous evening and the prior days. This final phase will complete the program leaving students ready to take the first STEP in future wilderness adventures.
Women’s Primitive Survival 101 is a course directed towards women of all ages to encourage more female participation in the field of wilderness adventure. Students from all skill levels are welcome and no experience is required. Whether you are a proclaimed survivalist, a weekend bushcrafter, a homesteader, an ultralight hiker, or just a general everyday “wild woman,” this class is designed to promote a sense of community through our shared love of nature. Wildcard Wilderness leads all women’s courses to promote strong social bonds, provide a supportive environment that aids in inclusivity and leadership, and to build skills that promote empowerment and confidence both within ourselves and out in the “wild unknown.”
Over the duration of this course, we will learn to take care of our immediate needs in wilderness survival as we discuss survival priorities such as fire, shelter, and water procurement with the use of both modern and primitive tools. We will learn how to replace our kit-based items and return to the landscape to build fire by friction, create a cutting edge, and make various tools that aid in the transition from surviving to thriving. Together we will go on a “woodland walk” to procure various plant-based resources that aid in firecraft, medicine, food, and other utilitarian needs like cordage. Students will also develop skills in primitive food procurement methods like building traps for fish and woodland game.
Other topics will include safety, hygiene, and the “survival mentality” as we learn to push past fears and unlock deep connections with nature. This class is for participants who desire to both learn and grow, as well as how to develop a sense of resilience through self-reliance in both community and as individuals in the wild.
Want to ditch the dependence on your phone's GPS and confidently navigate the ‘wild unknown’? This class is designed to help those develop essential navigation skills to find your way home, how to explore safely, and other techniques in the art of “lostproofing.” Students will learn to read topographic maps, how to decipher all uses of a compass, and how to navigate by the sun and stars. You'll gain the ability to plan routes, pinpoint your location, and make informed decisions while venturing off the beaten path. This course is perfect for hikers, backpackers, campers, and anyone who wants to be self-sufficient in the wilderness.
Navigation 101 will dive into various techniques including triangulation, primitive navigation, self-mapping, and signaling for rescue. You'll gain the confidence to navigate in low-visibility conditions and how to use plants and trees as navigation tools. This comprehensive approach will transform you from a passive follower of technology into a self-assured explorer, ready to take on any adventure.
Ethnobotany 101 is a course designed to encourage participants to develop a deeper understanding of plantlore and the resources available to them in the fields of bushcraft, survival, homesteading, and more. This class is catered towards students from all skill levels and no experience is required. Students will grow a sense of how to harvest various materials from their woodland environment for numerous means. Each day participants will learn to positively identify a handful of plants and trees and build on that knowledge with hands-on experience in preparing medicine or food, as well as fire or craft such as cordage and containers from the individual plants they identify. Students will walk away with a couple of handcrafted projects and a deeper understanding of the forest in how certain plants and trees cater toward a particular medicine, craft or skill over others.
Projects may include burn bowls, shrinkpot containers, and basketry amongst salves and tinctures from plant materials we will learn how to identify and ethically harvest.
Basecamp Essentials is a course that is designed to promote a sense of wilderness living with others and beyond our basic needs of survival. Students will learn how to build varying means of comfort entirely off the landscape including benches, chairs, and beds. As a class, we will learn how to build instruments such as mallets, sawhorses, and vices and how they can aid in processing fuel and other materials. Other topics will include plant and tree identification, firecraft, cutting tool safety, food procurement and preservation, camp maintenance, simple pioneering as well as several different knots, notches and lashings on top of some handcrafted projects at the end of the course. Students will walk away with the knowledge of how to construct a basecamp to share in a community or as individuals in the wild.
Course Project Examples: Creating grass mats with a woodland loom, vices, sawbuck, bucksaw, mallet, dakota fire, tripod smoker, ground refrigerator, brooms, rakes, chairs, spatula, spoon, benches, rope beds, ladders, wash area, utilizing wood ash for hygiene, making a torch from Pine Tar
Embark on a captivating 3-hour nature walk and unlock the secrets of the forest! Discover a world of wonders as our expert guide unveils the diverse plant life surrounding us. Learn to identify edible delights, medicinal herbs, soothing smokes, and perilous poisons. Uncover the hidden potential of plants for fire-starting and crafting tools. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and gain invaluable knowledge that will deepen your connection to the wilderness.
Women’s Wilderness Survival 201 is a course that caters towards long-term survival and bushcraft as we leave our preparedness from kit-based items to off the landscape. This class is directed towards women of all ages to encourage more female participation in the fields of bushcraft and primitive skills. Students from all skill levels are welcome and no experience is required. Whether you are a proclaimed survivalist, a weekend bushcrafter, a homesteader, an ultralight hiker, or just a general everyday woodswoman this class is designed to promote a sense of community through our shared love of nature.
Throughout the weekend we will learn to take care of our immediate needs in woodland living as we discuss self-aid, fire with friction, and primitive shelter building. Other topics will include various woodland craft, knots, navigation, and food procurement from primitive traps for woodland game and edible plants. This class is for participants who desire to both learn and grow, as well as how to develop a sense of resilience through self-reliance in both community and as individuals in the wild.
Would you like to gain independence and confidence by navigating the wilderness without relying on technology?
Land Navigation 101 is designed to equip you with critical navigation skills to thrive in the great outdoors. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or new to exploring, you’ll develop more than just skills, but the confidence needed to navigate any terrain safely and effectively. Learn the art of “lost-proofing” as you discover how to plan routes, find your way to safety, and develop tools in self-reliance. The course covers compass proficiency, teaching you how to unlock its full potential, from basic orientation to advanced techniques like declination adjustment and measurement. You will also learn how to read and interpret contour lines and scales on topographic maps to then effectively plan routes after plotting grid coordinates.
In addition to these essential skills, you’ll explore celestial navigation, using the sun, moon, and stars as natural guides. Advanced techniques such as triangulation and self-mapping will further enhance your abilities. You’ll also learn how to use environmental indicators like plant growth patterns, tree shadows, and terrain features to find your way. Rescue preparedness is another vital aspect, with skills in signaling for help, creating effective markers, and staying visible to search teams.
This comprehensive course prepares you to navigate even in challenging conditions, including poor visibility and adverse weather. You’ll learn to assess risks, make informed decisions, and remain calm under pressure. By the end of the course, you’ll transform from a reliant tech-user into a confident, self-sufficient navigator ready to conquer the unknown. Perfect for hikers, backpackers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a deeper connection with nature while ensuring their safety, this course will turn you into a true explorer of the wilderness.
Are you ready to push your boundaries and test your skills, wisdom, and guts?
Join us for a weekend immersion in wilderness survival set in the lovely backcountry of England alongside Staffordshire Buschcraft, where participants will challenge their skills, test ones ability to adapt, and develop resiliency. This course is designed to teach you the essentials needed to conquer a 72-hour survival scenario and then challenge you physically and mentally, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to thrive. Throughout the weekend, students will undergo several exercises designed to simulate demands presented in a remote emergency scenario focusing on the critical priorities of fire, shelter, and water. Experienced instructors will be guiding you through every lesson ensuring that all students rise to successful completion of an incredible opportunity to test your endurance and wild side.
Please email wildcardsurvival@gmail.com to confirm dates and location before purchasing your private 2 day course.
Jacks Genega is available for private courses curated to your skill level and interests in the fields of survival and bushcraft.
Embrace the power of nature and the beauty of sisterhood on this transformative women’s retreat set along a serene river in the majestic mountains of Colorado. Over the course of this immersive experience, we will explore the elements of fire, water, and earth, learning essential wilderness skills while reconnecting with our hearts and intuition. Through hands-on activities and shared moments, you’ll cultivate confidence in outdoor survival, deepen your connection to nature, and nurture your inner strength.
This retreat offers a harmonious blend of practical skills and heart-opening techniques. Learn fire-making, shelter-building, and other bushcraft essentials while embracing grounding practices inspired by the natural elements. Awaken your senses and enhance your intuition, a vital skill for navigating both the wild and the complexities of modern life. Together, we’ll celebrate the joy of sisterhood as we gather around the campfire, share stories, and laugh beneath the starlit skies.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Colorado’s rugged mountains and flowing rivers, this retreat is more than skills training—it’s a journey into aliveness, connection, and renewal. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or new to wilderness exploration, this experience invites you to step into your power, deepen your relationship with the natural world, and design a life grounded in joy and resilience.
This class is led by Jacks Genega and Jessica Caldwell and is hosted by The Survival University in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
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