WilderSkills

My students (4^th and 5^th grade) and I recently took a field trip to WilderSkills as a part of our SS study of Early Peoples. We spent the day amongst the redwoods, learning what life was like for our native ancestors. From boiling water with rocks, to weaving rope from plants, students learned that surviving in the wild is no easy task. The activities supported our cooperation and team building skills, as students needed to work together to build a shelter of pine needle «duff» and crack acorns for ash cakes. The kids had an absolute blast and are already asking if we can go back! I would highly recommend this trip!

I can not recommend this camp and company enough! My husband and I had a blast the one day we did it. So much that we’re going to do another one in the next couple months. My daughter is so lucky, she had an incredible week playing and learning survival skills in nature. She learned how to make a friction fire kit (bow drill, spindle, wood plank, and hand hold) and use it to make coal then used to make fire. She also had so much fun being covered and covering herself in clay so that she could camouflage. They got to make a spoon by burning the wood with coal and carving out the ashes. They also learned how to make shelter by starting with the spine (long log brace on a tree), adding the ribs (smaller branches on the sides to create the space), building the inside (bedding using pine needles), and adding the fat and skin (more pine needles and dried leaves). They also learned how to clean water to drink by dropping in hot rocks from the fire pit and how to distinguish edible plants. With all that they learned, they still had time to play survival skill games and plenty of free play!

If you can only send your daughter or son to one camp this summer, this is the one.
This is an extremely well run camp by adults who really believe in what they are teaching, are invested in the kids having a wonderful experience, and who are skilled, thoughtful, and mature enough to carry out that task.
Our camp was run by Dan with assistants Nikki and Jack. The kids learned how to carve wood with a knife, build a warm shelter for the night, find their way in the woods, camouflage themselves with clay and mud, and build a fire with a kit they made themselves (no matches). They had ample time to just run around in the beautiful redwoods, rocks, and creek at the site. What a fun, happy, and wonderful week out in nature for them!
The leaders made sure all the boys and girls had the opportunity to participate in everything according to their interest (but did not push them), the leaders participated in the games the led, and they nurtured the kids. Issues with bullying and stick-​throwing were kept well at bay; these folks know how to run a camp and keep kids secure. I was extremely impressed.
We’ll sign up again next year!

I very rarely do reviews, however I am excited to have found this gem of an opportunity. My three children (¹¹⁄₉ and 7) were interested in this camp and I have to say I was hesitant as they have different interested. I signed them up and on picking them up the first day I found they did not want to leave. On the 2^nd day I did not have to wake them up and they were beyond excited to get to camp.
This camp goes above and beyond any expectations I had for them. Hands down the ‘best camp ever’ they have attended in their eyes. I would have to agree there. They are going to do the Advanced course next Summer. Every topic is well thought out and safely taught.
Highly recommend this outdoor experience for all. Hoping to attend as a family very soon.
Well done WilderSkills on a quality, attentive and engaging program.

My 8 year old son loved WilderSkills summer camp. He rated it #1 out of 8 different camps he took last summer. I myself was envious of all the fun and useful survival techniques they have learned. My favorite was a spoon he made by burning out an indentation on a tree branch.

Extremely patient with my two boys (one of which was really acting up) during the summer camp — who both love the outdoors. Will do this again, may sign up for a weekend class myself. Raising my boys to not be afraid of the wild, and developing the confidence to deal with it.

My 8-​year-​old son took this camp for a week in July 2014. He LOVED it! The location couldn’t be more gorgeous, and it was great to see kids getting down and dirty with nature.

Amazing day! We had a great time AND learned something too. I really think if I got lost hiking, I would have the skills needed to keep me alive until I found my way, or until I was rescued. This is definitely a learn-​by-​doing experience and this process allows your confidence to grow. Shelter, water, fire, food — everything was covered with information and ways of thinking that I had never been exposed to. Of course for the kids, it was all about the fire! Making fire was such an awesome experience and Dan was so patient and made sure that everyone was able to achieve their fire-​making goal! I highly recommend this wonderful day-​in-​the-​woods experience!

I’m so excited to have such a wonderful program here in the Peninsula! Laura Stein’s knowledge of wild edible plants was impressively extensive, and I came away from my Wilderskills experience feeling more confident that I could survive by myself in the great outdoors-​and eat well! Check them out… Wilderskills rocks!

Totally Impressed. The curriculum is really well-​rounded and informative, but still really engaging and entertaining for kids. I feel like things things like this you have to choose one or the other: Either it is really sound curriculum, or its fun, this one was both. Dan’s ability to move through the course content smoothly and efficiently balanced perfectly with Laura’s engaging stories and activities and ability to connect with the kids is magic to watch. I want to grab other people’s kids and take them just to watch it happen all over again. Great skills, great service, awesome people.

Absolutely awesome! We learned how to survive, make fire, and build a shelter out of nothing but what we could find. Things I’ve wanted to know for years! The best part was seeing self-​confidence grow in the kids as they made their own fires and architected their own shelters. Phenomenal! Wish we could do more.