FAQ
GENERAL QUESTIONS – INFORMATION
What are the Adult Camps?
Adult survival camps are for everyone wanting to experience the outdoors, in a safe environment, while learning the techniques and skills for outdoor survival training. What are those skills, they range from basics such as how to make a fire with one match to in depth fire creation by friction. Survival skills and techniques are abundant and there is no fast track to acquiring them.
If you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to empower yourself, by learning how to function in the outdoors safely and efficiently, the results of survival training will amaze you. You will not walk away empty handed; instead you will be filled with powerful knowledge and experience for a lifetime.
Lifesong adult camps range from one to 28 days and are located on the Oregon Coast and Northern California near Mt. Shasta. Each area offers a unique opportunity to amass skills and knowledge of the local environment that will still apply to your own location.
Camps are diverse and provide ample information to help you start and finish a well-rounded education in survival skills. Fortify yourself before adventuring into the unknown with skills beyond the essential shelter, water, fire, and food by delving into Lifesong’s Outdoor Survival Training in navigation and orientation, awareness, tracking and hunting, personal safety to name a few of the personally empowering techniques you can acquire.
What is the Weekend Wilderness Survival School?
Weekend School is designed for individuals and groups unable to attend a week long or longer Camp and may be 2 or 3 days long dependent upon the course. Check back often as additional courses become available.
- Weekend Wilderness Survival School – 3 days basic survival training
- Wild Weaver’s Weekend – 2 days wild plant based education – edible, medicinal and utilitarian
Minimum age to attend is 16 with parental consent. A great couples camp. Weekend Camps may also be customized for families with children 13 and older.
What are the Teen Summer Adventure CA Camps?
- One and Two week Teen Camp – age 14 – 15
- Two week Teen Camp – age 16 – 18
- 28 day Teen Wilderness Apprentice – age 15 – 19
What is Custom Camp?
For those who want an exclusive experience to share with a close group of friends, family or your own personal camp.
Customizable Camps:
- First Circle
- Second Circle
- THE EDGE
- A Scouts Path
- Weekend Wilderness Survival School *Open to families with children age 13 and older.
- Adventure Tracking – we will set up a personal tracking camp when requested
- Texas – L.O.S.T. Survival Training
▬▬▬▬▬▬
What experience or condition do I have to be in to attend camp?
Most camps do not require experience or physical conditioning with the exceptions listed below:
THE EDGE, The Journey, A Scouts Path, Wilderness Immersion Adult Survival Training, Teen Wilderness Apprentice, and Two Week Teen Summer Adventure(s) require a medical release form filled out and signed by a licensed, qualified professional health care provider, submitted by provider prior to camp attendance.
Where are Camps located?
Our primary camp locations are in the rugged mountains of northern California near Mt. Shasta. Our Oregon camp is located along the southern Oregon coast, and limited operations in Texas near Austin during the month of March.
What will the weather be like?
California camps are at higher elevations and during all seasons. For this reason, we encourage you to go to NOAA’s National Weather for up to date localized weather. During the summer season, days are generally mild to warm with cool nights.
Oregon camp, expect wet but moderate temperatures during the fall and winter months.
Texas in March around Austin is generally mild and warm with sunny days and cooler nighttime temperatures.
How do I get to camp and when should I arrive?
Driving: Enclosed in your registration packet will be driving directions to or for camp dependent on location. There is a $20 secure parking fee for those attending high camp.
Air: For our northern California Camps the nearest airport is the Rogue Valley International Airport-Medford (MFR). A round trip shuttle fee of $100 assessed for service to and from the airport (MFR) for all camps. Contact us if you plan on flying to camp. Most Adult camps begin at 4:00 pm on the first day; you must arrive in Medford no later than 12:00 pm (noon) for pick up at the airport. Camps end at 12:00 pm (noon) and your return flight should be no earlier than 3:00 pm on the last day of camp. We suggest you arrive the day before camp and we will pick you up at your hotel/motel to alleviate any possible delays. Other students may be arriving by bus or train and require shuttle service as well.
*There is no shuttle service for Texas Survival Training. Standard Camp begins on Sunday at 11:00 am and ends on Wednesday at 11:00 am. Advanced Standard Camp begins on Wednesday at 2:pm am and ends on Sunday at 11:00 am.
Train: Train services are Amtrak (DUN) to Dunsmuir, CA. with a round trip camp shuttle service available for $75.
Bus: Greyhound Bus services to Weed, CA, shuttle services are free unless otherwise stated.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
What do I need to bring to camp?
An itemized camp list identifying clothing, equipment, and personal items specific to each camp is included in your registration packet which is sent immediately upon verification of registration. There is plenty of time to obtain any items you may not already possess and at minimal cost. The items listed are part of most households, toiletries, clothing, eating utensils, etc. We encourage use of your local thrift store for any items you may not possess.
A tent, sleeping bag, and pad are required for all camps unless otherwise stated. Rental is available for tent and sleeping pad @ $45. *Rentals are not available for Texas Survival Training.
Survival knives are available for purchase. Knives for both two week Teen Summer Adventure Camps are included. Do not send a knife to camp with your teen.
Where can I find recommended clothing and equipment?
The links provided below were accumulated at the behest of students wanting available options for clothing and equipment. Even though Lifesong has some specific clothing and equipment requirements, students are not required to obtain these items from the suggested brands. The brands listed are based on personal use and experience.
Some wool clothing is a requirement for Winter Camp and THE EDGE and you are asked to bring a notebook for notes not a scratch pad. It is our goal to keep items at a minimum and easily accessible. For some living in sunnier climes, wool items can be a challenge thus the list provided. We encourage the use of thrift stores for any items you may not already possess.
The following brands are in alphabetical order and do not reflect preference and are suggestions only, not requirements:
Clothing: CampMor, Columbia, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, Patagonia, Pendleton, REI, Smart Wool, Under Amour, Wigwam, Woolrich
Footwear: Keen, Merrell, Nevados (we recommend Nevados for overall comfort, fit and low cost; however, only consider them for minimal use) New Balance, North Face, and Teva. Sorels’ are good insulated boots.
Gear: Coleman, Gregory, Jansport, Kelty, Marmot, Ozark, and Wenzl, etc.
The following links are new to us and we have never tried them:
In addition, it is a good idea to check out reviews by individuals who have tried these products, here are a couple of reviewers we have found useful:
Are meals included?
For most camps, we provide all meals. Exceptions are Weekend Wilderness Survival School. We provide good, wholesome, organic, and free-range foods when possible. Most meals are vegetarian. (Due to the remoteness of camp, it is difficult storing easily perishable foods.) Nevertheless, we do include meat in our menu when possible. Fresh drinking water is available at all times.
Weekend Wilderness Survival School has a recommended list of food items in the registration packet.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
When do camps commence and end?
First and Second Circle begin on Sunday and end on Friday, 6 days.
Winter Survival Training begins on Sunday and ends on Friday, 6 days
THE EDGE begins on Sunday and ends on Friday, 6 days.
The Quest begins on Sunday and ends on Sunday, 8 days.
The Way begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday, 6 days.
Wilderness Immersion Adult Survival Training begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday, 28 days.
A Scouts Path Please see course page.
Weekend Schools 3 day camps begin on Friday and end on Sunday, 2 day camps begin on Saturday and end on Sunday.
Teen Camps one week (7 days) and two weeks (14 days) begin on Sunday and end on Saturday.
Teen Wilderness Summer Apprentice begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday, 28 days.
Most camps begin at 4:00 pm PST on the first day of camp and end at 12:00 pm (noon) PST on the last day of camp. Please course page for specific times.
Texas Standard survival training begins on Sunday at 11:00 am CST and ends on Wednesday at 11:00 am CST. Advanced Standard survival training begins on Wednesday at 2:00 pm CST and ends on Saturday at 12:00 am CST.
Who are the Instructors?
The head instructor for all camps is the founder and director Mark Wienert Jr. Mark will be with you from start to finish. Lifesong Staff – student volunteers chosen for their leadership qualities. There are additional guest instructors for some camps.
Will the experience meet my expectations?
If you are wanting an exclusive, hands-on, personal adventure, and you want to learn challenging survival skills and techniques both modern and ancient, and you want to do it in an atmosphere of quiet encouragement in exquisitely beautiful mountain terrain with experienced instructors who like to have fun, then the answer is, yes it will.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
How may I obtain photos of my camp experience?
You may copy and use any personal photos of your camp experience found on the web site. Should you desire other photos please contact us to determine what is available and at what cost. All photos are the express property of Lifesong Wilderness Adventures and protected under copyright law.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
What Lifesong Wilderness Adventures is not.
We are not a boot camp, a religious organization, or a therapy camp. We are a nature based adventure company specializing in indigenous survival, nature awareness, and bushcraft skills. Nature is diverse and so are we. We welcome all people interested in learning wilderness survival and self-reliance.
Please Read Registration Policies
First Circle Survival Training Basics - duration 6 days
