As humans, we once lived connected to the natural world. Now cut off from wild nature by modern living the outdoors seem alien. But nature is here and calls for us to explore and rediscover our connection. And for those curious enough to seek out wild nature a world rich in wonder and mystery await. Join us this summer for Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp. With Lifesong Wilderness Adventures.
"I feel like I could go to Lifesong adventures every summer for the rest of my life and still be challenged and surprised." ~ Eli
Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp
Call of the wild
I was 15 years old when I first heard the call deep in the Canadian bush. The moon full and bright, the summer air sweet and rich. And in that moment the primeval song of nature ran through me electric! Here in the wild the primal holds our imagination. It is here we have room to move and grow.
So, I can think of no better place for your son or daughter this summer than to be out in it! Challenging themselves, learning outdoor skills, growing, hiking, exploring, creating, learning, and making new friendships. ~Mark Wienert
Season 2022 Update
All campers must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to attend.
Where can I find summer outdoor survival training for my son or daughter?
This exciting Oregon summer adventure is open to boys and girls ages 14-17. Campers learn basic to advanced primitive survival skills. Wilderness navigation, leave no trace camping, hiking, fishing, and life in the outdoors.
- tent living & primitive shelter
- fire-craft - bow drill fire by friction - carving
- locating and treating water to drink in the wild
- learn wild edibles like grasshoppers, ants, and bark beetle larvae
- intro to animal tracking and behavior
- useful wild plants
- useful tools- cooking containers
- hiking of course. We love to explore and challenge ourselves.
- and much much more!
Please contact us and request an application for your teens Today.
Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp
All for one, one for all. Is our motto.
We include all campers in everything we do. We hike as fast as the slowest camper. We look out for each other. Compassion, understanding, and respect. We stay together because we are the team!
A rich and full camping experience for your child
I have always expressed that nature is the teacher. And we as guides facilitate the introduction and awareness of her. The education our teens acquire at camp is rich and fully rounded.
It is measured with adventure, exploration, hiking, stories, doing, creating, skills and shimmering night skies and bugs.
14-Day Teen Survival Camp 2022 ~OPEN
14-Days of Wilderness survival and bush skills for teens. Wilderness survival training at its best. For the adventurous spirit for 14 to 17 years of age
What we do
Activities include
- hiking
- exploration
- navigation
- swimming
- fishing,
- primitive skills
- woodcraft
- wild plants
- wildlife awareness
Parents, we care about your teen
Your son or daughter's well-being is important to us. We understand that being away from home for the first time can be difficult. Our staff do their absolute best to make your teen feel welcome and at ease.
Camp meals
Over the many years of working with teens. Many teenagers who come to camp are very good cooks. This has been a wonderful surprise for us. so, In the spirit of self-reliance, teens now will cook their own meals at camp. We supply the food, and with a lot of over site and support teens take care of the rest.
Safety is number one
Our camper's safety is number one. Safety in all camp activities is an integral part of our program.
We provide a supportive, caring, and welcoming environment to all.
Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp California
Parent's, nature has taught me there is strength and wisdom in diversity. I have learned that nature does not care about the color of one's skin or if we are male or female. Nor does she care from what background we come from or what language we speak. We are all part of the web of life.
What Parents say:
(three teenage boys, plus two parents) wholeheartedly recommend Mark Wienert's tracking and camping experiences".
"Mark teaches by example from a wealth of experience and knowledge gained by living off and in harmony with the land. He's a great role model and mentor -- calm, wise, highly skilled, and thoughtful soul. We are very lucky to have found him. He has been a pivotal person in our sons' coming of age over many years now."
Mothers' testimonial
~Dear Mark and Lifesong staff, thank you for offering an incredible wilderness immersion experience for my 16-year-old daughter this summer! My gratitude goes beyond words.
This is such a significant developmental stage in my daughter’s life. I can tell that she has just been through a life-changing four weeks being gently guided in trusting nature, gaining a deeper appreciation of the earth that sustains us. While learning to discover and trust in her own inner strength and power while testing new edges.
28-day Teen Apprentice
I can tell that she had a lot of fun, too, and greatly enjoyed the community of peers, counselors, and guides. I am amazed by the practical skills she learned, as well.
On our next camping trip, it will be her task to make fire without matches! And she really did learn how to safely harvest food from wilderness if needed and how to keep herself warm and sheltered.
Growing up
As a teenage girl, learning survival skills in a supportive community has provided an invaluable opportunity for her to deepen her self-worth and become more grounded in her own true nature while taking courage to explore new edges.
In today’s world of media and information overload and commercial pressure put on teens, I believe that any teenage girl would greatly benefit from the opportunity to participate in the kind of experiences offered by Lifesong Wilderness Adventures.
A Students Testimonial
~Dear Mark, I found the experience of spending a month in the wilderness very internally cleansing. Being away from the city and my daily routine, and instead spending time in such a beautiful environment with caring people, allowed me to slow down and completely let go of all stresses.
I lived in the present. Every morning I woke up full of curiosity at what the day would hold, and every evening I fell asleep content. The longer I stayed up there, the more I appreciated the nature around me, and the more I grew to like the simple lifestyle.
As I was leaving I found that all my material desires - whether for technology, a warm shower, or certain foods - had disappeared. They were unnecessary, even a burden. I would have been content sleeping on the ground and living off of Polenta for the rest of my life.
I learned a lot, and had a great time doing it, whether I was swimming in pristine mountain lakes, cooking with the Dutch ovens, or covering myself in dirt for camouflage.
The great staff made for a very warm and accepting community. In addition, I discovered a lot of strength, both physical and internal, within me, as I conquered challenges such as summiting the mountain after the two night overnight or making fire by bow drill.
I would definitely recommend this experience to other teenagers with a love for nature and a sense of adventure. ~Best, Masha
Our Staff
The staff is composed of head instructor, Mark Wienert. And hand-picked student and adult volunteers exhibiting outstanding leadership qualities.
Nature and your child
"Wilderness has a monumental transformative effect on our children. It is not enough for them to learn about nature only in the class room or a walk in a park. To know this deep and transforming experience a child must be immersed in wildness immersed in the sights and smells and sounds of nature.
Teen Wilderness Adventure Camp California
Tom Brown Jr. in his Field Guide to Nature and Survival For Children says:
"Keeping children always confined to houses, buildings, cars, and heavy clothing will eventually cut them off from what life is all about. You take away all possibility for them to really feel the intensity of life...By encapsulating our children, we cut them off from the feelings of anything real, and we teach them to resist the forces of nature...If you are going to the beach, the woods, the swamps, or the wilderness, really get into it, roll in it, and get rid of all protection that will separate you from fully appreciating where you are. Become alive, not removed and insulated, and teach your children to do the same." ~Tom Brown Jr.
Conservation Projects
2005 to 2019 Darlingtonia Bog Restoration Project
Over the years our teens have participated in our ongoing conservation project. A restoration of a Darlingtonia bog damaged by illegal off-road ATV vehicle use. This valuable hands-on participation in the restoration process is a wonderful and important educational experience.
2022 our teen students continue the opportunity to discover concepts of living with fire as a natural process. Teens learn ancient techniques used by First Nations Peoples to benefit the reduction of fire fuels in forest lands.
Sponsor a Teen to Camp
Sponsor a Teenager to Camp. Sponsoring a teenager to camp is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Make a positive difference in a young person's life.