What is the Teen Survival Camp?
Survival Camp for Teenagers is a 14-Day coed nature immersion adventure for youth ages 14-17 located in the beautiful foothills of the Oregon Cascades.
Participants will camp, hike, and experience a unique adventure while learning important backcountry survival skills such as bushcraft, indigenous skills, and shelter building. With hands-on instruction and nature-based mentoring, students will make new friends, explore, discover, create, respect, and appreciate.
REGISTER HERE for TEEN SURVIVAL CAMP
Before Purchase: Complete our Teen Camp Application Online
Date: July 14-27, 2024
Location: near Eugene, Oregon
Tuition: 2024 Registration Closed
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Register by CHECK Or purchase with PayPal
Before Purchase: Complete our Teen Camp Application Online
(Online application opens in a new tab)
A Parents Testimonial:
July 2022 14-Day Teen Camp - Helen Mcasburn.
"We just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and the team for the enthusiasm, consideration, and inspiration you all channeled into the Wilderness Camp.
Our children have taken so many positive things from the experience and it's given them a great opportunity to make friends, engage with the beautiful countryside you have there and really have some true quality time to learn about themselves and their place in the world.
We are only gutted that we couldn't be there too!
David and I will keep a close eye on your website, recommend and spread the word and we really hope that we will cross paths again. Huge thanks again to you all for sharing two weeks of your life with them."
Many, many kind regards from us both,
Helen and David Mcasburn (mum and dad!)
Nature-Based Mentoring
Plant/Insect Identification
Survival Camp for Teenagers
“Dear Mark,
I just want you to know that I had a fantastic time up in those mountains. That sweat lodge was something else, man. The dousing at the end felt amazing, as it was the first time I felt the dousing as not stressful, it was actually relaxing the whole way through.
Of course, the sweat lodge wasn’t the only enjoyable experience there. When I got a coal from a bow drill on my own, the natural tinder fire, catching my first fish, deadfalls, these were all things that either taught me something or were pretty significant achievements for me. I thank you deeply for the many unforgettable memories that were made in those mountains. Thanks!”
~Lincoln D.
Graduate 28-Day Teen Apprenticeship in northern California.
Foraging
Fire Craft
Survival Shelter
“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 would definitely recommend this experience to other teenagers with a love for nature and a sense of adventure.”
~Masha
Masha thrived at LWA’s 28-day apprenticeship survival training.
The Sacred Hunt
Conservation
I'm Ready for New Friends and Adventure!
Primitive Cooking
Water and Hydration
“The summer I spent with Mark in his Northern California location was a pivotal experience in my life. I spent 28-days gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to thrive in the wilderness. Not only is it a learning experience, but a chance to reconnect with yourself and nature while exploring beautiful alpine lakes, meadows, and mountains.
The location is spectacular and filled with healthy ecosystems. Anyone who wants to get in shape, learn how to live naturally, and experience nature and the raw elements should schedule a course with Lifesong Wilderness Adventures.“
~Nolan
Nolan, discovering a new type of bow drill spindle wood – 28-day Teen Apprenticeship
I'm Ready for the Challenge
~Zackary
Zack, having too much fun. If that’s possible.
Movement and Awareness
Leave No Trace
Aboriginal Tools
Staying Found
Animal Tracking
Survival Camp for Teenagers - 14 Days Empowering Lifelong Skills
Survival camp for teenagers is a 14-Day nature immersion adventure for youth ages, 14-17. Develop personal strength while camping, hiking, bush craft, primitive skills, shelter building, nature-based mentoring in the foothills of the Oregon Cascades. 14-Days of wilderness adventure and backcountry skills. Make new friends, explore, discover, create, respect, and appreciate.
More Parent and Student Testimonials
Experiential firsthand wilderness training and adventure
Through Mark's firsthand experiential training, your child will develop unique and valuable living skills. Skills that will help and support them as they embark on that uncharted trail to adulthood.
Our Parents and Teens say it best:
“We can’t say enough about Lifesong Adventures, Mark, and his mission to introduce the beauty and challenges of nature to young men and women. Through the Lifesong camp, we saw our son become more patient, loving, and engaging. And, most of all, he walked away with countless positive memories that will last a lifetime.”
~Gerry & Angela Hays
"Dear Mark,
I believe the most profound takeaways I have been given come from the people I was with, Khalil, Chris, Raphael, and Mark. They got me through this camp. Without them, I couldn't have put so much use to the lessons I learned, and I feel my experience here was no short of magical.
I have learned to relax my body and mind. With the power of cold water to put stress and tension on the body, I realized that my own power of will can keep me relaxed and even comfortable. Now I can easily slow down, put my weight back, and relax, allowing me to receive messages and especially awareness and gratitude from the earth."
~Carter Hays.
The relationships he developed with the other youth and with nature itself are relationships that will last a lifetime.
"Mark, I want to thank you for the wonderful experience my son had during his one month outdoor survival course this summer. The relationships he developed with the other youth and with nature itself are relationships that will last a lifetime. The confidence and focus I immediately saw in him, and the increase in his maturity level, was definitely noticeable. Without a doubt he will be doing your courses in the future. I would recommend it for any child (Teen)."
~Dr. Patrick V. San Ysidro, CA
"It was a life changing experience and now I know for sure that this is what I want to do as my career."
Read Khalil's article on life lessons learned.
Get the Details
Grub Time and Survivor Meals
Parents, you'll be happy to know that we serve healthy, mostly organic, filling, and satisfying savory meals for your teen. That is not to say they will eat familiar foods. After all, to fully experience living the wilderness way. Our food may not be like your normal fair.
A typical meal may include:
Breakfast Foods:
Fruits
Cornmeal
Eggs
Oatmeal
Sourdough Pancakes
Lunch Fare:
Boiled Eggs
Cheese
Fruits
PB & J Wraps
Gorp (a mix of dried fruits and nuts)
Veggies
Main Meals (Mostly prepared in a dutch oven):
Beans
Rice
Vegetables
Veggie Stir Fry
Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread
Hot Dogs
Bread on a Stick
Bison Stew
Home Made Biscuits
Treats & Snacks
Sweet Potato Pie
Fruits and Nuts
Dutch Oven Brownies
Optional Wilderness Meals:
Survivor Stew (A mix of below)
Landscape offerings
Foraged plants
Insects (pine bark beetles, ant larva, ants,)
Trappings
Grasshopper Topped Pizza
"The Experiential Learning Theory defines learning as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping and transforming experience”
Days alternate from In Camp Learning. To Field Training Hiking, swimming, wildlife tracking.
An example of a day at Camp:
Morning Round up 7-am
Reveille. Take a Walk to limber our bodies, buddy system, learn how to stay found. Get to know camp.
Morning Calisthenics
How's Everyone Doing? Discussion. Safety Talk with Students and Staff.
Breakfast - 45 minutes
Lecture and Demonstration (Skill(s) for the Day)
Bow drill construction-use
Carve with your knife
Best Practices
Safety
Create Your Bow Drill
Wood selection
Carving
Lunch
Start on next Skill/Project/Adventure
Fire Craft
Emergency Fire Craft Application and Safety
tree & plant tinder
cordage-fiber
Learn fire for all conditions
One-match fire
Construct a fire lay
Tinder
Plants and trees
Fire craft covers lots of information. Lessons and practice continues through the afternoon.
Dinner Break 1-1-1/2 hour
Evening Community Time
Getting to know one another
Discussion of the days activities
Campfire stories
Safety concerns
9pm fall into exhausted sleep
You're a Valuable Part of the Camp
We have taught more than 25 teen camps. From 1-week to 28-day wilderness immersions.
Here is what we experience.
This is a small group event, no more than 12 people per 14-Day Camp
Teen camp is based on helping and supporting one another
All students start with a common goal of learning survival
It takes a special and unique person to attend these events. Which makes this outdoor camping adventure all the more fun.
It is our observation that teens quickly bond and support each other at camp
Everyone is of different age groups and have different histories. All ages 14-17 are welcome
There are no stupid questions
No macho stuff, bullying, or rudeness
Everyone has an opportunity to get to know each other, and often times develop close bonds
Our students come from various countries: Scotland, Denmark, Tibet, Ukraine
and from the US: Mostly from California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina
Live Closer to the Earth and in Harmony with Nature
There is a sense of romance in nature, but if you've never been out in the wilderness before, it is common to be apprehensive. We have helped many people through the beginning discovery of wilderness exposure. We cover animal behavior, including the large predators, and how to keep yourself safe. Soon you will experience the peace and simplicity of the forest. Learning self-sufficiency in a survival situations will ease your fears and give you confidence.
Our training and experience will help you:
Lose the fear
Get strong
Be capable
Here are some Favorite Lessons from the Survival Camp Experience
Confidence.
How to make a fire without even matches.
All the different kinds of wild plants you can use for food or medicine.
How to make fire, rope, and even my own shelter from what’s available.
If I was alone in the wilderness, I know could I feed and shelter myself.
I learned that everything I need to survive is already out there.
Parents
Our teen adventure is an investment in your child's health and well being. An opportunity for your child to reap the rich dividends of life lived with new friends and great experiences!
We enjoy a high staff to student ratio.
An experience that is best described as “awesome!”
Please contact us or fill out our online Teen Summer Camp Application today and give your child the gift that will keep on giving for a lifetime.
We have waived our requirement for COVID-19 vaccination. However, we ask your child to take appropriate precautions for COVID when traveling to camp. Thank you!
Requirements: health practitioner’s release
Duration: 14-days
Schedule: begins Sunday at 4:00 pm – ends Saturday 12:00 pm (noon)
Accommodations: primitive camping
Food: yes
Location: east of Eugene Oregon
Transport: round-trip shuttle service from Eugene , Oregon airport, $100.
Instructors and Staff: Mark Wienert, owner-founder and head instructor; Lifesong Wilderness Adventures Staff – student volunteers chosen for their leadership qualities