Into The Wild
Build a fire. Find your bearings. Learn what the wild has to offer.
Into the Wild is a hands-on retreat exploring bushcraft and outdoor survival through immersive, one- to two-hour classes. Learn to identify and responsibly harvest wild edibles, start fires and cook over them, build shelters, navigate with a map and compass, track wildlife, and make cordage from natural materials.
Rooted in observation, resourcefulness, and respect for the land, each experience puts wilderness survival skills into practice. Work with your hands, learn to read your surroundings, and discover how to meet basic needs outdoors.
Leave with practical knowledge, greater confidence in the wild, and a deeper connection to the places you explore.
Who’s Ready to Go Into the Wild?
Into the Wild welcomes people who want to learn the foundations of bushcraft and wilderness survival while building a closer connection with nature.
- Curious beginners ready to learn practical outdoor skills
- Nature lovers seeking a deeper understanding of the land
- Hikers and campers looking to feel more confident in the backcountry
- Adventure seekers drawn to immersive, hands-on experiences
- Foraging enthusiasts interested in wild foods and responsible harvesting
- Outdoor learners eager to explore firecraft, navigation, wildlife tracking, shelter building, and bushcraft
- Anyone seeking less screen time and more time learning outdoors
- People who want to become more capable and self-reliant in nature
No prior bushcraft or wilderness survival experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
About your host
Cole is a survival expert, property manager of Bask, husband, father, and all around expert in the wild. With Cole leading you - you're going to learn of to survive in the wild like a pro and experience hands on bushcraft activities that will leave you with new skills to apply to real world situations.
What’s Included
Explore foraging and wild foods, firecraft and campcraft, essential wilderness skills, and practical bushcraft. Learn the foundations of finding water, gathering food, and meeting basic survival needs while building confidence in the outdoors.
Each topic begins with a one- to two-hour hands-on class covering the basics, followed by longer outdoor experiences where you’ll put those skills into practice. From building a fire to recognizing what the landscape provides, you’ll learn through direct experience with the land.
Lodging Options
Find your place to unwind after a day in the wild. Choose a private room in Buffalo Lodge, a cabin of your own, or a geodesic dome that sleeps two. From the rustic warmth of the lodge to glamping beneath the Tennessee stars, each offers a welcoming place to rest and recharge. Follow the booking instructions below to select your lodging.
Schedule & Pricing
The 2-Hour Survival Challenge
Practice five essential wilderness survival skills—fire, water, shelter, navigation, and signaling—in a focused, hands-on challenge.
Eat the Woods
Follow a guided plant walk from identification and ethical harvesting to preparing wild foods and cooking over a campfire.
Wild Tennessee
Get to know the landscape through its trees, plants, mushrooms, animal tracks, and wildlife signs. Learn to notice the details that reveal what’s living around you.
Backcountry Skills Challenge
Build confidence with a map and compass, firecraft, knots, and shelter construction, then apply what you’ve learned to simulated wilderness emergencies.
Sunset Survival
Navigate through the afternoon, build a fire, and prepare a camp meal before exploring how to orient yourself as daylight fades.
Primitive Skills Day
Spend the day practicing bushcraft with natural materials, from making cordage and exploring friction fire to building shelters and cooking outdoors.
First Aid & Herbalism
Explore outdoor first aid alongside an introduction to traditional herbal practices and the plants associated with them.
$1200 + accommodations (Booking information below)
How to Book
- Click the button on this page for Reserve Your Space
- Select your accomodations, and click Book Now
- Add this retreat to your selection
- Follow the prompts to add your info and payment details
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Introductory classes are designed with beginners in mind. Instructors will teach the fundamentals before moving into hands-on practice.
It depends on the experience. Most introductory programming will involve walking, standing, bending, and working outdoors. More advanced experiences may require additional physical activity. Specific expectations will be provided before each class.
Wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe outdoor shoes. Long pants are recommended for many activities. Dress for the weather and consider bringing layers.
Only when specifically included in a guided program. Foraging instruction will emphasize safe identification, ethical harvesting, and the importance of never consuming a wild plant or mushroom without appropriate expert identification.
Only when specifically included in a guided program. Foraging instruction will emphasize safe identification, ethical harvesting, and the importance of never consuming a wild plant or mushroom without appropriate expert identification.
Some bushcraft programs may involve outdoor tools. When included, guests will receive safety instruction and supervision before using them. Age restrictions may apply.
You might leave knowing how to build a fire or navigate with a compass—but you'll hopefully also leave seeing the landscape a little differently than you did when you arrived.
Step Into the Wild.
Leave More Capable.