Wilderness Survival Training

Next Survival Training

January 30th - February 1st, 2025

Build the mindset and skills to handle the unexpected with confidence and clarity. Over three days and two nights at our Catskills retreat, you’ll gain the tools to stay calm and capable in any situation.

Would You Survive Mother Nature?

Do you ever wonder how you’d handle yourself in a tough situation? Most people think it’ll never happen, but then it does. Wilderness Survival Training is your opportunity to stop wondering if you’d be ready for the unexpected. You’ll know it.

Work hands-on with survival expert Marlon Smith to build practical skills that teach you to survive using what’s around you. Between sessions, enjoy good meals, modern comforts, and quiet moments in the serenity of our 164-acre retreat in the Catskills.

Build The Skills You Need To Feel Safe, Confident & Well-prepared

Learn essential life-saving skills from an expert instructor in a personalized group setting.

Knife, saw, and axe safety including using tools responsibly
Primitive fire-building and ignition techniques
Water purification skills including sourcing, filtering, and treating for safety
Knots, ridge lines, and tarp shelter construction
Building weather-ready, resilient shelters
Survival kits: what to pack and why
IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) trauma and field care basics

Meet Your Instructor

Marlon Smith, Founder of Urban & Outdoor Survival

Marlon Smith is the founder of Urban & Outdoor Survival, where he teaches people to think clearly, act decisively, and stay prepared in any environment. His workshops combine hands-on survival training with real-world emergency drills, giving you the confidence to handle the unexpected.

Urban & Outdoor Survival is the official survival training instructor for Harriman State Park, and Marlon has been featured by CNN, News 12 New Jersey, CBS New York, the Wall Street Journal, and PIX 11 as a survival expert. Marlon believes survival is more than tools and tactics. It’s a mindset built on adaptability, teamwork, and trust.

“It’s the idea of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.”– Marlon Smith

Marlon Survival Training Has Been Featured By

What To Expect

Click to Reserve Your Spot, select the number of peope attending, choose accommodations, and get ready for your weekend!

Reserve Your Retreat Tickets

Get your ticket(s) for the December 19–21 Survival Training Weekend. Space is limited so you get a personalized, hands-on experience. Your retreat ticket covers the training & all meals.

Choose Your Accommodations

Stay in a private or shared room at Guest house on the property. Locals can attend the training without lodging, and companions are welcome to stay and relax without attending the retreat activity.

Experience the Weekend

Get prepared for whatever life throws at you. Meals, lodging, and the schedule are all handled for you. Train with Marlon Smith by day, then unwind, connect, and recharge in nature each evening.

What Marlon's Students Say

“Marlon’s training gave me real confidence to handle myself in nature. He was awesome!”

Jason M., New Jersey

“I never imagined I’d start a fire without matches, but by the end of the weekend, I did it.”

Sarah K., Connecticut

“The skills, the teamwork, and the mindset I learned here will stick with me.” 

Daniel R., New York

What's included with the Survival Training?

The wilderness survival weekend includes the following:

Expert survival training from Marlon Smith
Access to a private What's App group so you can ask questions and connect with your classmates before arriving
All meals (7 Total) included and prepared by local restaurants
Evening entertainment and relaxation
Access to property amenities
A shared or private room in our guest house (optional, for an additional fee)

Wilderness Survival Training Itinerary

Three Days of Survival Training, Connection, and Renewal

Day 1 – ARRIVAL & INTRODUCTION

4:00 PM – Arrival

Settle into your accommodations.

6:00 PM – Intro to Survival

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Group Welcome Dinner

8:30 PM – 10:30 PM – Evening Activities

11:00 PM – Lights Out

Day 2 – FIRECRAFT, TOOLS, & WATER

8:00 AM – Breakfast

Saturday Morning – Tools & Fire Fundamentals

Objective: Learn to create fire without matches or lighters and learn to use tools safely.

The science of fire: the fire triangle (heat, fuel, oxygen)
Using ferro rods and flint & steel
Preparing natural and man-made tinder
Fire lays: teepee, log cabin, and lean-to builds
How to use knifes, saws, and axes
How to choose the best tools
Knife, saw, and axe safety
Hands on practice

Outcome: Students will successfully build and sustain a fire without matches and safely handle tools.

12:00 PM – Lunch

Saturday Afternoon – Water Wisdom

Objective: Understand and apply multiple purification methods for safe drinking water.

Dangers of untreated water and identifying safe sources
Filtering vs. purifying vs. sterilizing
Using man-made systems (pump, gravity, straw filters)
Building an improvised filter from sand, charcoal, and moss
Boiling, chemical, and solar purification methods
Hands-on practice: collect, filter, and purify water using multiple techniques
Water sourcing & purification safety

Outcome: Students will produce potable water using both natural and man-made methods.

7:30 PM – Dinner

8:30 PM – 10:30 PM – Evening Activities

11:00 PM – Lights Out

Day 3 – SHELTER, KNOTS & FIELD PREPARATION

8:00 AM – Breakfast

Morning Session: Knots, Ridgelines, Tarp Shelters & Sleep Area Design

Objective: Learn to construct stable shelters using minimal gear.

The 5Ws of campsite selection: Water, Wood, Weather, Wildlife, Widowmakers
Essential knots: double fisherman, marlin spike hitch, trucker’s hitch, overhand loop
Setting ridgelines and anchor points
Building tarp shelters: A-frame, lean-to, plow-point, ranger diamond
Designing an insulated, safe, and weather-ready sleep area

Outcome: Learn to select a site, set up shelters, and test configurations for different conditions.

12:00 PM – Lunch

Afternoon Session: Survival Kits & IFAKs

Objective: Prepare and use essential equipment for survival and first aid.

Difference between a survival kit and an IFAK
Core contents and organization strategies
The “Rule of 3s” for prioritizing needs
Tourniquet use, pressure dressings, and wound care
Customizing kits for environment and trip length
Scenario drills: injuries, lost gear, and resource scarcity

Outcome: Build the confidence to manage real world problems.

6:00 PM – Group Dinner & Wrap-up

Departure

Can’t Make The Upcoming Retreat?

Be the first to know when new dates open for our Urban & Outdoor Survival Training weekends. Enter your email below to get early access and priority booking.

Have More Questions About The Survival Retreat?

Have a question? Speak with me directly about the upcoming Wilderness Survival Training weekend scheduled to begin on December 19, 2025!

Ariel Remen

Retreat Coordinator & Property Manager

Common Questions About The Wilderness Survival Training Retreat

Do I need prior survival training?

No experience is needed to join the Wilderness Survival Training Retreat. This training is geared towards beginners and anyone looking to learn the essentials of survival.

Will this be a hands on training?

Absolutely! The key to survival is having the confidence to handle any situation on your own. That means, you have to practice. Marlon will demonstrate various skills and then give you the opportunity to put them into practice with his expert guidance.

What should I bring with me?

A full packing list will be provided after registration, but here are the most important items to think about:

Survival materials and tools will be provided
Comfortable clothing, a hat, gloves, and hiking shoes
Warm layers for evenings, lighter wear for daytime
Sunscreen, bug spray, and a bathing suit for the jacuzzi
Small overnight bag for two nights
Optional: fishing rod for nearby fishing opportunities

Can I come with a companion who doesn’t join the activity?

Yes, companions are welcome to stay and enjoy the amenities. When you reserve your room, simply add an additional guest as a “non-participant”.

I live nearby, can I attend just the training?

Yes, locals can join as day participants without overnight accommodations. You can purchase your ticket, but decline to reserve sleeping accommodations.

What is the cancellation policy?

Within the first 7 days of booking, you can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund. After that, you can cancel up until 48 hours before the start of the Wilderness Survival Training and receive a credit towards future retreats. Within 48 hours of booking, due to limited space there is a strict no refund policy.

What happens if there is bad weather?

Since this is a wilderness survival training, we offer it 12 months a year, rain, snow, or shine. In the event there is extreme weather that makes it too dangerous to hold the training, you will receive a credit to enroll in a future training.

Do we have to sleep outside?

No. We have a guest house on the property for you to stay in. You can select either a single bed in a shared room, or book a private room when you purchase your retreat activity.

What are the sleeping accommodations like?

We have several rooms in the guest house for you to choose from. You can either reserve a bed in a shared room, or book one of the private rooms we have available.

How do you handle meals?

Meals will be prepared by local restaurants in the area. You’ll have several options to choose from for each meal. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions we will make sure to accommodate you. Please add a note at checkout when you reserve your spot.