Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS)

Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS) offers Field Expedition courses, Hunter Gatherer, Primitive Skills, Wilderness Navigator, a 14-Day Women’s Field Expedition, and a 50+ Focused Field Expedition. Field Expedition uses essentials like a blanket, poncho, and a knife, with no tents, sleeping bags, stoves, backpacks, lights, watches, GPS, cellphones, or toilet paper. Hunter Gatherer includes stone-age tools crafted by students.

Programs

• Field Expedition — Participants must be 18 years or older. · $2,620 · Course lengths shown: 7, 14, or 28 days. 14-Day Women's Field Expedition is described as an all-women version.
• Hunter Gatherer — Students must be at least 18 years old. · $4,380 · Course length: 14 days.
• Primitive Skills — Course length: 7 or 14 days.
• Wilderness Navigator — $4,380 · Course length: 14 days.
• 14-Day Women's Field Expedition — Participants must be 18 years or older. · $4,280 · An all-women version of the 14-day Field Expedition.
• 50+ Focused Field Expedition — A peer-group 14-day expedition with adjusted pacing and recovery.

At a glance

• Ages: 18 years old
• Price range: $2,620–$4,380
• Current session: 7-Day Field Expedition (May 30–Jun 5, 2027); 28-Day Field Expedition (May 30–Jun 26, 2027); 14-Day Field Expedition (Jun 6–Jun 19, 2027); Wilderness Navigator (Jun 13–Jun 26, 2027); 14-Day Women's Field Expedition (Jun 27–Jul 10, 2027); 7-Day Primitive Skills (Jul 4–Jul 10, 2027); 14-Day Field Expedition (Aug 1–Aug 14, 2027); 28-Day Field Expedition (Aug 29–Sep 25, 2027)
• General schedule: All courses start at noon on Sundays and end at noon on Saturdays.

About the provider

BOSS was founded in 1968, and Doug Nelson officially established the Boulder Outdoor Survival School in 1977. In 2018, BOSS transitioned to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. BOSS states that its philosophy is rooted in the belief that the wilderness is a powerful teacher, and that survival is a means to uncovering one's true potential, developing resilience, and reconnecting with a more natural way of being. It is described as "the world’s premier wilderness survival school."

BOSS states it is not a youth therapy program. It is not a military survival program, a guide service, or risk-free. Students must be adults for listed programs.

Last updated October 13, 2026.