Testimonials

“It is hard to describe the desert experience. It is life stripped of everything unessential. It is the body left vulnerable to the  awesome elements of nature and the spirit left naked in search of the elusive essence of life. It is the facing of all your fears and a grasping for the hand of God. Take a good guide. That is most essential. The best guide will not only be skilled in desert survival he will also patiently teach those skills. He will also subtly direct your spiritual quest. He will do both with careful insight and great respect for individuality. Winfield is such a guide.”
RenLai

“I went to the desert when I was 9. The funnest things were swimming in pot holes and making pouches and doing flint and steel fire. The hardest part was doing a solo for an hour because it is hard for me to be alone. I liked the way Winfield taught me about pride and how to have a good attitude. When I think about the desert it makes me feel good and want to go back.”
Chase

“My survival expedition to the desert this summer was a fulfilling and rewarding experience. I thought it would be a lark with a lot of time to relax – a fun break from home and routine. It was not a lark! We had very little time to relax. We worked very hard and learned a lot. My love of the outdoors has been enhanced by the growth of my self-confidence in understanding Mother Earth and the abilities that I acquired in dealing with her on her terms. I appreciated our leader Winfield for his ability in capturing my interest and motivating me to want to learn more and do more. One of the things that meant the most to me was our leaders positive attitude and his constant encouragement and help. He knew we could do things well before we did or thought we could, and required that of us. He knew exactly when to withdraw his help, but never his support. I was impressed with how fun hard work could be. I enjoyed him as a person and admired his skills and knowledge. I was amazed that he taught me to enjoy sleeping in the dirt. Would I do it again? Absolutely if Winfield were my leader.”
Nan

“I enjoyed my experience in the desert a lot. I learned skills that will help me survive in the harshest of situations, such as bow-drill fire and  flint and steel fire. On my solo I really had a great opportunity to look inside myself. I would highly recommend taking this survival course.”
David

“When I went on my desert survival trip with Winfield Ivers I was skeptical at first. Looking back I wonder why. We not only learned survival skills but we had to practice them in real life situations too. We worked on our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well being. I enjoyed it very much and I’ve never felt so good about myself any other time. Winfield is definitely someone to look up to.”
Jon

“Survival is what most people sometimes refer to as a way of “finding yourself”. You don’t necessarily find your self but you are granted the gift of peace and solitude that you can only find in the desert or on survival. I have been on survival trips a few times and I treasure these times as they are filled with feelings that you only feel out there. I don’t always find myself but I always get a stronger feeling or urge to continue and pursue this type of lifestyle. It is an opportunity experienced by few but treasured by all.”
Wade

“The desert experience was wonderful, I would go back each year. I was able to grow more appreciative of God, nature, myself and the others in my group, also of my family at home. We were able to walk all day down the middle of a stream, hike to the top of the mountain and over the other side, sleep in a cave, learn to make fires with flint and steel, sit through a rainstorm and watch waterfalls, cascading through every crack in the mountain, and hike for hours with a 40 pound pack on our back (and enjoy it). I learned that I had many more strengths and talents than I had realized, both mental and physical. I learned that if I stick to something, I can do it; whether it be hiking up a sandy mountain, trying to strike a spark with flint and steel, or completing the 4 day fast and solo. Winfield Ivers was a wonderful leader. He has so much respect for nature, for every little part in it, from the hawks in the sky, to the erosi0on of the ground.  He taught me how how I could make use of the things around us with out being destructive. I was even able to learn from him a respect for little creatures in their environment, in order that we could co-exist. I know that I came a better person. I came home with a better perspective of the world around me and how great and wonderful it is.”
Judy

“The three week survival trip with Winfield Ivers was not approached with anticipation. It came at a difficult time but I knew that I was supposed to go through not knowing why. As the trip progressed I was impressed with the skills of survival and principles of conduct that were taught and exemplified by Winfield as our guide and teacher. I never really felt the impact until after returning home. In the past months I have found myself applying those principles in a manner more spiritual, symbolical and literal than I could ever have imagined. How much better to be able to survive in our everyday world with skills and principles that give such increased confidence and quality.”
Beth

“The survival experience that I had in the desert, was one of the more outstanding things taught I have done for myself. When I was in the desert it gave me a tremendous feeling for the greatness of our lord and savior. My self-confidence is much greater now. I’m sure that in the case of a disaster or for any other reason, I would know how to take care of myself, and others if need be. In the three weeks that we were on our survival hike, we were taught how and where to find water, food and shelter. We were taught where and how to find wood for fires and how to make a bow and drill fire so that we could make a fire with out matches or fuel. We were taught how to whittle out a shovel for digging and a spoon to eat with. We also made things with leather, such as a sheath for our knife and a pouch  to carry things in, such as herbs for healing, or flint for making fires. Winfield Ivers, our leader and friend introduced us to many wonderful places. We camped in caves near sparkling waterfalls, on top of majestic mountains overlooking the vastness and the magnificent beauty of the desert. The hike that I remember the most was an all day hike down a cool tranquil stream that seem to go on forever. The grand conclusion was an opportunity to do a 4 day solo. Winfield selected an area for each one of us, separate from the others to camp alone. During this time we enjoyed the solitude and the peacefulness of the desert. I highly recommend Winfield Ivers for his knowledge. For the planning and preparation he put into our journey and for the good nature in which he carried this off.”
Joy

“Thanks so much for sharing your love of nature and knowledge with our scouts. It was a memorable experience for boys and adults alike!”
Scout Pack #3884

“I attended a class taught by Mr. Winfield Ivers during the early Spring of 1992 on the subject of Outdoor Survival Skills. I found Mr. Ivers to be a competent outdoors man with excellent communication and instructional skills. I learned several skills that I regard to be useful in any camping or other outdoor situation and some that could be potentially life saving.”
Richard

“I have done a number of workshops with Winfield and I would have to say his teaching methods are so effective because he really knows his stuff, he is learning new stuff all the time, he really cares, he really wants me to learn, he really wants everyone to learn more. I couldn’t ask for a better teacher!”
Brett

“A lot of people say that our nature can’t be changed. Nature changed mine. It was beautiful”
Jake

“It was an awesome experience. I learned alot of tools that I can apply to my life. I also made my first bow and drill fire on my trip which was a huge accomplishment for me, especially after trying the summer before without knowing much about bow and drill fire making. Very thankful!!”
Travis

“I want to say something about my wilderness retreat with Winfield Ivers…. Words can only convey so much when it comes to matters of the heart & soul, but I will say this; my life’s purpose has been more defined, better understood & more meaningful since my wilderness survival experience with Winfield. I owe it directly to his expertise & wisdom, his defining role as a wilderness guide & as a man with great insight to have drawn out of me what was already there, but which I was not attentive enough or clear headed enough to capture on my own…. this life changing path he was able to help me discover. After all these years, I owe him a debt of gratitude for his skills in so many areas, even beyond his incredible wilderness training.”
Ric

“Through experience, Winfield has become one of the greatest teachers I know. Not through instruction, but by showing me an excellent example.”
Aaron

“Winfield Ivers survival course was full of extremely useful hands-on information. The skills we learned would make anyone more self sufficient in any emergency or just in every day life.”
Vivian

“I have been practicing naturopathy for forty years this coming March. I have been a former student of Dr. John Ray Christopher in the mid-70′s and have recently purchased all of the previous newsletters offered by ‘The Herb Shop’, Springville, Utah. I have received vol.1 No.1, intro, newsletter. I immediately read, and reread, Winfield Ivers, Survival Skills. I would like permission to reprint his article just as I have enclosed it as part of my data-pac of papers for each patient. I do intend to give full credit to the author, Winfield Ivers. It is such an excellent piece that I can’t help but want to use it for all of my patients. Thank you for your consideration. Yours Sincerely,
Jack M. Larner N.D.

“I would like to thank Mr. Ivers for coming and playing the Native American flute for the first grade. Your music was beautiful and it added a lot to our Native American week.”
Mrs. Killian’s Class

“Being in business for myself, it has been easy to get wrapped up in the stress of a dog eat dog industry and lose sight of the important things in life. This survival journey reawoke my senses of the good in life and helped me to put more effort in taking care of myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I would recommend it for all business executives who need to keep their fires alive.”
Dallas

“I regard the outdoor survival course that I took from Winfield Ivers as one of the high points in the last many years. I found his knowledge of the subject matter comprehensive and intriguing. He was able to present things in a way which was enjoyable and educational, without any pretense of superiority. I found this refreshing in an age when it is so easy to display an “i am better than you” attitude. I have used the things taught to me in many ways to improve my understanding of the world around me, and I feel infinitely more at ease with the thoughts of having to take care of myself in a survival situation. I can truly recommend Winfield as one of that rare breed of people who bring out the best in others, instilling in them confidence born of both practice and knowledge. I would recommend any course which he were to teach on the outdoors to anyone.”
Stuart

“As concerned parents of a young teen, we began looking nation wide for a program that would allow parents to experience the program with their child. We did not want her to experience it alone at such a young age. After much searching without the desired results, we were referred to Winfield Ivers. After discussing the possibilities with him about offering an opportunity to experience the program with our daughter, we made the decision to involve our entire family which included five children ranging in years of age from 13 to 21. The wilderness survival trip was customized to our needs, our schedule, and our desired outcome for participating as a family in such an unlikely “vacation”. Winfield not only taught each family member specific survival skills such as constructing emergency shelter, fire building with nothing but what is available around you, creating emergency backpacks, but he also taught us interpersonal relationship skills (i.e. communication, cooperation, and listening.) When the experience was over, we were able to work together more closely to accomplish our goals. Simplicity can be very satisfying, and the appreciation for things that we daily take for granted was instilled within each of us. We learned how to adapt, improvise, and overcome in whatever situation we might find ourselves in”.
The Newton Family

“My experience with ZWSS/Winfield Ivers was amazing! In my Reality, “surviving” has always interpreted at a physical level of having food, water, shelter, and fire; but as I came to experience “survival” with Winfield on my weekend Retreat, he took “survival” to a whole new level for me. He Bridged this dimension/reality to the new dimension/reality that I am desiring to create from heart center for myself. He taught me that the spiritual “survival” skills that I implement at a Soul level, reflects at the physical level of living in harmony with Mother and All of my Relations. As I prepare to “survive” this Ascension at all levels, I am Grateful and Appreciative of the gentle Wisdom and Skills that Winfield offered, in creating confidence in myself that as I travel this Journey, the assurance is there, that I can Win my Earth!”
Sherry

“Winfield Ivers is the greatest man I know. His knowledge and skills enable him to possess the most powerful and life changing program. The way that he incorporates survival skills with life skills is so powerful and yet simple to live by. It makes so much sense and when you hear it you feel its truth. With this program people can master their behavior and completely change their lives. Most people don’t even know that they have the power to choose how they think, speak, feel and act. If people only knew that, and were willing to take that accountability, what a beautiful life they could live. We cannot change the world or any of the people around us, but with this program we can transform ourselves and create our own destiny no matter what. That trip was the most valuable experience for me. I have a new attitude and a new outlook on life, and once in a while when I allow something to start shifting my behavior toward negative, I remind myself what I learned and that I am in control of me. I will allow no one to have control of my behaviors. I want to feel good and be happy so I will. I choose that. With Winfield’s teachings I know that it is possible no matter what. I know for certain that I can live in a healthy way day to day and even in the event of a crisis, whether it be my normal daily life or a worldly disaster. I am prepared and equipped with all the tools and skills that I need. I trust my life to Winfield Ivers and I believe in Zion Wilderness Survival Schools program. I am forever grateful.”
Lexi

“Let me start by saying that I have been waiting years and years to go on one of these wilderness survival trips. I finally had the chance and it definitely was not what I expected. This trip was amazing and I had so many different nature experiences. I learned to start fires and build shelter and know what needs to happen to survive. There were a lot of spiritual experiences that occurred, like having my Uncle who has passed away a few years ago being there with me to let me know that I was being watched over. I knew that God was watching over me and would keep me safe even though this was a risky trial for me. I knew if I just did what I was taught I would be safe.”                                                                                                                Jacia