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 our there. I don’t always find myself but I always get q 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 cub scouts. It was a memorable experience for boys and adults alike!”
Cub 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