10-day hunter-gatherer course

with Matt Graham

May 29 – June 7, 2025

Located in Southern Utah’s Wilderness

About This Event

This is an opportunity to learn and apply the survival skills of our early ancestors. This course celebrates a remembrance of how to live with nature directly, and have a softer footprint on this planet.

This experience is led by Matt Graham, who would regularly live this way for 40 days at a time. He has also experienced a 6-month wilderness solo in this Region.

Matt revamped and ran all of Boulder Outdoor Survival School’s Hunter Gatherer programs for 8 years, and then continued to share the format with others after.

This is the first time he’s run this life-changing course since traveling the world while doing film education.

Course is limited to 10 participants for a closer hands-on approach. I am looking forward to seeing those that are interested and dedicated to sharing this experience together.

The retreat starts at 12pm May 29th and ends at 12pm June 7th.

Location is near Boulder, Utah. (more details will be provided near course date.

You must disclose any and all health issues prior to the retreat and sign a liability waiver.

Buy Tickets Now

Course Layout

Phase 1 – Basecamp

The first three days are held at a beautiful base camp within the Grand Staircase National Monument.

Here you will construct a fire kit, stone tools, primitive traps, a cooking vessel, an optional hunting tool, and grind Pinole (corn, seeds, ash, and salt). Pinole is a backup ration set at approximately one pound per person and is the only food provided for the next phase.

During the initial Base Camp phase, healthy breakfasts and dinners will be provided. You may bring your own snacks, nuts, or fruit for these 3 days only. 

Phase 2 – Walkabout

For the next 7 days, we will walk together as a Stone Age Tribe, hunting and gathering food using techniques that are thousands of years refined.

We live with the land. The only backup rations are the one pound of Pinole per person.

During this phase, there may be a one-night solo. This phase can be very challenging at times, and other moments you may feel the deepest sense of peace and purpose you have ever experienced. 

End phase

This can vary from course to course depending on weather, logistics, and routes. We could have a final walkout, sweat lodge, and a celebration meal.

What You Can Learn

-hand drill friction fire
-fire plow (option)
-traveling as a tribe
-shelter and sasquatch nest building
-various methods to cook on a fire (may include):
     -hot rock boiling
     -cooking on coals
     -cooking on sticks
      -primitive steam pit
-fishing with Hands, Atlatl or spear
-Primitive Trapping
-various cordage-making techniques
-making and using stone tools
-gourd bowl construction and use
-some primitive hunting techniques (please note that although we trap and hunt on this course, we only focus on smaller game and fish within the parameters of our permits.
Any larger game techniques are taught separately as a theory during the base camp phase.

Gear you will need to attend

(Note, our gear list is very minimal compared to other outdoor programs, however, these are the few items and clothing we found to keep everyone within a heathy safety margin.
-approximate 60 inch x 60 inch cotton or linen cloth
-approximate 4 foot x 4 foot very thin cotton cloth
-one bandana
-light wool or blend poncho (no down or insulated materials)
-silk or cotton sleeping bag liner
-long sleeve sun shirt
-wide brim hat
-one pair of quick dry shorts
-well broken-in Sandals
-personal and basic medkit containing moleskin (no scissors are allowed. Tweezers are okay).

Optional items

-pair of wool socks
-pair of light linen pants or a second pair of shorts (one of these can be helpful after hand fishing to change into if weather is cooler)
-sunscreen
-beanie hat
-Bushcraft style knife about 3 to 4 inch blade (for phase one only)
Please note that phones and journals are allowed for phase 1 , although are not allowed for phase 2

Buy Tickets Now

Buy a ticket now for the discounted price of $1950

Regular price is $2350

FAQ

How many miles will we be hiking daily?

Typically hiking between camps is about 10 miles, then we stay at one camp 2-3 days.

Will you have a satellite phone for emergencies?

Matt carries an InReach for emergencies.

Where is the location of the course?

Boulder will be the location, though we will send a more specific meeting place a couple of weeks prior to the course date.

Any experience necessary?

Experience is helpful but not necessary.

Please reach out with any other questions you might have to mattgrahammanagement@gmail.com