Courses

Real confidence. Real skills. Real adventure.

The Lil’ Rangers course at The Foundry is a outdoor experience designed for kids ages 8–9 who are ready to start learning the basics of outdoor safety, simple navigation, and calm thinking when things go off-plan. Under the guidance of a Special Forces veteran and experienced instructors, kids will explore age-appropriate field skills in a supportive, hands-on setting — building their confidence and sense of independence, all while having fun.

What They’ll Discover

Navigation & Outdoor Awareness

• Learn how to hold and point a compass, plus simple ways to tell direction.

• Practice reading easy maps with symbols and landmarks.

• Go on short “mini missions” to find points and build awareness of the environment.

Basic Fire Craft & Safety

• Learn the rules of fire safety — where, when, and how fires are safely built.

• Watch demonstrations of different fire setups like teepee and lean-to fires.

• Get a chance to spark cotton balls with a ferro rod to see how ignition works (with close supervision).

Simple Shelter Skills

• Explore why we build shelters and how to pick a safe spot.

• Help set up small emergency poncho shelters using paracord — building teamwork and problem solving without disturbing the woods.

• Try wrapping themselves up “emergency style” to see how quick shelter works.

What To Do If You’re Lost

• Practice the STOP – THINK – ACT process so kids learn to pause and not panic.

• Learn simple help signals — voice, whistles, and mirror flashes — to get found faster.

• Build calm habits that stick, even if they’re ever separated in a park or backyard.

Basic First Aid Awareness

• Learn what goes in a first aid kit and why.

• Practice gentle wrapping of small “pretend injuries” with bandages on sticks or stuffed animals.

• Understand why staying calm and getting help quickly is the best first step.

Why Parents Trust It

Lil’ Rangers is carefully crafted for younger kids to start building outdoor confidence without being overwhelmed. Every activity is closely guided and designed to keep things fun, supportive, and always safe — focusing on the basics of what to do, how to stay calm, and how to start thinking ahead. It’s an introduction to personal preparedness that feels like an adventure, not a lecture.

Why Kids Love It

Kids in Lil’ Rangers feel like real explorers — learning how a compass works, seeing how fires get started, and building shelters just like on survival shows. They leave with stories, simple new skills, and a patch that proves they didn’t just watch — they did it themselves.

Course Schedule Highlights

• Starts early to stay cool (7 AM summer, 8 AM spring/fall)

• Mix of short, hands-on activities and guided teamwork

• Frequent water breaks and snack times built in

• Ends with a fun recap, parent handoff, and a Lil’ Rangers patch ceremony

Real leadership. Real skills. Real adventure.

The Junior Operators course at The Foundry is a full-day outdoor program designed for kids ages 10–12 who are ready for more than just games in the woods. Under the guidance of a Special Forces veteran and experienced field instructors, participants spend a day learning how to lead under pressure, solve problems as a team, and develop the mindset and practical skills to stay calm and capable in any situation.

What They’ll Tackle

Navigation & Team Movement

• Learn how to read real topographic maps and use a compass to take bearings.

• Understand the five main terrain features — hills, valleys, ridges, saddles, and depressions — and how to move across them.

• Practice pacing and distance estimation.

• Complete a land navigation team challenge.

Fire Craft & Survival Engineering

• Master fire safety, then get hands-on with building teepee, log cabin, and lean-to fire lays.

• Start fires using matches, lighters, and ferro rods — supervised but student-led.

• Compete in a team fire challenge that rewards smart prep and communication.

Shelter Building 

• Learn site selection and essential shelter principles.

• Build emergency A-frames, lean-tos, and wraps using ponchos, paracord, and minimal gear.

• Leadership challange so each student gets experience directing construction and problem solving.

Tactical First Aid & Calm Thinking

• Practice the STOP – THINK – ACT process to manage stress and stay focused.

• Learn bleeding control with direct pressure, plus simple bandaging and splinting.

• Run short, realistic scenarios that require quick, calm decisions.

The Final Leadership Challenge

• Pull everything together in a culminating team mission.

• Navigate, light a fire, set up a shelter, and respond to a mock injury — with students in charge and instructors only coaching from the side.

Why Parents Trust It

This isn’t just about learning outdoor tricks - it’s a structured day that teaches kids how to handle pressure, make smart decisions, and lead with confidence. Under watchful instruction, students learn responsibility and teamwork in real challenges - the kind that build lasting self-reliance and quiet confidence.

Why Kids Love It

Junior Operators is intense in all the right ways. From taking charge of a team’s navigation to being the one who makes sure a fire actually lights, kids get to prove they can handle real skills — and go home with stories most adults can’t match. They’ll earn their Junior Operator patch by finishing strong, knowing they didn’t just play outside — they learned how to lead.

Course Schedule Highlights

• Starts early to beat the heat (7 AM summer, 8 AM spring/fall)

• Continuous leadership rotations — everyone gets to be in charge

• Mix of instruction, hands-on challenges, and high-energy teamwork

• Ends with a leadership mission tying together all day’s skills

• Wrap-up includes personal debrief, parent handoff, and patch ceremony

Where skills get sharper and leadership gets real.

Recon Rangers is designed for teens ready to level up — mastering more advanced outdoor skills, tougher team challenges, and learning how to lead under pressure. This course pushes participants to take ownership of decisions in the field, refine their problem-solving, and start thinking like true small-unit leaders. It’s where technical know-how meets personal grit.

The highest tier of challenge and responsibility at The Foundry.

Senior Operators isn’t just about advanced survival or navigation - it’s about leading others when it counts. Participants step into full mission leadership roles, coordinate complex team objectives, and prove their confidence and calm under stress. It’s where everything they’ve built from earlier levels is tested - forging capable, decisive leaders ready for the next stage of life.

Break from the routine. Build real confidence.

Rogue Operators is The Foundry’s one-of-a-kind outdoor experience for adults — designed for anyone craving more than another day stuck behind a screen. This isn’t a tourist hike or a typical team-building course. It’s a hands-on way to learn practical field skills, challenge yourself, and prove you can handle far more than the everyday.

You’ll spend the day learning to navigate by map and compass, build shelters and fires that actually work, and practice straightforward wilderness first aid — all under the watch of instructors who know these skills inside out. It’s real outdoor problem-solving in real conditions, taught by people who’ve lived it.

Whether you’re a parent wanting to feel more prepared for backcountry trips, or just someone looking for a unique day that’s far from the usual, Rogue Operators is a chance to step off the grid, try something different, and walk away with calm confidence that lasts long after you’re home.