Heart-J Center · Questions
Frequently asked questions
Answers reflect current plans and will update as founding faculty and the first calendar are confirmed.
Timing and access
- When will the Institute open?
- The Fieldcraft Institute is planned to begin offering courses in 2027. Founding curriculum and faculty are being developed now, with potential pilot experiences during the winter of 2026 to 2027.
- When will the first 2027 schedule be announced?
- The first calendar will be released as founding faculty and course details are confirmed. Interest list members will hear first.
- Where are courses held?
- Courses will be held on Heart-J Center and Sylvan Dale Legacy lands in the foothills west of Loveland, Colorado, including the emerging Cow Camp field campus.
- Can I visit Cow Camp?
- Cow Camp is not open for unscheduled public visitation. Access is limited to registered programs, approved volunteers, partners and invited guests.
Participation
- Do I need previous survival experience?
- No. Foundations courses are designed as accessible entry points. Advanced practicums will require prior training or instructor approval.
- Is Backcountry Foundations required?
- It is planned as the recommended foundation for more advanced offerings, and it is expected to be a requirement for some of them. Final prerequisites have not been set.
- Are courses physically demanding?
- Most experiences involve walking on uneven terrain, working outdoors in variable weather and hands-on practice. Each course listing will state its physical intensity once confirmed.
- What ages can participate?
- Age parameters have not been finalized. Most experiences are expected to serve adults and older teens, with specific family and parent-teen experiences planned separately. Not every course will be appropriate for every age or experience level.
- Will parent-and-teen courses be available?
- Parent and teen experiences are part of the planned curriculum. Timing has not been confirmed.
- Can experienced practitioners skip foundational courses?
- We expect to allow demonstrated equivalent experience for some advanced courses, subject to instructor review. That process has not been finalized.
- Will there be women-specific experiences?
- Women's Backcountry Foundations is part of the future curriculum. Scheduling has not been decided. Indicating interest on the interest list helps us prioritize it.
- Will private-group courses be available?
- Private and partner-group experiences are being considered. Please use the interest list or contact Heart-J Center to start a conversation.
- Can I bring a dog?
- Dogs are generally not appropriate on courses involving wildlife tracking, livestock or conserved habitat. A final policy will be published with the first calendar.
- Will courses be available online?
- The Institute is built around field practice. A limited number of evening or seminar-style learning experiences may be offered online, but skills courses will be taught in person.
Logistics and cost
- Are meals or lodging included?
- This has not been decided and will vary by course. Each course listing will state meal and lodging arrangements once confirmed.
- What equipment will I need?
- A specific equipment list will be published with each course. We intend to keep required gear practical and reasonable, and to make loaner equipment available where we can.
- Are scholarships available?
- Heart-J Center intends to offer participant scholarships, including support for veterans and first responders. Scholarship structure and funding have not been finalized.
Standards and safety
- Is the certificate professionally accredited?
- No. The planned Certificate in Fieldcraft and Stewardship would be an Institute certificate of completion recognizing participation and demonstrated practice. It is not a professional license, academic degree or government credential.
- What safety and risk-management practices will be used?
- Courses will be taught by qualified instructors with defined safety boundaries, appropriate participant ratios, emergency planning and medical coverage suited to the setting. Specific standards are being written now.
- What happens during severe weather or wildfire restrictions?
- Experiences may be modified, relocated or rescheduled to respect weather, fire restrictions and land-manager direction. A published weather and cancellation policy will accompany the first calendar.
- How will Indigenous or traditional knowledge be handled?
- The Institute is committed to teaching accurately, respectfully and within the demonstrated knowledge of each instructor. We will not make unsupported claims of Indigenous authority, lineage or ceremonial knowledge. When curriculum draws from a particular living cultural tradition, we will seek appropriate expertise, attribution and relationships.
- Will courses include hunting? Will firearms be used?
- Some future experiences may explore wildlife, fieldcraft or hunting-related knowledge, but no hunting or firearms component will be advertised or offered unless a specific course has been formally approved and all legal, safety, insurance and instructor requirements have been addressed.
- Are courses appropriate for veterans and first responders?
- Yes. Heart-J Center has long-standing veteran and first-responder partnerships, and a veterans-focused intensive is part of the planned founding calendar.
Getting involved
- How can I teach with the Institute?
- We are inviting a small group of experienced practitioners into a founding faculty conversation. Start on the Teach With the Institute page.
- How can I support the Institute?
- The Institute is a Heart-J Center initiative and can be supported philanthropically through Heart-J Center's existing giving structure, including curriculum development, instructor residencies, scholarships and Cow Camp field-campus development.
Still have a question?
Ask us as the Institute takes shape
Join the interest list and include your question in the comments field. We read every one, and they shape how this curriculum is built.