Register now

Wilderness Survival and Living with the Earth

Return to the Earth. Remember who you are.

"Survival is the Doorway to the Earth"

A teaching from Tom Brown Jr., world-renowned naturalist, survival expert, and Elder - 1950-2024

These words were spoken by my mentor, Tom Brown Jr.—a man who dedicated his life to preserving the ancient skills and earth-based wisdom passed down to him by Stalking Wolf, a Lipan Apache elder.

For over 30 years, I walked this path under Tom’s guidance, learning in the forests and mountains of the U.S., through seasons of snow, fire, hunger, stillness, and awe. The teachings I received weren’t just about surviving in the wild. They were about remembering our place within it.

At Earth Living Mastery, we carry forward this lineage—not as an imitation, but as a living, breathing continuation of a sacred way of life. The survival we teach is not about conquering nature. It’s about re-entering relationship with the Earth, with humility, skill, and reverence.

And now, it’s your turn.

If you're feeling the weight of disconnection...
If you're longing for something real, something ancient, something that makes sense...
If a part of you knows that life is meant to be more than routines, stress, and screens...

Then this path is open to you.

The doorway is survival.
But the destination is belonging.
And we are here to walk beside you as you remember the way home.

Wilderness Survival

Learn the ancient skills that kept our ancestors alive and thriving—shelter-building, fire by friction, wild foods, water sourcing, and tracking. But this is more than technique. It’s about coming into deep relationship with the land, learning to live with nature, not against it.

Philosophy

Survival is not just a physical act—it’s a way of seeing the world. Rooted in the teachings of Tom Brown Jr. and the wisdom of Stalking Wolf, our approach invites you to question modern disconnection and return to a life of simplicity, awareness, and deep belonging.

Earth Stewardship

This path is not just for you—it’s for future generations. At the heart of our teaching is the role of the Earth Keeper: one who protects, nurtures, and walks in balance with all living things. You’ll leave with not only skills, but a responsibility to serve the Earth with humility and care.

Spirituality

Our ancestors were healers, visionaries, and keepers of practical spiritual wisdom. Their connection to the unseen helped them thrive where modern people would struggle. In this course, you’ll explore simple yet powerful earth-based practices—ceremony, silence, and intuitive knowing—that awaken healing, clarity, and deep spiritual belonging.

Register now

How and what You’ll Learn

This is not a course you attend. It’s a world you step into.

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in long, full days shaped by nature’s rhythm. You’ll rise with the sun and learn by doing—building shelter, making fire, tracking animals, listening to the stories of the land. Each moment is alive with direct, hands-on experience that reaches far beyond technique.

But the true power of this journey lies in how it’s taught.

Over the past 30 years, we have studied and refined the art of Coyote Teaching—an ancestral method passed down through our lineage and perfected over generations. It’s a subtle, powerful way of guiding that speaks to every layer of your being—physical, mental, spiritual, and soulful.

This is not a linear method. It doesn’t just hand you answers. It awakens questions, instincts, and deep knowing from within. Every teaching is chosen with care—nothing is random. What you learn will serve your life, your survival in the wild, and your connection to the Earth. And each lesson is embedded with invisible layers that will continue to unfold long after the course ends.

Through this time-tested approach, we’ve helped thousands of people not only gain skills—but remember who they truly are.

You won’t just leave this course prepared.
You’ll leave transformed.

Register now

Earthshelter

Learn how to build a shelter that keeps you warm and dry at all temperatures

Primitive Fire

Learn how to make fire by friction using a bow drill 

Water of life

Learn how to find and purify water with natural materials

Survival Food

Learn how to find, prepare and store food the primitive way

Trapping

Learn how to build and set primitive traps for all sorts of wild game

Tracking

Learn to find, read and interpret human and animal tracks

Primitive Hunting

Learn basic primitive hunting technics and weapons

Stalking and Movement

Learn how to move silently and within the baseline of nature

Camouflage

Learn how to camouflage and become a part of your surroundings

Natural Tanning

Learn how to tan animal skin and fur in a natural way

Stone Tools

Learn how to build and use basic stone tools from local stones

Cordage

Learn how to make cordage from different plant and animal fibres

Nature Awareness

Learn how to be more aware of your natural surroundings

Nature Observation

Learn to never miss out on the many details nature is showing to you

Edible Plants

Learn how to find, identify and process wild edible plants

Primitive Tools

Learn how to make common household tools in a primitive way

Stories

Listen to the many stories told by an experienced team

and more ...

Register now

What You’ll Gain

This course is more than a skillset—it’s a return to your natural self. In learning how to survive, you’ll discover how to truly live—present, aware, and in deep connection with all that surrounds you. The transformation doesn’t end when the class is over. It continues to unfold in how you move through the world, how you relate to others, and how you walk the Earth.

You’ll come away with:

  • Confidence – from knowing you can meet your own needs, no matter the situation

  • Clarity – by stripping life back to what truly matters

  • Groundedness – in your body, your instincts, and the rhythms of the Earth

  • Resilience – a strength that comes from real, lived experience—not theory

  • Belonging – to the land, to a lineage of Earth keepers, and to yourself

  • Peace – the deep calm that rises when you remember your place in the web of life

These are not just outcomes. They are the beginning of a different way of being.

Register now
TESTIMONIALS

What others are saying

Christian Prager

The course went very deep. I was able to discover so much about my own self that I hadn’t known before. I always thought I was a boat drifting aimlessly in the ocean. But through the course, I realized that this wasn’t true — that there is, in fact, a greater plan for me as well. I came closer to my medicine, something I hadn’t even known I possessed.

Alongside the mentoring content, which of course was present, a strong community was formed — one that connects — and the connection to oneself and to nature was also deeply strengthened. It’s a course of great importance, and I’m truly grateful that I ended up taking it, despite the strong inner resistance that almost stopped me from going. That would have been a mistake, one not easily corrected, as Jürgen and Franziska weren’t going to be present on site for much longer. So, these opportunities should be seized. :-)

Best regards,
Christian

Judith Riegler

Thank you so much for the shared week and the many, many inputs, experiences, and miracles that were allowed to happen. I have rarely experienced a training as powerful as this one. Holistic learning has a holistic impact — and lasting effects. My life and how I experience it now feels deeper. The many practical tools and guidance are applicable and usable in everyday life — whether in family, community, or professional contexts — and they work regardless. :-)

I recommend this course to anyone who is searching and wants to grow in a holistic way.

 
 
 
Register now

Who This Course is For

This course isn’t for everyone—and that’s intentional. It’s for those who feel the pull of something deeper. If you’ve ever felt the quiet ache for a life closer to the Earth, a life of meaning, clarity, and true connection, then you’re already on the path.

This class is for you if you:

  • Feel a longing to reconnect with the Earth in a real, embodied way

  • Want to build real-world skills and ancient knowledge

  • Are seeking more than techniques—you want meaning, purpose, and depth

  • Sense that life has more to offer than screens, stress, and superficiality

  • Know that something in you is calling you home

If these words stir something in you, you’re exactly where you need to be.

Register now

Meet the Earth Living Mastery Team

At Earth Living Mastery, we are more than a team—we are a community of wilderness survival specialists and dedicated mentors. Each of us has spent years living and learning with the Earth, mastering the ancient skills that once kept our ancestors alive and thriving.

Our passion is to guide you back to a life in harmony with nature. We believe survival is not just about staying alive in the wild—it’s about learning to live in deep respect for the land, understanding its rhythms, and finding your true place within it.

Together, we bring a rich blend of practical wilderness skills, ancestral knowledge, and personal growth practices to every class. We’re here to share what we’ve learned so you can reconnect with the Earth, unlock your potential, and thrive—not just in the wilderness, but in your everyday life.

Let us walk with you on this journey of rediscovery.

JĂĽrgen Gerzabek

Jürgen’s journey on the Wilderness Path began at just 12 years old, driven by a deep longing to reconnect with the Earth. In his early twenties, he met his mentor Tom Brown Jr., whose teachings shaped much of Jürgen’s understanding of nature and survival.

Jürgen spent four years living completely in the wilderness, immersing himself in the ways of the Earth and learning the skills that have sustained humans for thousands of years. For over 30 years, he has been teaching these Earthskills to others—sharing not just techniques for survival, but a way of life rooted in harmony, respect, and deep connection with the land.

Franziska Gerzabek

Franziska has been walking the Wilderness Path for over 25 years. As a dedicated teacher, healer, and mother of three daughters, she weaves the wisdom of nature into every aspect of her life.

Franziska is a trained Survival Mastery guide, deeply initiated in the ways of wilderness living. Her passion is to support others in reconnecting with the Earth and discovering the power, resilience, and beauty that lies within each of us.

Karina Gerzabek

Karina has been immersed in the wilderness way of life from the very beginning—she was born by the fire and raised in the heart of nature. For the past 18 years, she has been part of every class we’ve taught, growing up in an environment of deep Earth connection.

Karina is initiated in the Survival Mastery path and serves as a Survival Mastery Trainer, bringing her unique perspective as someone who has lived these teachings her entire life. She embodies the next generation of earth-connected wisdom, inspiring others to find their place within the natural world.

Theresa Gerzabek

Theresa is a lifelong learner—born in the wild, raised in the wild, and still living in deep connection with the Earth. From a young age, she was immersed in nature-based living, learning directly from the land and through the lineage of survival mastery. Her knowledge doesn’t come from books alone—it’s lived, tested, and embodied. As part of the new generation of Earth-connected leaders, Theresa brings both skill and heart into the field. She teaches from experience, and her presence alone is a reminder of what it means to truly belong to the natural world.

Laura Gerzabek

Laura walks between worlds. Trained in survival mastery and rooted in nature, she also carries a deep curiosity for the wider world. Her passion for travel and her openness to learn from diverse cultures make her a bridge builder—someone who connects the ancient ways with modern life. Whether she’s crafting with her hands, guiding others in nature, or exploring new perspectives, Laura brings insight, creativity, and warmth. She embodies the spirit of discovery and reminds us that true wisdom comes from both listening deeply and living fully.

Johannes Ohmayer

Johannes has dedicated his life to the path of deep nature connection. A survival mastery trained practitioner and long-time student of Tom Brown Jr., he has immersed himself in the ancient teachings for over a decade. His journey has taken him from the forests of Europe to the remote wilderness of New Zealand, where he now lives in the bush—walking the talk every single day. Johannes embodies quiet strength, humility, and deep-rooted wisdom. His teachings come not only from skill but from a lived relationship with the land, spirit, and lineage.

Register now

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Step out of the noise. Step into the wild.
Join the Wilderness Survival Standard Class and discover what it means to live in true harmony with the Earth.

Course Details

📅 Dates: 02.11. - 08.11. 2025
📍 Location: Tuatapere/Southland/New Zealand
💰 Contribution: 3.497,-- 1.970 NZD – includes all instructions, mentoring, all meals, tent space and materials
🛠️ Accommodation: Camping / bring your own tent
🍲 Meals: 3 meals a day

What’s Included:

✔️ Expert instruction from seasoned wilderness survival mentors
✔️ Daily hands-on training in core Earth skills
✔️ Deep connection practices and Earth-based teachings
✔️ A supportive learning community rooted in respect and shared growth
✔️ A transformative experience that will change how you live

Reserve Your Spot Now

Spaces are limited to ensure personal guidance and a strong learning circle.

Register now

or have questions? Contact us at [email protected] or call 027 30 12 10 2

This is your invitation to return to the Earth, to your strength, and to what truly matters.
We’re ready when you are.

FAQ

Register now