NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventures

Ready to go beyond the basics? Join our 4-Day Wilderness Land Navigation Immersion and gain the real-world skills to tackle remote terrain, plan ambitious expeditions, and lead your own wild adventures.

Ready to go further—confidently, independently, and without limits?
This isn’t just another navigation class. It’s your gateway to the wildest, most rewarding adventures you’ve ever imagined. Over four intensive days, you’ll hone the essential skills that separate true backcountry leaders from the rest of the pack. After this course, you’ll be equipped to tackle remote terrain, plan ambitious expeditions, and say “yes” to trips others only dream about.

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

• Hands-On Mastery: Train in real wilderness conditions—no simulations, no shortcuts. You’ll apply every skill as you learn it, solidifying your knowledge for real-world use.
• Progressive Skill Building: Whether you’re new to navigation or looking to sharpen advanced techniques, you’ll progress from fundamentals to advanced strategies.
• Adventure-Ready Confidence: Leave with the competence to plan, execute, and lead your own off-trail adventures—anywhere, any season.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Navigation Skills that Open Up the World

• Interpreting topographical maps and understanding land features
• Using compasses, protractors, and UTM grids with precision
• Route planning, point plotting, and pace counting for any environment
• Navigating challenging terrain and correcting for obstacles
• Nighttime navigation—push your limits after dark
• Lost procedures and terrain association for true self-reliance
• Team navigation and communication for group expeditions

Immersive Experience

• Night Navigation Challenge: Test your skills off-trail under the stars.
• Team & Solo Drills: Build confidence for both independent and group travel.
• On-Site Camping: Immerse yourself fully in the learning environment and connect with like-minded adventurers.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Instruction from our expedition leaders
• Heated indoor classroom space for theory and gear prep
• Water, coffee, and group gear
• NOW Outdoors field notebook
• Maps, protractors, and compasses for use during the course
• All course materials
• Premium adjustable compass for use (purchase option: $80)

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Personal camping gear
• Campsites available at Mauthe Lake
• Meals and snacks
• WI State Park sticker or daily parking pass

Full gear list and directions will be provided after registration.

PRICE: $475 (registration deadline: October 22, 2025)

• This is a small group course and space is extremely limited. Reserve your spot today.

Join us in Waupaca for our Annual Winter Workshop Dec. 5th-7th for a variety of presentations and hands-on skill-building opportunities. Check-in time is 8-10 am Friday, Dec. 5th followed by camp set-up. Presentations start at 11 am and will take place entirely outside.

This event is located on 40 private acres at our NOW Outdoors basecamp in Waupaca, WI just west of Hartman Creek State Park. Upon arrival, you will check in at the parking lot and then hike down to the campsite roughly 5-minutes from your car on a clear, wide path. If there is deep snow, you may need a sled and snowshoes to haul your gear to camp. If you do not have a sled, we have several sleds available to use for free. Some people have found a wagon to be helpful as well. We can help you find a place to set up your tent or hammock. We have an incredible crew of expert presenters from the region joining us for a wide variety of topics.

This year's topics include:

• Winter clothing and equipment for an expedition at 40 below
• Building a winter fire: The ability to build fire under extreme cold or wet conditions is an important and potentially life-saving skill.
• Winter camping on a budget: Tips and tricks to save money and find deals for all of your winter gear needs.
• Axe and saw use: Learn proper technique and safe ways to process firewood in this hands-on skills workshop.
• Cold weather first aid: Learn to identify and manage cold weather emergencies such as frostbite and hypothermia in this hands-on presentation.
• Shelters and sleep systems including winter hammocks
• Knife safety and use: Bring a fixed blade (Mora) style knife and hone your skills. (we will have some knives available if needed)
• Women's-specific camping topics
• Build a signal fire
• Useful knots for the backcountry

This year, meals are provided. You can certainly opt to bring your own food if you prefer. Meals consist of home smoked BBQ pork, chili, pasta dishes, burgers, breakfast scrambles, and Dutch oven desserts at night.
Coffee and hot water for cocoa, cider, tea, etc. will be available at no charge throughout the day.

AS ALWAYS >>> A gear list and directions will be available via the group forum on our website for this event. You will have access to this "Group" page upon registration. We have zoom calls and recordings posted here along with other resources and important updates.

Event Registration Price: 3-Days $300

• Registration closes Monday, Dec. 2nd.
• Meals are included with the registration price

> Ask about our discount for scouts and other youth groups.
> Spaces are limited and are filled in the order payments are received.
An RSVP on Meetup without payment will not hold your spot. The event may fill before the payment deadline.
> Refunds are available within 7 days of ticket purchase but not after the registration deadline. Refunds beyond 7 days of ticket purchase will be in the form of a full credit valid for 1 year that can be used for NOW Outdoors trips and events.

The best winter hammock camping event in the country! Your family might think you're nuts but we know better. Come hang out and kick off the new year right. This event is always FREE and always fun.

The Wisconsin Frozen Butt Hang is a short "pulk or toboggan towing" trip in deep snow country. We like to get out there and really put ourselves and our gear to the test! We've been lucky enough to have some of the coldest temperatures the Midwest has to offer and routinely have the coldest of all winter hang events.

Where? This year we will be back in Pearson, WI near Jack Lake and hiking in on the Ice Age Trail. NOWOutdoors will arrange to have a parking area plowed for us by Jack Lake.

The Route: We will hike in 1.5 miles on the Ice Age Trail (IAT) in Langlade County near Jack Lake. The parking lot on County J Road, Pearson, WI will be plowed for us and from there we can head south on the IAT past the western side of Jack Lake towards Game Lake. The park is closed to the public so we have the entire area to ourselves. There are picnic tables (might be buried under the snow) and a grill grate we can use. There is also an outhouse at camp. Be sure to bring snowshoes or skis.

This event has always been a celebration of the coldest weather we can hope for. That said, there are lots of opportunities for beginners to dial in their gear before the hang such as our Winter Workshop event in December. You can contact us at info@nowoutdoors.org for more info on this, or other beginner friendly trips here in WI.

This event is not recommended for beginners with little to no experience camping in the cold. Please also leave your fur babies at home for this event.

Build Skills. Gain Confidence. Prepare for Adventure.
Step into the world of winter camping with NOW Outdoors own international cold weather guide Nick Gordon. This premium 4-day, 3-night experience is designed for those ready to move beyond the basics, build practical winter skills, and gain the confidence to take on bigger cold-weather adventures—whether with us in the future or on your own.

## What Makes This Trip Different?

This isn’t about pushing yourself to the edge—it’s about learning the skills that make winter camping safe, comfortable, and deeply rewarding. We help you prepare for this trip well in advance via zoom calls and online resources you'll have access to through a private group forum. Our trip starts with an orientation and gear check before loading up toboggans and heading out together on snowshoes across fresh powder to our lakeside basecamp. Here, we'll set up our own canvas wall tents, gather water from beneath the ice, and settle in for a weekend of hands-on learning and camaraderie.

Each day brings new opportunities: from mastering the art of wood stove cooking and fire-building, to exploring the frozen landscape on snowshoes and practicing the essentials of winter survival. With expert guidance always close at hand, you’ll get to ask questions, try new techniques, and build confidence at your own pace. Evenings are spent sharing stories and great food around the warmth of the stove or open fire—connecting with fellow adventurers and soaking up the simple magic of winter in the backcountry.
By the end of your stay, you’ll leave not just with new skills, but with the confidence—and the community—to take on bigger adventures, whether that’s a multi-day expedition with NOW Outdoors or your own solo winter trek.

## Skills You’ll Practice:

• Hot tent setup and safe wood stove operation
• Snowshoe travel and packing sleds/toboggans
• Ice safety and water collection
• Axe, saw, and winter fire skills
• Cooking and baking on a wood stove
• Building snow shelters and managing winter emergencies
• Layering, temperature regulation, and winter nutrition

## Who’s It For?

• Outdoor enthusiasts ready to move beyond the basics and gain real winter camping experience
• Adventurers looking to build practical skills and confidence before tackling longer or more remote expeditions
• Those who value expert guidance, premium gear, and a supportive, small-group environment
• Graduates of our Winter Camping Workshop seeking the perfect next step to apply and deepen their new skills
• Anyone aiming to launch into bigger winter adventures—future multi-day treks, solo trips, or advanced NOW Outdoors expeditions

Full gear list and directions will be provided after registration along with a zoom call trip prep session.

## What’s included

• All permits
• Premium Canvas Hot Tents
  4 Days, 3 Nights, with stoves
• Purified water, coffee/tea/cocoa
• Access to rental gear
  -40F sleeping bags, snowshoes, boots, etc.

## What’s not included

• Clothing
• Personal Items
• Gratuities

PRICE: $600 (registration deadline: January 5th, 2026)

• This is a small group trip and space is extremely limited. Reserve your spot today.