Summer Survival Camp Nashville
Taught by a one-star general, Command Sergeants Major, and Special Operations officers who have dedicated their careers to protecting this nation.
Now they're teaching your children real skills to protect themselves.
The Instructor Cadre
This isn't daycare with pushups. This isn't summer camp arts and crafts.
EMA Summer Survival Camp is led by a hand-selected cadre of Special Operations Command personnel - the same professionals who have trained for the most demanding situations on earth.
Who Will Be Teaching Your Children:
- A One-Star General - Flag-level military leadership
- Command Sergeants Major - The highest enlisted rank in the Army
- High-ranking Special Operations Officers - Combat-tested leadership
- Retired Senior Military Officers - Multi-branch expertise spanning decades of service
These men have worked alongside Executive Martial Arts Founder R. Christopher Garland for years, training together in the Army combatives program. They've supported Mr. Garland's work developing martial arts and survival pedagogy for children - and now they're bringing their expertise directly to your kids.
This is not a franchise operation with hired staff. This is the real thing.
Why This Matters
Kids need to feel seen, heard, and believed.
That's why one of the most powerful tools parents can use is validation. When children feel validated, they feel safe. And a sense of safety is the foundation for emotion regulation, communication, and connection.
But validation alone isn't enough. Children also need real skills - the kind that build genuine confidence because they know they can handle themselves.
What happens if your child gets lost in the woods? Do they know what to carry, how to build shelter, how to start a fire safely, and how to stay calm until help arrives?
Most kids don't. That's what this camp changes.
The EMA Difference
Our approach is safe, structured, and professionally documented:
- Point of Instruction (POI) - Every skill taught with military-grade clarity
- Method of Instruction - Lecture, Demonstration, Application. Students learn it, see it, then do it.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) - Safety protocols for every activity
- Progressive Difficulty - Skills build from simple to advanced across the week
Your child will learn skills that our nation's most elite military operators use - adapted to be developmentally appropriate and taught by the very people who mastered them.
What Your Child Will Learn
The Ten Essentials
Every day begins with the fundamentals. Your child will learn the ten essential items that should be in their pack anytime they step into the field - water, emergency food, rain gear, fire starter, flashlight, whistle, knife, and more. The principle is simple: even a short hike can turn into an overnight situation. A twisted ankle, a wrong turn, separation from the group - your child will be prepared for all of it.
Daily patrol inspections reinforce the habit. Each morning, students check their gear and their buddy's gear before training begins. Accountability starts on day one.
Emergency Shelters
Students learn to build real shelters - starting simple and progressing to advanced techniques.
- Poncho lean-to - The fastest emergency shelter in the field
- Natural material shelters - Built from what the woods provide, no equipment needed
- Survival buddy teams - Two-person teams build, problem-solve, and look out for each other
Every shelter is taught through lecture, demonstration, and hands-on application. Your child won't just hear about it - they'll build it themselves.
Primitive Fire Building
Fire is one of the most critical survival skills. Your child will learn fire safety, site selection, fire ring construction, and the three-layer method: tinder, kindling, fuel.
- Butane lighter - Master the basics of controlled fire building
- Metal match and spark - Strike sparks with a ferro rod when the lighter is gone
- Friction fire demonstration - See how a bow drill or hand drill creates fire from nothing
Skills progress from simple to advanced. Every student masters each level before moving on.
Self-Protection Fundamentals
- How to protect themselves in emergency situations
- Awareness in nature - Reading the environment, staying alert
- Basic first aid (IFAC) - Real medical skills that could save a life
- Navigation basics - Finding your way when technology fails
Leadership and Confidence
- Emotional regulation - Staying calm under pressure
- Team dynamics - How individual effort drives group success
- Goal setting - Breaking challenges into achievable steps
- Self-discipline - The foundation of all achievement
- Communication - Expressing themselves clearly and confidently
The Transformation
Kids arrive uncertain. They leave with:
- Real survival skills they can use anywhere
- Confidence that comes from competence - not participation trophies
- The buddy system habit - always looking out for someone else
- Strong work ethic and self-discipline
- Sense of purpose and belonging
- Certificate of Completion
Who This Is For
We group campers by developmental stage:
- Cubs (Ages 4-6) - Foundation, play-based learning
- Juniors (Ages 7-10) - Skill development, team challenges
- Teens (Ages 11-16) - Leadership, advanced survival skills
Neurodivergent Children Welcome
This program is open to neurodivergent children who are functional. Our structured, clear instruction style - with documented POI and methods - works especially well for children who benefit from consistent routines and explicit expectations.
Program Details
- Duration - One week
- Location - EMA School
- Instructors - Special Operations Command cadre
- Leadership - One-star general, CSMs, senior officers
- Methodology - POI, Method of Instruction, SOP
- Teaching Model - Lecture, Demonstration, Application
- Team Structure - Survival buddy pairs and four-person fire teams
- Schedule - Daily sessions (times TBA)
Investment
$499 Per Child
Reserve your spot with a $99 refundable deposit.
Includes:
- One week of professional instruction from Special Operations Command personnel
- All training materials and field gear for the week
- Documented curriculum (POI, methods, SOP)
- Certificate of Completion
Summer 2026
This summer, we're launching EMA Summer Survival Camp with:
- A one-star general and Special Operations cadre as instructors
- Structured curriculum: Ten Essentials, Emergency Shelters, Primitive Fire Building, Self-Protection
- Survival buddy teams and daily patrol inspections
- Small group sizes for personalized attention
- Professional documentation of all methods and procedures
- Inclusive environment for neurodivergent children
Space is limited. Register now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the instructors?
A hand-selected cadre of Special Operations Command personnel, including a one-star general, Command Sergeants Major, and high-ranking officers. These are men who have worked alongside Mr. Garland for years, training together in Army combatives, and now bringing their expertise to teach children.
Is Summer Survival Camp Nashville safe?
Yes. Every activity follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) developed by military professionals. Skills are taught progressively - students master each level before advancing. Fire and shelter activities are supervised at all times with strict safety protocols.
Is this appropriate for my neurodivergent child?
Yes - we welcome functional neurodivergent children. Our structured, documented approach with clear instructions, consistent routines, and the survival buddy system works well for many learning styles.
What will my child actually learn?
Students learn through three structured curriculum blocks. The Ten Essentials teaches what to always carry in the field. Emergency Shelters covers building real shelter from ponchos and natural materials. Primitive Fire Building progresses from lighters to metal match to friction fire. On top of that - self-protection, first aid, navigation, and leadership skills.
What is the survival buddy system?
Every student is paired with a survival buddy. They build shelters together, check each other's gear during daily patrol inspections, and learn to look out for one another. For fire building, buddy pairs combine into four-person fire teams. This teaches accountability and teamwork from day one.
What's the refund policy?
Your $99 deposit is fully refundable. Full refund available until registration deadline. After that, credit toward future programs.