STRANDED

“Where Remote Survival and Missions Collide”

THE NEXT GENERATION OF Stranded IS now located in the Black Hills

APPLY HERE

STRANDED

There’s a reason most people avoid the hard corners of the world. Deserts don’t care about your comfort. War zones won’t bow to your fears. And Jungles aren’t impressed with your résumé. However for some followers of Christ, the call to bring hope to people in challenging environments stirs something deep within. If that resonates with you, then you may be called to be an Unusual Soldier. That’s why STRANDED was created, to help people like you lay a foundation and explore that calling firsthand.

Stranded is the Flagship/Boot Camp program of Unusual Soldiers. It is more than just a missions and survival training experience for Christ-followers—it’s often referred to as a one-of-a-kind discipleship adventure that has a history of launching people. Many who have dared to take on “Stranded” over the years have set out to impact some of the difficult pockets of the world.

Throughout your Stranded journey, you’ll be guided by seasoned missionaries, outdoor adventurers, military minds, and a few unforgettable characters. You’ll trek through the Black Hills and the desolate Badlands, carrying everything you need on your back as you face tough decisions and real challenges.

In the final phase of training, you’ll embark on a journey to respectfully engage and bless a tribal community that has been wounded by Christianity in the past—a reconciliation mission in Jesus’ name.

Keep in mind, Stranded is not for everyone. It’s not a camping trip. Comfort is not a priority and it may stretch you at times. But if something inside of you seems to be nudging you to apply, then we encourage you to give it a shot. To maximize your opportunity, consider applying for the full STRANDED + SHREWD program—another equipping program on how to avoid and survive dangerous human encounters. The application is thorough, and space is limited, but the world’s most challenging places are waiting for the humble, yet brave, to step forward.

If you LOVE JESUS, DREAM OF impactING THE world, and have some “Indiana Jones” BLOOD… Then THIS PROGRAM MAY BE FOR YOU.

Apply Here

Participants of Stranded will receive:

A waterproof journal
A survival Kit handpicked by Unusual Soldiers
A Missions-focused book
An experience that could turn your life upside down

At S.T.R.A.N.D.E.D. you will learn…

SURVIVAL SKILLS

Become knowledgeable on how to survive and thrive in a remote region.
TEAM UNITY

Gain insight on how to collaborate with a team of aspiring unusual soldiers.
RESILIENCE & RISK

Learn the difference between taking a wise risk and a foolish risk on the field.
AWAKEN THE CORE

Awaken the foundational core traits of every unusual soldier in your life.
NAME OF ASPIRATION

Dive deeper into your God-given identity who God is calling you to be.
DISCOVER THE MISSION MANTRAS

Discover memorable phrases to guide your mission deployments.
EXPERIENCE GOD

Learn how to connect with God in wild places.
DestiNATION LAUNCH

Catch a glimpse of where God may be launching you after Stranded.

STRANDED EVENTS

STRANDED

$695 (Regular Price: $895)

Dates: June 7th (5pm) - June 16th (Noon)
Application Deadline: April 24th
Location: The Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota
Event begins at Cedar Canyon Camp in Rapid City and will be mobile.
Group size: 12 students or less.
(Space is limited to 12. Stranded+ accepted students are prioritized)
Who can apply: Followers of Christ between ages 18 to 88 who have a heart to impact a hard area of the world. Participants must be in good mental and physical health and able to hike 5 miles with a full backpack.

Price includes:

Waterproof journal
Unusual Soldiers Instructors Team
Survival Kit handpicked by Unusual Soldiers
Missions book
An experience that could turn your life upside down

Apply Here

STRANDED + SHREWD

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL TRAINING

STRANDED+SHREWD
$1,295 (Regular Price: $1,495)

Dates: Wed, June 3rd, 2026 (5pm) - June 16th,2026 (noon)
Application Deadline: April 24th.
Locations: The Black Hills and the Badlands of South Dakota
This event begins at Cedar Canyon Camp in Rapid City. The entire SHREWD portion will be based out of the camp, but the STRANDED portion will be mobile.
Group size: 12 students or less.
(Space is Limited)
Who can apply: Followers of Christ between ages 18 to 88 who have a heart to impact a hard area of the world. Participants must be in good health and able to hike 5 miles with a loaded backpack.

Price includes:

Waterproof journal
Multiple training sessions
Small Survival Kit handpicked by Unusual Soldiers
Shrewd Survival Tool
Shrewd Workbook
Missions book
An experience that could turn your life upside down

Apply Here

—— FAQs ——

You will meet at Cedar Canyon Camp in Rapid City, SD for this event.
If you are accepted then you will be required to make your deposit of $100 within two weeks of receiving your acceptance letter, otherwise, you will be put on a waiting list. The remaining amount is due on arrival of the event.
A Backpack containing…
- Sleeping Bag
- Layers of Clothing (Check weather report)
- Rain Jacket or Pancho
- Toieltries
- Hiking shoes
- Pocket Bible (in Ziplock bag)
- Flashlight
- Water Bottle
- 3 days of packable food
- Mosquito/Tic Spray
- Modest swimsuit
- Good attitude
- ”Shelter” (optional)
- Whistle
The leadership team of Stranded varies from missionaries, adventure guides, survival instructors, EMTs, former military, weirdos, nurses, and former Stranded graduates who have endeavored to dark, dangerous, and despised places across the globe.
Don't fret. Click here. (Coming Soon)
Stranded is not for people who just want to learn survival skills or want a summer camp experience. It’s not a macho-man contest, or a "been-there-done-that" event. Stranded is a launching pad centered on Jesus.

Students should be able to jog at least a mile, carry a loaded backpack five miles, endure heat, and should not have mental or physical health conditions that may become an issue under stress.
Any follower of Christ 18+ years old to 88 years old with a desire to make an impact in the world. If you are one of the many restless Christians trying to find a cause in life to live for this could be for you.
Stranded is for… the student that has a heart to impact the world, but doesn’t know where to turn. However, Stranded is also for the Christ follower who has missions experience and a growing desire to impact a dark, dangerous, or difficult (remote) place in the world.
Planes: If you want to get a flight then Rapid City is the closest airport.
Trains: Sorry no trains yet.
Automobiles: Rapid City, is located a an hour from the exact center of the North America. So the classic road trip is the most common way people choose to travel. In the past some have driven from New York, Florida, and Saskatchewan to participate (1,400miles!).
* Please keep in mind, that the Unusual Soldiers team, will not be picking you up at the airport. So you may have to brainstorm travel plans with your teammates or test your taxi, uber , Lyft, or Rapid shuttle skills.
People of color from around the world have been some of the best mentors. We have had numerous ethnicities attend Stranded. People from the inner city, countryside, and from other countries.
If you do not hear from Unusual Soldiers within a month of your application then please contact Ryan at ryan@unusualsoldiers.com to make sure there was not a glitch on the website or a problem with the internet. Unusual Soldiers starts the first review process in January.
After Stranded you will become part of the Unusual Soldiers tribe and can join us at future alumni gatherings. We would also recommend that you consider doing SHREWD, SUBMERGE, or SLINGSHOT if you want to go all in!