WildCore Survival Academy was born from a passion for nature and the need to reconnect humans with their essential instincts.
Our mission is to teach real survival skills while cultivating self-confidence, mental discipline, and environmental respect.
More than surviving, our students learn to think clearly under pressure, act with purpose, and lead with resilience.
The academy offers a progressive 5-level training structure, combining theoretical lessons with immersive field practice across Portugal’s natural landscapes, such as Serra de Sintra, Serra da Arrábida, and other wilderness areas.
Each level builds on the last, from the fundamentals of shelter, fire, and navigation to advanced teamwork and leadership in survival contexts.
WildCore is more than a survival school — it’s a way of life, where body, mind, and nature reconnect in balance.
“Meet the wild. Find your core!”
The Team
João — Founder & Lead Instructor at WildCore Survival Academy
With over two decades of experience in scouting, survival, and outdoor training, João is the heart and driving force behind WildCore Survival Academy.
After 20 years with the AEP – Scouts of Portugal, he specialized in survival, climbing, navigation, bushcraft, and first aid, building a deep connection with nature and teamwork.
Later, as a member of the Portuguese Air Force, he enhanced his skills in discipline, planning, resilience, and military-style survival techniques, reaching a new level of precision and professionalism.
Today, João is also a light aircraft pilot, a role that deepens his understanding of autonomy, focus, and emotional control under pressure — values he brings into every WildCore training session.
Alongside him stands a highly specialized team of professionals trained in first aid, rescue operations, navigation, and extreme environment survival, ensuring the highest standards of safety, authenticity, and performance throughout every experience.
Living by the Prepper mindset, João promotes self-reliance, practical knowledge, and mental preparedness.
His mission is clear and powerful: to help others rediscover their wild essence — their WildCore.
“Survival isn’t just about enduring. It’s about understanding, adapting, and evolving.”