"We expect our seniors to be able to run everything," he said.

Outside of required class work, senior cadets put together training strategies for lower classmen and execute the plan.

"Then, by the time freshmen and sophomores get to that level, they've seen good, they've seen bad, and they get an opportunity and they know what right looks like," Simpkins said.

At Camp Navajo, surrounded by patches of snow, the juniors cadets circled around Wilson as he pointed to a three-dimensional representation of the area crafted out of dirt, rocks and sticks.

Their mission: Locate at least five checkpoints scattered around the woods.

"What do you suggest if we run into said mountain lion?" a cadet asks Wilson.

"You are to back away slowly - don't shine your teeth and do crazy stuff," he says.

Move to the nearest checkpoint and report it to a senior cadet, he adds.

They each set out alone approximately an hour before sunset and returned late in the evening, with Wilson there to greet them.