Emergency preparedness training and consulting in firearms, medical, power, and emergency resources. Today Refugium works one-on-one, through custom consulting and individual instruction.
What Refugium covers
Today we teach and consult one-on-one in any of these areas, shaped to what you need. We're planning regular group classes around what people ask for, so tell us what you'd like to learn, including anything that isn't listed.
- Firearms training: safety fundamentals, handling, accuracy, and familiarity across pistol, rifle, and shotgun.
- Firearm selection guidance: help choosing a firearm and navigating California's purchase requirements.
- Medical preparedness: training and consulting.
- Power preparedness: training and consulting.
- Emergency resources: training and consulting, including food.
- Non-live-fire practice: CO2 and laser practice for building handling skills at home or in urban settings before live fire.
- Group workshops and community safety events, upon request.
For emergency communications, Refugium works through Radios Without Rulers, a separate Ash & Oak venture.
Our approach to firearms training
Refugium is for Californians who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights safely and confidently. Training is beginner-first and safety-led. It is built for first-time learners, for people who don't feel at home in conventional gun culture, and for partners of gun owners who want a baseline of safe handling.
Indoor commercial ranges can be loud and crowded, with unfamiliar shooters and their own range culture. That can make learning harder. Refugium holds firearms training outdoors, in quiet settings away from commercial ranges, so people can learn without pressure.
We aim to make firearms training accessible to people who are underserved and underrepresented in this space.
Take a Stop the Bleed course first
We strongly recommend completing a Stop the Bleed course before firearms training. Severe bleeding can happen in any emergency, and knowing how to control it can save a life while help is on the way. Most Stop the Bleed courses take 90 minutes or less, and many are free.
What firearms instruction involves
- Instruction is individual and shaped to your experience and goals.
- Outdoors: quiet settings away from commercial ranges.
- Safety first: every session starts from safety fundamentals, then builds handling, accuracy, and familiarity.
- Pistol, rifle, and shotgun: instruction can cover all three.
Safety, legal compliance, and waiver
Safety comes first in every session. All training is conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local law, and participants follow the instructor's safety instructions at all times.
All participants sign a waiver before training. Eligibility requirements are provided when you inquire.
Pricing
Sliding-scale pricing. Contact us for current rates.
Frequently asked questions
I've never handled a firearm. Is this for me?
Yes. Training is beginner-first and starts with safety fundamentals. Instruction is one-on-one and goes at your pace.
Do you run regular classes?
Not yet. Today we teach one-on-one and consult on your specific situation. We're gauging interest for regular group classes, which will have no more than 6 students per instructor. Tell us what you'd want to learn.
Where does training take place?
Outdoors, in quiet settings away from commercial ranges. Training locations are confidential and provided to participants at the appropriate time.
Can you help me choose a firearm?
Yes. We offer firearm selection guidance and help navigating California's purchase requirements.
Is there an age or eligibility requirement?
All participants sign a waiver before training. Eligibility requirements are provided when you inquire.
How much does it cost?
Sliding-scale pricing. Contact us for current rates.
Can I ask about something that isn't listed?
Yes. What we offer grows with what people ask for. Contact us about anything you need.
Rootworks: land and home resilience
Rootworks is part of Refugium. It guides groups forming intentional communities through the full path to owning land together, and helps make existing urban homes resilient during utility interruptions.
Ask about training
Tell us what you'd like to learn and your experience so far. Beginners are welcome. What people ask for shapes the classes we build.