About Me
The outdoors makes us capable. I teach grounded skills shaped by real terrain, experience, and clear methods.
Manuel — Instructor & Founder
I'm Manuel, 38, a Swiss software engineer (Federal Diploma EFZ). Apprenticeship at Novartis, then in the federal administration responsible for the technical integration of the GEVER platform — a very practical look at the real challenges and limits of how government bodies process information. Currently working on my MAS in Cyber Security (in progress).
Active in the hacker scene since 2004 — hackerspaces, talks, building tools, authorized white-hat pentests. In parallel the whole time outdoors: hiking first, then wild camping, later extreme tours in Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland. Took survival courses myself as a participant — not for the romance, but to train crisis scenarios under guidance.
I've been running workshops since 2018 within my circle of friends, now publicly with Signalfeuer. The trigger is the gap I see everywhere: outdoor courses that ignore the digital, cyber trainings that ignore the body, resilience coaching without practical exercise. In a real crisis you need both interlocked — and you need people who meet you at eye level and work with realistic scenarios.
Safety and methodology come first — backed by current certifications (First Aid IVR 1, BLS-AED).
What Signalfeuer is not: no weapons training, no paramilitary drills, no survivalist doomer sport. Clear against esotericism, conspiracy narratives, healing promises. Pro-science, pro-verifiable facts. Facts before feelings. Values-led (inclusion, anti-discrimination, a clear stance against fascism and sexism) — and party-politically neutral.
Currently working solo, based in Switzerland. Courses in German and English.
Values
I stand for an open, solidary society. This is about skills, safety, and respect.
My Approach
Practice before theory
Train in realistic conditions. Knowledge must be applicable.
Safety first
Clear standards and procedures. Risk management is part of the skill.
Sustainable
Leave No Trace. We are guests in nature and behave accordingly.
Community
Learning in small groups. Solidarity instead of elbows.
Moments from the Field
Two prices, one door.
Every course has a regular price and a solidarity rate (around 50 %). Same course, same content, same attention. The question is not whether you are entitled — it is what fits your situation.
Covers the trainer fee at union rates, materials, insurance, travel allowance, and contributes to the solidarity tier. If you can pay regularly, you also fund the second tier.
For anyone whose budget cannot stretch to the regular price but who wants to take part. Max. 2 seats per session, no proof, no justification needed. Self-assessment.
Why this model — four rules
Every course page shows the regular price prominently. The solidarity rate appears as a secondary option in its own box. That keeps clear what actually carries the course.
We do not speak of "50 % discount". We speak of a second, equal-value price tier for people with less financial leeway. Those who can pay regularly should — that is not a moral question, it is math.
There is regular and solidarity. No additional "support price", no negotiation. Multi-tier waters down and makes booking exhausting.
No one has to disclose their finances. But only 2 solidarity seats are available per session (out of 4–8 participants). That fosters honest self-assessment instead of hypocritical means-testing.
Bundles (three-course packages) and solidarity rate cannot be combined — either bundle discount OR solidarity tier.