On Sunday, in the woods southeast of Steinbach, a group of strangers banded together to fight for their virtual lives against an unlikely foe - zombies.
"The aim is to not get caught, right?” asked Zombie Survival Camp participant Ashley Voth.
“Not that I'm afraid some zombie is going to come kill me, but it's still an adrenalin rush,” responded her friend and fellow camper Jen Fehr.
Zombie Survival Camp has been holding weekend events in Ontario for a couple of years but this is the first time the company has offered Manitobans the chance to learn how to defend themselves against the undead.
"We know our mandate is to make Canada the most zombie-prepared nation on Earth, so let's do this province this summer,” said instructor Deidter Stadnyk. “This is our second year. I think it's time."
Over three days, campers learn a variety of survival skills, such as identifying edible plants and building small shelters, that could come in handy in different situations.
“I also learned how to start fires without using a lighter,” said David Macdonald, a camper who later switched sides and became a zombie.
They also learn some skills unique to the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse; a scenario that played out on the final day of the camp.
"I taught them how to use different types of weapons, different ranges, so everything from a short knife to baseball bats, machetes, spears, and rakes and pitch forks,” said weapons instructor Dominic Etynkowski.
Although most of the participants only met each other when the camp started on Friday, they quickly learned to trust and rely on each other and utilise good communication skills, something organizers say is key in any survival situation.
"This final outbreak is when people get to learn how to work as a team,” said Stadnyk. “No man is an island. You need someone with you to kind of watch your back."
