Mojave Ranger School is now a registered nonprofit and the IRS 501(c)3 certification is in process!

The printed preview copies of the Field Manual passed out at Wasteland Weekend show a for-profit LLC business example which is more complicated than necessary, short-term.

The current Field Manual download shows the nonprofit version: https://mojaverangerschool.com/FMdownload

• Training and camping at Mojave Ranger School is free for registered trainees.
• Trainees get training participation and course graduation prizes.

Why the Change

CA minimum wage law has wiped out the ability to run the sales programs and rank-based stipends that were the core of the paid apprentice program.

Since the main goal is the free training and camping then, for the short-term, the 501(c)3 is the easiest way to start the training.

Mojave Ranger School manages a self-paced apprentice program that trains franchise managers to develop their own local Ranger Training Teams, but now training participation and course graduation prizes are awarded rather than a cash rank-based stipend.

Sponsored Milsim Teams

Mojave Ranger School sponsors 2 opposing milsim teams at the Mojave Ranger Station.

Milsim team members (Ranger Troop 4 and OpFor) can get travel reimbursement, free BB’s/gas and other perks and benefits.

The milsim teams (comprised of ranger school instructors) provide the martial backdrop for the ranger training and provides trainees with the opportunity for field training with an active team.

Funding with Publishing & Products

The Vista de Nada General Store will be active shortly, with products from Wasteland vendors, artists and authors.

As a nonprofit publishing company, Mojave Ranger School pays artist and author royalties for the publishing and production teams who make the products in the VdN General Store catalog.

The General Fund

75% of the Amazon net cash flow goes to the General Fund to pay for Wasteland Tech and Wasteland Public Access TV projects.

Wasteland Tech is the solar and wind power, radio, etc. skills needed to maintain any type of technology in the wastelands.

Wasteland Public Access TV (WPA-TV) is a small TV station at the Mojave Ranger Station that hosts live-stream trainings, shows and events on a variety of wasteland topics.

WPA-TV has a YouTube channel at: https://mojaverangerschool.com/WPATV

WPA-TV is also the base for the Mojave Ranger School PIO teams. The PIO Basic Course is the WPA-TV introductory training.

Nonprofit Timelines

Mojave Ranger School won’t be fully tax-deductible for donations until the various state and IRS bureaucratic processes complete, possibly in early 2027, after which we’ll be actively fundraising for water tanks and other basic infrastructure for the ranger station.

Watch for training videos, wasteland tech projects and more in Fall, 2026.