AFFILIATESIf you are ready to get Coyote Mentoring started in your area, find some one nearby to help you from this list of our Affiliates.
North America
United States
Canada
Europe
Germany
The Netherlands
Switzerland
Africa
South Africa
United States
ArizonaWildlore
Andrew Ford, Managing Director
6336 N Oracle Suite 326 PMB #117, Tucson, AZ 85704
info(at-sign)wildlore.com www.WildLore.com
WildLore is an organization dedicated to the preservation of rapidly vanishing traditions of indigenous peoples worldwide. Our mission is to uncover the ‘golden threads’ that cross cultural barriers and geographical boundaries.
Arkansas
Ozark Tracker Society
Carl Keller, President
108 North Stonebridge, Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 841-8132
ozarktracker(at-sign)gmail.com www.ozarktrackers.org
O.T.S. strives to enhance your outdoor experience by increasing awareness and deepening appreciation of place, through nature-based learning such as tracking, nature observation, wilderness survival, primitive skills, and sensory awareness activities.
California
8 Shields / Owlink Media
(831) 466-9887
8ShieldsContact(at-sign)gmail.com http://8Shields.org
Based in Northern California, we offer worldwide training and support in best practices of cultural and Coyote Mentoring applications and theory. Our services support individuals and communities by offering positive social “technologies” that help connect people with each other and the earth. We consult with diverse groups in matters ranging from children’s program development to corporate culture enhancement and beyond.
Baden High School Therapeutic Day School
Matt Allen, Education Specialist (Special Education; Mild to Moderate Disabilities)
825 Southwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 95080
(650) 877-8795
capturetheflag(at-sign)hotmail.com
Baden Therapeutic Day School is an intensive day treatment program in which San Mateo County Mental Health and the South San Francisco Unified School District collaborate to serve at risk high school aged students with emotional disturbance. We approach all academic subjects through the lens of nature awareness.
Bay Area Tracking Club
Brian Knittel, Tod Haddow and John Montgomery-Brown, Tracking Guides/Organizers
Gazos Beach, off CA Hwy 1, 1/2 mile south of Gazos Creek Rd (just north of Ano Neuvo)
BrianKnittel(at-sign)yahoo.com www.groups.yahoo.com/group/BayAreaTracking/
The Bay Area Tracking Club meets to explore the natural world through tracking. Advanced trackers get lessons in mentoring. This free experience is designed to foster understanding and appreciation of nature through tracking, and sense of place in the natural world that surrounds us.
Central Coast Village Center and Outside Now!
Donna Helete, Executive Director
1640 Pippin Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 541-9900
info(at-sign)centralcoastvillagecenter.org www.theccvc.org
The Central Coast Village Center and Outside Now exists to nurture an individual’s innate love for life and the natural world. We are a multi-generational learning community. All of our programs are based on the Art of Mentoring model.
Coyote Regional Outdoor School
David Wilson, Owner-Director
4255 Lobos Avenue, Atascadero, CA 93422
(805) 466-4550
Info(at-sign)CoyoteRoadSchool.com www.CoyoteRoadSchool.com
Primitive Skills for youth and adults on the Central Coast of California in San Luis Obispo County. Coyote Road teaches lifelong skills in nature awareness and outdoor living providing experiences that create a positive and lasting connection with the Earth.
Earthroots Field School
PO Box 504
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678
Director, Jodi Levine
(949) 400-3340
www.earthrootsfieldschool.org
Earthroots Field School cultivates a sense of care and connection with the natural world through hands-on, outdoor classes focusing on Wilderness Awareness, Ecological Gardening, Natural Building, Natural Crafts and Whole Food Cooking.
Earth Skills
Jim Lowery, Owner
1113 Cougar Court, Frazier Park, CA 93225
(661) 245-0318
jim(at-sign)earthskills.com www.earthskills.com
Since 1987, Earth Skills has offered beginning and advanced classes in tracking, survival, nature awareness and traditional skills allowing students to discover and maintain a respectful and dynamic relationship with nature. Our program includes an Earth Philosophy series and vision quest. Trainings for groups and interpretive skills for science teachers/parents are available.
Exploring a Sense of Place
Karen Harwell, Executive Director
1023 Corporation Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 939-9300 ext. 15
kharwell(at-sign)exploringsenseofplace.org www.exploringsenseofplace.org
Exploring a Sense of Place is a program designed to provide the means by which people anywhere on Earth can reconnect with the natural world where they live assisted by our guidebook, workshops and local courses. The series of explorations foster familiarity with the local geology, weather and climate, wildlife and indigenous people.
OutsideIn – Adventuring with Aaron Jessup
Aaron Jessup, Owner
1786 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 828-0775
aaronisan(at-sign)gmail.com www.isantrips.com
OutsideIn – Adventuring with Aaron Jessup, which offers wilderness expeditions in the northern sierras, is dedicated to the marriage of nature immersion and awareness development. Using practices such as meditation, chi gong, yoga, dance and wilderness skills development. Experience a deep and meaningful connection to the natural world while realizing you are part of a greater web of existence.
Quail Springs Learning Oasis
Warren Brush and Cynthia Harvan, Co-Founders
PO Box 417, New Cuyama, CA 93254
(805) 886-7239
info(at-sign)quailsprings.org www.quailsprings.org
Quail Springs is a land-based learning oasis and farm that experientially involves youth and adults in learning about land stewardship, cultural regeneration, and the discovery and expression of the inherent and natural gifts of people and communities. We host other kindred organizations and groups at our 450 acre farm in the mountains of Southern California.
Redwood Empire Pack 55 Cub Scouts
David Forthoffer, Den Leader/Pack Chairman
1633 Trinity Street, Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 441-1598
David(at-sign)Forthoffer.org www.forthoffer.org
Cub Scout Pack 55 of the BSA Redwood Empire Council meets in Eureka, California, and mentors boys in leadership skills, team skills, nature awareness, and other character building activities, using techniques such taught by Jon Young.
Regenerative Design Institute
Rachel Berry, Program Manager
PO Box 923, Bolinas, CA 94924
(415) 868-9681
info(at-sign)regenerativedesign.org www.regenerativedesign.org
At the Regenerative Design Institute we teach people how to create and maintain healthy and abundant livelihoods that enhance fertility and biodiversity on the planet. In collaboration with Jon Young, we offer the Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness (RDNA) Program, an advanced training in permaculture, nature awareness, community leadership, the 8-shields mentoring model.
Riekes Center for Human Enhancement - Creative Arts
Aidan Young, Director
3455 Edison Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 364-2509
aidan(at-sign)riekes.org www.riekes.org
Riekes Center Creative Arts mentors youth (ages 6-21) in the Bay Area through 1-on-1 lessons and group programs in music, hip-hop, fine art, photography and film-making. We help students define and accomplish their goals, regardless of their ability to pay. In turn it is each student’s responsibility to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.
Riekes Center for Human Enhancement - Nature Awareness Department
Ken Clarkson, Nature Awareness Director
3455 Edison Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 364-2509
kclarkson(at-sign)riekes.org www.riekes.org
The Riekes Center provides mentorship in the Bay Area for students of all ages, through Creative Arts, Athletic Fitness, and Nature Awareness. The Nature Awareness Department teaches tracking, survival skills, awareness training, bird language, wildlife mapping and monitoring, and permaculture techniques through workshops, in-school and after-school programs, expeditions, summer camps, and homeschool programs.
Riekes Center for Human Enhancement Student Services
Lex Ebbink-Alemania, Student Services Manager
3455 Edison Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 364-2509
lex(at-sign)riekes.org www.riekes.org
The Riekes Center Student Services is a leadership training program for teenage volunteers in the Bay Area. Using a peer-mentoring model throughout the three departments of Athletic Fitness, Creative Arts and Nature Awareness, students learn responsibility, honest communication and how to make others feel welcome.
RDNA - Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness
Ned Conwell, Instructor
PO Box 923, Bolinas, CA 94924
(415) 868-9681
info(at-sign)regenerativedesign.org www.regenerativedesign.org
The Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness Program (RDNA) weaves together the teachings of permaculture design, art of mentoring, peacemaking and the power of holistic tracking, the RDNA program helps students further regenerative practices in their lives.
Shikari Tracking Guild
Josh Lane
Tracker(at-sign)shikari.org www.shikari.org
An international development project dedicated to fostering the skills, art, and science of tracking. The Guild collaborates with many organizations to provide wildlife inventory services and trainings. Learning opportunities include apprenticeships, workshops, and personal mentoring to help you prepare for a professional or volunteer tracking career in your local community.
Standing Tree Nature School
Tod Haddow Director
109 Handley St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-8426
standingtree(at-sign)me.com www.standingtreenatureschool.org
Standing Tree Nature School is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit based in Santa Cruz, CA. Our mission statement is to inspire children and adults to care for the earth and its inhabitants by helping them create meaningful relationships with the natural world, their communities, and each other. We offer summer camps, classes, and long term mentoring programs in nature studies and traditional earth skills.
Tender Tracks Tales and Trails: Outdoor Preschool and Summer Adventure Camps
Wendolyn Bird, Director/Facilitator
680 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 324.9355
tendertracks(at-sign)gmail.com www.tendertracks.com
Tender Tracks includes an Outdoor Preschool, Summer Adventure camps, Storytelling, Workshops and Consultations. We offer opportunity for children and adults to connect with their own unique nature via the reflection and support from the natural world. We create, stimulate and activate opportunity for a healthy relationship to All of Life via songs, stories, and nature awareness activities.
The Center for Mental and Emotional Development
Donna Morgan, MFT
4608 Calavo Drive, La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 588-9165
donnamorgan2091(at-sign)sbcglobal.net
www.paulhatherley.com
The Center for Mental and Emotional Development is a San Diego based school, with ongoing workshops, groups, and individual training. Our purpose is to provide the internal training of our mind and emotions by acquiring layer upon layer of awareness, attitudes and skills necessary to understand, care about and nurture ourselves, life and other people.
Ventana Wildlife Society
Alena Porte, Education Coordinator
19045 Portola Drive, Suite F-1, Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 455-9514
alenaporte(at-sign)ventanaws.org www.ventanaws.org
Since 1992, Ventana Wildlife Society strives to help youth make connections with their natural world. Year round programs provide opportunity for youth to learn about their local environment and increase their knowledge of the natural world. Our goal is to inspire participants to continue their relationship with nature in a meaningful way and incorporate this awareness into their daily lives.
Wilderness Youth Project
Dan Fontaine, Executive Director
5386 Hollister Avenue, Suite D, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 964-8096
info(at-sign)wyp.org www.wyp.org
Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) of Santa Barbara embraces the innovative, nature-based curriculum and mentoring programs presented in Coyote's Guide. Our programs emphasize the traditions of childhood: child-centered exploration, skill and self-esteem development and a deep connection with the natural world. WYP invests in the health of children by mentoring them to be peaceful, respectful and confident citizens of our world.
Colorado
Aztlán Storytelling Through Song & Dance
Tomás Eaglebear Shash, Program Coordinator
PO Box 304, Gardner, CO 81040
(719) 746-2400
swarmwater(at-sign)aol.com
Tomás Eaglebear Shash,and his family, perform Native Apache and Aztec songs, dances and stories for school groups and community gatherings. Tomás also instructs on topics regarding Native American cultures and practices. He is a founding member of Aztlán community, est. 1992 in Gardner, CO. This self-supporting community with a traditional governing body provides ongoing support to local prison populations as well as doing work in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador with the indigenous peoples.
Her Feet on the Earth
Lorene Wapotich, Director
2456 S. Beaver Creek Road, Black Hawk, CO 80422
(303) 642-0562
Lorene(at-sign)HerFeetOnTheEarth.org www.HerFeetOnTheEarth.org
Her Feet on the Earth mentors girls and women in developing stronger relationships with nature, their authentic selves, and a community of female mentors and role models. With an emphasis on rites of passage, long-term mentoring, and instructor training, we teach ancient daily livings skills in the Rocky Mountains and the New England forest.
Laughing Coyote Project
Gelsey Malferrari and Neal Ritter, Co-founder/Instructor
Boulder, CO
(303) 325-5824
info(at-sign)laughingcoyoteproject.org www.laughingcoyoteproject.org
The Laughing Coyote Project is running six-week long sessions at Windrose Farm in Colorado. Sessions are built around our three streams learning: Practical Knowledge, Naturalist Awareness, and Nature-based Arts. We work with home-schooling students and run after-school programs, offering children a unique experience of the Earth.
North American Institute of Medical Herbalism
Paul Bergner
PO Box 20512, Boulder, CO 80308
(720) 406-8609
inquiries(at-sign)naimh.com www.naimh.com
The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism trains medical herbalist and clinical nutritionists. Some of the core routines are integrated into our program, and we also mentor students who are interested more deeply in the routines. Our faculty will also mentor at no charge individuals who are not enrolled but who are passionate about nature.
Connecticut
Two Coyotes Wilderness School
1230 Johnson Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525
(203) 843-3112
Justin.pegnataro(at-sign)twocoyotes.org www.twocoyotes.org
Georgia
Evan McGown
Winterville, GA
Evan is currently a free-lance educator, group facilitator, writer, and performing musician. He travels frequently both to learn and share within the areas of arts-based empowerment and nature connection, and is available for speaking engagements and workshops.
evan.mcgown(at-sign)gmail.com
Roots Farm
Nate Olive, Program Director
46 Beaver Trail, Winterville, GA 30683
info(at-sign)rootsfarm.org www.rootsfarm.org
Located outside of Athens, this organic farm and CSA is centered around the mission of connection: to food, to community, to nature, and to self. It is host to multiple nature-based education programs, including Wild Skills Classes (survival, tracking, awareness, plants, etc., for all ages), and Ninja Scout Adventures (youth programs combining scout awareness with martial-arts). Author and teacher Evan McGown is an advisor and periodic instructor.
Hawaii
Wilderness Mentoring Project
Matthew Kirk
PO Box 223425, Princeville, HI 96722
(808) 346-1019
mattkirk(at-sign)wildernessmentoring.com www.wildernessmentoring.com
The Wilderness Mentoring Project is the vision of Matthew Kirk, a graduate of the Wilderness Awareness Schools (WAS) Residential Program. Matthew has worked for WAS youth programs, adult national programs and many other organizations committed to environmental education since 2000. He is currently teaching workshops on Tropical Survival, introductory natural history, and individual mentoring sessions.
Idaho
Twin Eagles Wilderness School
Tim Corcoran &Jeannine Tidwell, Co-Directors/Co-Founders
433 Cedar Springs, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
(208) 265-3685
info(at-sign)twineagles.org www.twineagles.org
Twin Eagles Wilderness School is a family based nature awareness school centered in Sandpoint, Idaho and serves the greater Inland Northwest via year-long children's programs, summer camps, adult workshops, our instructor training apprenticeship and more. We touch the hearts of over 100 people annually with the essence of nature, and hold true to the values of passion based learning, community, family, self-discovery, long term mentoring and a strong spiritual center.
Indiana
Owl Creek Programs
Kevin Glenn, Director
PO Box 7351, Bloomington, IN 47407
(812) 361-3471
kevin(at-sign)owlcreekprograms.com www.owlcreekprograms.com
Located in the rolling, hardwood-forested hills region of southern Indiana, Owl Creek Programs provides youth camps, family camps, natural mentoring programs, leadership and teacher training and teen rites of passage programs. Through tracking, nature awareness, and survival skills we mentor people of all ages towards a closer connection with nature and stewardship.
Maine
Maine Primitive Skills School
Mike Douglas, Director
716 Church Hill Road, Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 623-7298
mpss(at-sign)gwi.net www.primitiveskills.com
The Maine Primitive Skills School builds community through mentoring youth and adults in ancestral skills, primitive technologies, nature education, survival skills, and condolences. Empowering individuals through the eight directions model and the invisible school to become grounded, centered mentors in their own communities.
White Pine Programs
Dan Gardoqui, Co-Founder/Director
330 Mountain Road, Cape Neddick, ME 03902
(207) 361-1911
info(at-sign)whitepineprograms.org www.WhitePinePrograms.org
Nestled along the New England seacoast between Portland & Boston, White Pine Programs provides nature-based learning opportunities for all ages, year-round. Each year, we renew connections to nature and deepen awareness of place with our programs. Founded in 1999, our offerings include; half-day family programs, summer camps, adult wildlife tracking expeditions, local naturalist workshops, and more.
Maryland
Ancestral Knowledge
Bill Kaczor, CEO-Director of Programs
PO BOX 295 Mount Rainier, MD. 20712
(301) 277-1276
a.k.info(at-sign)ancestralknowledge.org www.ancestralknowledge.org
Ancestral Knowledge serves the communities of MD, VA, and D.C. Metro area. We offer programs for youth, adults, groups, and schools. Our nature-based programs include primitive skills workshops, mentoring programs, family programs, and summer camps. We also customize programs to fit your group or schools interests. Our summer camps operate on a private 1400-acre wilderness preserve that borders the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah River conveniently located 1.5 hours from DC. Our goal is to open the mind, body, and spirit of our participants to the wonderful world that we live in. We accomplish this through hands-on experiential learning for all. Ancestral Knowledge is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
Beyond The Walls & Camp Shady Grove
Amy Beam, Outdoor Education Specialist/Camp Owner/Operator
7 Redland Road, Derwood, MD 20855
(301) 977-3733
Amy.BeyondTheWalls(at-sign)gmail.com
www.LetsGoBeyondTheWalls.org
Beyond The Walls provides nature awareness programs in Washington DC and Maryland to the children, families and staff of the Metro Montessori Schools. We reach people through our school time Outdoor Explorations, weekend Outdoor Expeditions, staff training retreats and summertime programs at Camp Shady Grove. Collaborating with other organizations, including the Wilderness Awareness School, we sponsor programs to generate interest in our National & local parks & reserves.
Landscape and Nature Discoveries, Inc. (LAND)
Amy Seely, Executive Director
21014 Big Woods Road, Dickerson, MD 20842
(301) 972-7266
amy(at-sign)landandnature.org www.landandnature.org
Massachussetts
Landscape and Nature Discoveries, Inc. provides outdoor educational experiences for children while encouraging them to appreciate conserve and respect their natural environment while cultivating connections with the community. Working mainly in Montgomery County, Maryland within the Agricultural Reserve. Community service, volunteers and relationships with our schools are all important aspects of our programs.
Massachusetts
Clare Walker Leslie
76 Garfield Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-9128
cwleslie38(at-sign)aol.com www.clarewalkerleslie.com
A nationally recognized wildlife artist, naturalist,
educator, and author of seven books, Clare conducts workshops and classes at colleges, schools, and nature centers.
EarthWork Programs
Frank Grindrod, Program Director
PO Box 961 Williamsburg, MA 01096
(413) 522-0338
frank(at-sign)earthworkprograms.com www.earthworkprograms.com
Earthwork Programs, ten years running, based in the Northeast, is a leader in providing opportunities for youth and adults in developing and honing skills in nature awareness, wilderness living, and bushcraft. We offer customized internships, community building, tracking expeditions, home-school programs, camps, Nurtured Heart Approach™ workshops, and educator trainings using Art of Mentoring principles.
Michigan
Two Tracking Adventures
Paul Raphael
8160 NW Bayshore Drive, Northport, MI 49670
(231) 342-8502
An authentic Native approach to tracking and nature awareness.
Minnesota
Naturalist
Theodore Rick, Naturalist
8076 County Road 6, Maple Plain, MN 55359
(763) 479-2566
theodorerick(at-sign)care2.com
Expanding awareness through the core routines of: animal forms, story of the day, mapping, sit spot and fire starting plus other awareness exercises.
Montana
Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center
Brett & Laura Holmquist, Co-Director / Co-Founder
PO Box 2084, Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7279
brett(at-sign)ravenwoodnsc.org www.ravenwoodolc.org
Ravenwood is an outdoor learning center whose mission is to connect people with nature, community, and self through a wide range of age-appropriate programs. Engaging kids from toddlers to teens and providing learning opportunities for parents, teachers, and elders, Ravenwood specializes in getting folks outside for hands-on learning adventures. Located just minutes from Glacier National Park in the beautiful Flathead Valley of Montana.
Missoula Wildlife Tracking Club
Elliott W.R. Parsons, Wildlife Biology Program
Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,
UM Natural Sciences Bldg., Room 205, Missoula MT 59812
(406) 243-4356
elliott.parsons(at-sign)mso.umt.edu
Our mission is to learn to appreciate and understand the wildlife of Montana through tracking, natural history studies, mentoring, and practicing the core routines of awareness. All are welcome.
Paradise Adventure Circle
Daniel M. Kirchhof
PO Box 1703, Emigrant, MT 59027
(406) 223-6156
paradiseadventurecircle(at-sign)yahoo.com
Based 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, a volunteer street-corner naturalist/coyote-mentor, I serve youth & adults. Leading neighborhood nature rambles, camp-fire games & gatherings, wild-country expeditions, a wilderness P.E. class and a Kamana study group. We are a growing informal Nature Awareness/Adventure Club who enjoy exploring our amazing landscape and renewing our Native-Eyes together.
Wild Rockies Field Institute
PO Box 7071, Missoula, MT 59807
Yucatan Cultural Ecology, Mexico
Kim M. Wilkinson, Lead Instructor
(406) 549-4336
wrfi(at-sign)wrfi.net, kim.m.wilkinson(at-sign)gmail.com www.wrfi.net
The Wild Rockies Field Institute offers academically rigorous, field-based courses that help to develop engaged informed citizens and strong leaders capable of addressing our society’s complex social and environmental issues. Yucatan Cultural Ecology is one of nine accredited courses offered by WRFI throughout North America. In this course, 10 students live in a Mayan village, exploring the cultural ecology of the present-day Yucatec Maya with its dramatic two thousand-year history.
New Jersey
Children of the Earth Foundation
Rick Berry, West Coast Program Director
Simon Harrison, East Coast Program Director
PO Box 607, Waretown, NJ 08758
(609) 971-1799
info(at-sign)cotef.org http://www.cotef.org
The Children of the Earth Foundation, founded by Tom Brown Jr. in 1999 is based out of the Pine Barrens of NJ and operates programs around the country. We provide programs for families, youth and teens from around the world in wilderness survival, tracking and nature awareness in week-long and workshop formats.
Red Tail Primitive Skills
Ralph Turtle Panaro
25 Fortescue Road, Newport, NJ 08345
(856)447-0242
http://redtailprimitiveskills.com
Red Tail Primitive Skills teaches students of any age to become familiar with using Mother Nature to survive in any situation and to rely on skills for survival such as: building shelters, finding food, and staying warm. These courses teach the individual to make primitive tools and weapons as well as survival skills you can use anywhere. Our classes are taught with hands-on knowledge by using our natural resources.
New York
Dan Jerke
3 Sprague Place
Albany, NY 12203
(607) 342-5241
Earth Arts
Dale Bryner
689 Coddington Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 272-6486
eartharts1(at-sign)gmail.com
Earth Arts programs combine creative arts with knowledge of place and awareness of wilderness. On-site, regional, and collaborative mentoring programs develop self-esteem, personal expression, respect for others and the earth. Year-round school programs, summer camps, workshops, and rite-of-passage programs inspire all of us to become more native to the place in which we live.
Four Feathers Wilderness Programs
Lynn & Michael Trotta, Founders
20 Dogwood Road, Mt.Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 438-3330
michael(at-sign)fourfeatherswildernessprograms.com
www.fourfeatherswildernessprograms.com
Four Feathers Wilderness Programs are conducted in Westchester County, New York, just 30 minutes north of the heart of NYC. Through our on-going mentoring programs, summer camping expeditions, school presentations, cultural mentoring workshops, and our parent study groups, we are dedicated to bringing people to life through wilderness living and nature awareness education.
Primitive Pursuits
Tim Drake, Program Director
Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 272-2292 ext 261
Primitivepursuits(at-sign)hotmail.com www.primitivepursuits.net
Primitive Pursuits engages a variety of community resources in Tompkins County, NY to provide nature awareness education to an all inclusive spectrum of youth, adults and families. Our goal is to make lasting relationships with nature available to everyone. We also host an annual primitive skills celebration that brings together folks from throughout the Finger Lakes Region.
Red Fox Friends
David Brownstein
47 Butterville Road, New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-9830
info(at-sign)redfoxfriends.com
Red Fox Friends is a coming together of young people, adults and families dedicated to fostering the culture of community within the experience and appreciation of nature. We employ naturalist training and survival skills, edge experiences, storytelling, song, and fun to fulfill the yearning of all people for the authentic experience of being fully alive.
The Learning Vine
Linda Voith
c/o Gleason Hill Farm, 7326Gleason Hill Road, Belfast, NY 14711
(585) 365-2090
whollycow(at-sign)earthlink.net
www.equalvision.org/blog/LearningVine
The Learning Vine is a small home-school group that meets weekly in Allegany County, NY. We are passionate about experiencing the natural world and use the Kamana Naturalist Training program as part of our core curriculum.
Wen Barn & Gardens
Jeff Davis & Hillary Thing, Stewards
156 Upper Whitfield Road, Accord, NY 12404
(845) 679-9441
info(at-sign)earthboundapothecary.com, jeffdavis(at-sign)centertopage.com www.wenbarn.com
Wen Barn & Gardens is an old homestead nestled between the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountain regions of New York State where studies of the heart, art, and earth converge. We seek to further deepen people’s connection to the natural world through the experiential study of the ancient practices of herbalism, the creative arts, yoga, taoist philosophy, and permaculture.
Zam’s Quest Classroom Curriculum
Keith Marshall, Program Director
3153 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx NY 10465
(800) 670-0245
zqmarshall(at-sign)gmail.com www.zamsquest.com
Zam’s Quest Classroom Curriculum develops and promotes environmental, nature and wildlife conservation curriculum for the classroom of our schools. Zam’s mission is to develop a national and international community of students and teachers empowered to create effective solutions around environmental issues.
North Carolina
Earth School
Richard Cleveland, Founder/Director
PO Box 777, Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 395-1758
info(at-sign)LoveTheEarth.com www.LoveTheEarth.com
Through the practice of learning traditional living skills and exercises that heighten nature awareness, students honor the wisdom of indigenous peoples whose rich history we all share, and discover the beauty of the wilderness within us all. These powerful experiences show us how the lessons of nature can be incorporated into everyday life protecting our environment for generations to come.
Ohio
Coyote Trails School of Nature Adventure Club
Sandy Willmore, Advisor
New Albany Middle School, 6600 East New-Albany Road
New Albany, OH 43054
(614) 413-8500
swillmore(at-sign)new-albany.k12.oh.us
www.curriculum.new-albany.k12.oh.us/swillmore/AdventureClub.htm
The after school Adventure Club is designed to promote student learning and personal growth through various activities taking place in nature. We begin the year with a three-day camp out rediscovering our connection to nature. We take field trips, hear guest speakers and participate in service projects. With members in middle school and expansion into high school, our only goal is to have fun while helping other school start their clubs!
Eco-Awareness Club, LLC
Jason Imbrogno, Owner/Instructor
8354 Nuthatch Way, Columbus, OH 43235
(614) 785-1306
heyhoka(at-sign)ameritech.net
Eco-Awareness Club mentors small groups of children in central Ohio to help reconnect with the earth via the arts of survival, tracking, bird language and awareness. The club offers after-school programs and summer camps.
Midwest Native Skills Institute
Tom Laskowski
PO Box 31764, Cleveland, Ohio 44131
(888)886-5592 (toll free)
Tom(at-sign)SurvivalSchool.com www.SurvivalSchool.com
Established in 1997, Midwest Native Skills offers “non-military" day, weekend and full week classes/workshops in Wilderness Survival, Awareness, Self-Reliance, Homesteading and "Lost Art" Skills with class sizes limited to approx.12 students. Physical fitness is NOT required to attend our classes since our focus is on the knowledge and skills needed to be successful. Private "one-on-one" and Specialty Group Classes are also available.
New Albany School
Mandy McNamara, 8th Grade Science Teacher
6600 East New-Albany Road, New Albany, OH 43054
(614) 413-8500
mmcnamara(at-sign)new-albany.k12.oh.us
www.curriculum.new-albany.k12.oh.us/swillmore
We strongly believe in the importance of using sit spots as an educational tool for learning. With the Kamana One Program and Coyote’s Guide as main sources, we are creating a year-long program that encourages students to visit sit spots year round encouraging environmental stewardship and increasing awareness and observation skills of each individual in their own community. We are interested in helping other teachers and schools do the same.
Oregon
Cascadia Wild
Al Thieme, Founder
3945 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
(503) 235-9533
info(at-sign)cascadiawild.org www.cascadiawild.org
Cascadia Wild! was the first organization in the Portland area to implement long-term naturalist training in the public schools based on AOM and Core Routines. Our programs include a snow-tracking project for forest carnivores, which allows low-income youth and adults to learn about tracking and nature awareness while providing critical data for wildlife management.
Coyote Trails School of Nature
Joe Kreuzman, Director
PO Box 7375, Bend, OR 97708
(541) 617-0439
joe(at-sign)coyotetrails.org www.coyotetrails.org
A public non-profit school educating youth, teens and families ages 7-70+ to the benefits of wilderness through tracking, awareness, story telling, primitive skills, nature study, music, dance and art. We also facilitate training seminars for educators and provide programs tailored for children with special needs and adjudicated teens. Join us on our 1600 acre semi-remote wilderness camp at Earth Teach Forest Park.
Dancing Hawk Native Lifeways
Kiliii Yu
Manzanita, OR and Portland, OR
(503) 984-8675
kiliii(at-sign)dancinghawk.com www.dancinghawk.com
Focused and intensive programs and apprenticeships in primitive skills, native ways of living and seeing the world. Our specialty is on the Pacific Northwest coastal region, expeditioning by skin-on-frame kayak while hunting, fishing and gathering. There is strong emphasis on community working hard together to live off the land and thanking our land for our place in it. We take great pride in actually living the way we espouse.
Dancing Sol
896 Sundance Street
Eugene, OR 97405
(541)595-WHEE
www.DancingSol.com
Nestled in the south hills of Eugene, Oregon, Dancing Sol assists children in discovering their unique gifts, helps them begin to understand who they are as individuals and as members of a community, and mentors them in experiencing themselves as part of nature.
Learning the Language of Spirit through Nature
Terry Kem
PO Box 25183, Portland, OR 97298
(503) 296-6733
terry(at-sign)deerdance.org www.deerdance.org
Deerdance mentors participants on a journey into nature where they explore and gain a complete experience of connecting with the earth. Through celebration, honoring and learning the language of the heart, Terry Kem’s students become aware participants in this great dance.
Lifesong Wilderness Adventures
Mark Wienert Jr., Founder/Director
73569 Hwy 101, North Bend, OR 97459
Oregon & California
(530) 859-0539
lifesongwild(at-sign)yahoo.com www.lifesongadventures.com
We connect everyday people to nature’s wild places. To restore our connection we use the natural blending of plant, animal, rock and water by using time honored, ancient skills adapted for a modern time. Releasing you from the captivity of daily life, we encourage your creativity, awareness, dreams and passion putting your mind and body in balanced motion with the wilderness.
Nature University, Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces
Deb Scrivens, Sustainability Center
600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
(503) 797-1852
deb.scrivens(at-sign)oregonmetro.gov www.metro-region.org
Nature University mentors adult volunteer naturalists. Graduates guide over 10,000 children and adults annually in Metro’s parks and natural areas during school field trips and summer programs. These occur in old growth forests, wild and scenic rivers, wetlands and oak woodlands of the Portland region.
The College of Mythic Cartography
Willem Larsen, Caretaker
4850 NE 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
mythic.cartographer(at-sign)gmail.com www.mythic-cartography.org
The College of Mythic Cartography holds community space where storytellers, mentors, martial-artists, trackers, primitivists, rewilders, and elders come together to share and revitalize spoken traditions and connections to the land and family. The College runs and supports programs in the greater Portland area.
TrackersTEAMS Immersion
Tony Deis, Associate
1424 SE 76th Avenue, Portland, OR 97215
(503) 453-3038
info(at-sign)trackersteams.com www.trackersteams.com
TrackersTEAMS Immersion offers full time youth and adult level programs in the Pacific Northwest. We facilitate real-world projects in team leadership, tracking, outdoor guide instruction, sustainable entrepreneurship, health and wellness, the arts, DIY and permaculture.
Trackers International
Nicole Apelian, Company Director/Lead Adventurer
5621 NE Rodney Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 367-6296
nicole(at-sign)trackersinternational.com www.trackersinternational.com
Trackers International is a one of kind world tour-company for youth, adults and families. Our small groups of 12 or less spend more time in the places that count. Our guides have lived in those places, often studying with native elders, researchers and local people to develop a true sense of place and connection to the land.
TrackersNW
Tony Deis, Company Director
1424 SE 76th Avenue, Portland, OR 97215
(503) 453-3038
tony(at-sign)trackersnw.com www.trackersnw.com
TrackersNW offers experiences for adults and youth in outdoor education, collaborative social technologies, and health and wellness. With programs such as live action role playing intensives, traditional wildcrafting classes, and SHIFT: Local Animal Forms & Martial Arts, we reshape the nature of camps and workshops to bring the village back to life.
Pennsylvania
Down to Earth
Stan and Sandy Perambo
3345 Seisholtzville Road, Barto, PA 19504
(215) 679-7454
sperambo(at-sign)hotmail.com
This is a very small program run by husband and wife on 30 acres of privately-owned woodland. One day a week during the summer months we meet with children, ages 7-15 with the intent of fostering appreciation for and harmonious living with nature and each other.
Tennessee
Big Oak Wilderness School Inc.
Lisa & G. T. Sanford III
7616 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN 37135
(615) 776-2147
lisa(at-sign)bigoakschool.com gt(at-sign)bigoakschool.com www.bigoakschool.com
Located in the rolling pastures and oak-hickory forests of middle Tennessee, Big Oak Wilderness School provides an informal setting where the student of primitive skills can advance their knowledge and understanding of the many skills that once were a way of life for the Indian tribes that occupied the area.
Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp
Victor Wooten
PO Box 210703
Nashville, TN 37221
www.victorwooten.com
You’ll never look at survival and nature awareness the same again. Victor Wooten’s renowned music and nature camps, and all of the related educational programming are based on a solid foundation of excellent mentoring. Follow the links on the website to Vixcamps for up to date information and programs, and be sure to check out the on-line learning opportunities.
Vermont
EarthWalk Vermont
Angella Gibbons, Founder & Director
PO Box 21, Plainfield, VT 05667
(802) 454-8500
info(at-sign)earthwalkvermont.org www.earthwalkvermont.org
A non-profit Community Education program, EarthWalk Vermont’s mission is to cultivate a caring community of mentors and earth-caretakers through the EarthWalk Village School, Summer Camps, EarthWalk/Twinfield program, EarthGirls, and monthly community days. We gather together to share direct learning experiences in nature, cultivating ancient practices of awareness, a deep knowledge of place, and peaceful relationships.
Institute for Natural Learning
Mark Morey, Founder
PO Box 2485, Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-5800
Info(at-sign)IFNaturalLearning.com www.IFNaturalLearning.com
The Institute for Natural Learning projects include: Reclaiming Elders, Rites of Passage for Boys, Men’s initiations, Vision Quests, Nature Leadership Trainings and more. Founder, Mark Morey has dedicated his life to reclaiming the power of reconnecting with the land, rebuilding community and training young adults and children to reach full potential in the expression of who they are meant to be.
Makin’ Tracks: Nature-Based Programs for Preschoolers
Kate White
PO Box 82, Putney, VT 05346
(802) 254-8080
Kate(at-sign)dummerstonarts.com www.dummerstonart.com
Makin’ Tracks & Dummerston Healing Arts integrates nature awareness with healing arts and offers a curriculum that runs from the prenatal period through age 5 that supports concentric rings of relationship as a foundation of health: self, mother, baby, family, community and the Earth.
Roots School - Reclaiming Our Origins through Traditional Skills
Brad Salon, Founder/Director
PO Box 932, Montpelier, VT 05601
(800) 456-1253
info(at-sign)rootsvt.com www.rootsvt.com
In the spring of 2007 Root School began its mission of educating people of all ages and backgrounds in traditional survival skills, tracking and awareness, and indigenous philosophy. We are located in central Vermont, but travel to different colleges, museums, and schools throughout New England as well as teaching workshops throughout the year at our location in Vermont.
Vermont Wilderness School
Becca Martenson, Chair/Board of Directors
PO Box 2585, Brattleboro, VT 05303
(802) 257-8570
info(at-sign)vermontwildernessschool.org
www.vermontwildernessschool.org
VWS has been creating opportunities for long-term mentoring in nature awareness since 1999. We offer the Art of Mentoring workshop every year in October and a variety of programs for children and adults.
Virginia
NATS- Nature, Awareness, and Trackin’ Stuff
Michael J. Stacy Blackwell
623 Sadler Mtn. Road, Pearisburg, VA 24134
(540) 921-2820
miblackw(at-sign)vt.edu
NATS has taught nature skills to college students at Virginia Tech. More recently, we have become less programmatic and more community based developing natural intelligence to awake and support love and knowledge of nature in local kids. NATS is actively involved in building community through peacemaking and caretaking.
Wild Tribe Adventure Party
Niki Rowland, Owner Wild Child Face & Body Art
1504 Wagon Trail Road, Monroe, VA 24574
(434) 238-8358, (434) 384-1933
wildchildbodyart(at-sign)yahoo.com www.wildchildpartyart.com
The ancient art of masking and body decoration has the almost magical effect of shifting people to an enhanced state of awareness. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, we provide face painting and body art services for public and private events. We also offer a Wild Tribe Adventure party for older kids and adults that bonds participants into a tribe, exposing them to traditional skills that they can practice together.
Washington
Alderleaf Wilderness College
Jason Knight, Director
18715 299th Ave SE, Monroe, WA 98272
(206) 369-8458
info(at-sign)wildernesscollege.com www.WildernessCollege.com
Alderleaf Wilderness College offers innovative wilderness survival, tracking, and nature programs in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our courses, workshops, and expeditions provide students with valuable nature skills for environmental conservation, education, and sustainable living. Our core program, the Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program, is a one year course that prepares students to work as naturalists, wilderness educators, and sustainability consultants.
Cascadia Training & Mediation
Alan Seid, Director of Training
PO Box 2329, Maple Falls, WA 98266
(360) 599-2134
alan(at-sign)cascadiatraining.com www.cascadiatraining.com
World-class instruction in leading edge sustainable living, personal empowerment, and organizational effectiveness tools, processes, and methodologies. Alan Seid has spent many years in the sustainability field, and teaches several tools and methodologies. He has a commitment to improving human systems and contributing to the healthy integration of human and natural systems.
Dancing Coyote Camp
Gayle Holeton, Director
3133 Sahalee Drive W., Sammamish, WA 98074
(425) 868-0407
info(at-sign)dancingcoyotecamp.com www.dancingcoyotecamp.com
Dancing Coyote Camp acknowledges the innate human affinity for Nature and aims to nourish this connection by creating meaningful outdoor experiences for children ages 7-14 years. We believe that a physical and emotional connection to nature at an early age promotes principles of interdependence, personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, and inspires good decision making for the stewardship of the planet.
Earthways Nature Education
Cody Beebe, Sole Proprietor
PO Box 1977, Maple Falls, WA 98266
(360) 599-1393
cody(at-sign)earthwaysnature.org www.earthwaysnature.org
Earthways Nature Education strengthens Earth stewardship and community by educating people in and about the natural world. Cody Beebe, Co-founder and lead mentor has been mentoring children and adults in naturalist awareness and wilderness skills since 1996. In his spare time you can usually find him working on various restoration and permaculture projects.
Forest Halls
Jane Valencia, Director
jane-bardicharp(at-sign)foresthalls.org
650-227-0656 x816 www.foresthalls.org
Rooted in the lively ecology of moment, gathering, and place, Forest Halls is a cultural mentoring project offering bardic performance, celebration, village wisdom, healing artistry, and nature-based learning adventures of belonging to individuals, small groups, and community in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Vashon Island, WA, in Wallowa, OR, and elsewhere.
Islandwood
Mark Jordahl
4450 Blakely Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 855-4312
markj(at-sign)islandwood.org www.islandwood.org
IslandWood is committed to providing exceptional learning experiences that inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship, and serves over 10,000 youth and adults each year at its sustainably designed campus. The core program areas include residential 4-day environmental education experiences for 4th–6th graders, a graduate program in Education for Environment and Community, and corporate leadership trainings.
LearningHerbs.com
John and Kimberly Gallagher, Owners
PO Box 1174, Carnation, WA 98014
learningherbs(at-sign)hailmail.net
www.LearningHerbs.com www.herbmentor.com
LearningHerbs.com is a website that makes learning about edible and medicinal plants fun and simple. Kits, courses, free information and even a board game, all designed with coyote mentoring principles. John was design editor for the Kamana Naturalist Training Program, and has worked with Wilderness Awareness School since 1991.
Pathfinder Outdoor School
Nate Summers, Director
4407 Regal Street, Carnation, WA 98014
(425) 691-7317
pathfinderoutdoors(at-sign)gmail.com
Pathfinder Outdoor School is a group of highly trained instructors brought together to teach people in the outdoors and help them reach their highest potential through deep understanding of nature and its arts. We emphasize work with small groups or one-on-one mentoring through out the Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest.
Project NatureConnect: educating, counseling and healing with nature
Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director
PO Box 1605, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-6313
nature(at-sign)interisland.net www.ecopsych.com
Project NatureConnect offers online nature-connected degrees, courses and career education training programs, aiming to increase personal, social and environmental well-being. Learn and teach how to beneficially interlace our human psyche with the grace balance and restorative powers of natural systems within and around us. Add the sunlight beauty and spirit of the natural world to your life and community.
Quietheart Wilderness School
Allan Hawkeye Sande, Founder/Director
23632 Hwy 99, Ste. F, PMB 221, Edmonds, WA 98026
(425) 478-3494
quietheartexpress(at-sign)comcast.net www.quietheart.org
Founded in 1997, Quietheart Wilderness School serves the communities of King and Snohomish County. Students 7 to 17 years old are taught skills of nature awareness through respect and knowledge for mother earth. Programs are offered year round in the hopes of connecting children with the earth and thereby creating stewards for our earth.
Rite of Passage Journeys
Darcy Ottey, Executive Director
22401 39th Ave SE, Bothell, WA 98021
(425) 485-7396
info(at-sign)riteofpassagejourneys.org www.riteofpassagejourneys.org
Founded in 1968, Rite of Passage Journeys mentors youth, adults, and families through significant life transitions. Based in the Pacific Northwest, we serve ages 8-80 through wilderness-based programs that foster personal reflection, community engagement, earth stewardship, and connection with the sacred, and train individuals and organizations in how to implement rites of passage in their own communities.
Seven Stars Children’s Summer Camps
Liz Sinclair, Steve Bruce and Nattie Bruce, Earth mentors
PO Box 1204, Tum Tum, WA 99034
(509) 258-4364
sevenstars4560(at-sign)yahoo.com
Our family has been blessed with such awesome guides, mentors and teachers that we are each involved now with the summer camps to share experiences we’ve gleaned. Our mission is to guide children to Ancient new directions. Our main goal is to facilitate gratitude adjustments that will serve our students in a lifetime of journeying.
The Center for Environmental & Natural Skills Education (CENSE) Student Activities Office
CENSE, Student Activities: CAB 320, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA 98505
(360) 867-6220
cense(at-sign)evergreen.edu www.academic.evergreen.edu/groups/cense
CENSE is an experientially-based student group dedicated with providing the Evergreen State College community with opportunities to explore and learn about the natural world via hands-on experience. In addition to other occasional programs, we provide weekly workshops in the Evergreen Nature Reserve covering subjects such as: bird language, ethnobotany, tracking, and sensory expansion.
The Coyote’s Path Wilderness School
Chris Kenworthy, Director
PO Box 806, Okanogan, WA 98840
(509) 322-8541
coyotespath(at-sign)hotmail.com www.Coyotespath.org
Since 1993 The Coyote’s Path has offered classes & instruction for individuals, groups, and apprenticeship programs. We teach basic survival skills including winter survival, edible & medicinal plants, animal tracking, scout training, nature skills & lore. Whatever level of skill or interest our land will provide you with limitless opportunities to deepen your connection with the natural world.
The Mystery Bay Heritage School
Scott Brinton, Director
PO Box 285, Nordland, WA 98358
ospreyscott(at-sign)hotmail.com
The school utilizes knowledge from the diverse Olympic Peninsula community to blend a combination of nature awareness, sustainable design, and rural folk skills providing a variety of mentoring opportunities for all ages.
The Nature Mapping Program
Karen Dvornich, National Director
University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020
(206) 616-2031 vicon(at-sign)u.washington.edu
www.depts.washington.edu/natmap
The NatureMapping Program asks the public to help scientists map nature by reporting wildlife sightings to a statewide database that is used for land planning, assessing range maps, and learning where wildlife move from month to month. Learning Centers provide progressive levels of training and opportunities to move from reporting wildlife to field research projects with local scientists.
The Vashon Wilderness Program
Jessa Zimmerman, Administrator
PO Box 712, Vashon, WA 98070-0712
(206) 919-7190
jessazimmerman(at-sign)hotmail.com
The Vashon Wilderness Program offers nature immersion mentoring experiences for youth and adults that cultivate a deep relationship between the natural world, self, and community, integrated with the heritage and local culture of its location on Vashon Island in Washington.
The Wilderness Bridge
Julie Plachta, Founder
PO Box 897, Chimacum, WA 98325
(360) 774-6831 ofthewolves(at-sign)gmail.com
The Wilderness Bridge is committed to strengthening our sense of community and place by encouraging intergeneratiol/cross-cultural sharing of knowledge on the lush Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. This is a new organization and we are excited to see what develops as we work to connect people to the natural world and each other.
Wilderness Awareness School
Warren Moon, Executive Director; Ellen Haas, Administrative Director
PO Box 5000, PMB 137, Duvall, WA 98019
(425) 788-1301
wasnet(at-sign)wildernessawareness.org www.wildernessawareness.org
Wilderness Awareness School mentors naturalists, trackers, outdoor educators, and leaders through school-year programs, summer camps, wilderness expeditions, and intensive workshops. Our programs foster understanding and appreciation of nature, community, and self. We offer support and training to users of Coyote’s Guide.
Wisconsin
Boy Scout Troop 385, Marshfield Wisconsin
Sam Voight, Assistant Scoutmaster
1201 East 18th Street, Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 384-4293 scoutmaster385(at-sign)msn.com
Boy Scout Troop 385 mentors boys in the ways of leadership, outdoor skills, citizenship, and service, through monthly nature based activities and camping during a yearlong program culminating in a week long summer camp, a wilderness high adventure trip and a biennial international exchange with a coed troop in Germany. Scouts learn awareness, tracking, bird language, outdoor skills, animal and plant identification, and storytelling, while interacting within a family/community based structure.
When In Nature - Wilderness Awareness Connection
Sam Voight
Marshfield, Wisconsin
715 384-4293
WhenInNature.com
Connecting Children of all ages and Earth Mentors, through living natural adventures and exploring mysteries, regenerating the Circle of Life and passing down the knowledge of the 8 Shields for generations to come.
Virgin Islands, USA
Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute
Nate Olive, Program Director
PO Box 1007, Frederiksted, US VI, 00841
(678) 999-2143
nate(at-sign)visfi.org, nate(at-sign)olive.co www.visfi.org
Located on a 200 acre farm in the Caribbean, VISFI is a working educational farm enterprise that integrates sustainability, education, and community, offering experiential instruction in Agroecology, Permaculture, Bush Skills and related fields. Students include school-children, farmers, residential apprentices from around the world, and Master’s and Ph.D. candidates. Author and teacher Evan McGown is a friend, advisor, and periodic visiting instructor.
Canada
Alberta
Into the Wilderness
Doug and Judy Kramer
9516–190th Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T0E 1A0 Canada
(780) 642-3311
info(at-sign)intothewilderness.ca www.intothewilderness.ca
Into the Wilderness works on a small scale with kids, families and individuals providing experiences in rites of passage, tracking, wilderness living and mentoring. We pass along the timeless skills of the teacher, healer, protector and provider.
Camp Encounter
Dale Kiselyk, Director of Camp Encounter
RR1 Site 21 Box 4, Gunn, Alberta, T0E 1A0 Canada
(780) 967-2548
info(at-sign)campencounter.com www.campencounter.com
Camp Encounter is a year-round camp located 1 hour Northwest of Edmonton and situated on 100acres of beautiful lakeshore and forest terrain. Rich in history, adventure, and education we offer year round programs including; a residential summer camp, school programs, and weekend facility rentals.
NATURE ALIVE Outdoor Education & Survival Training
Dale Kiselyk, Owner/Instructor
5906-56st, Barrhead, Alberta, T7N 1C8 Canada
(780) 674-6145
lex_dale(at-sign)telus.net www.naturealive.ca
NATURE ALIVE is committed to providing year round, expert, engaging, interactive outdoor education programs, field trips, and expeditions to schools, youth camps, clubs, and outdoor groups of all ages. NATURE ALIVE also provides professional, practical, hands on survival training courses to corporate industry and general recreational users throughout Alberta
British Columbia
Earth Track Education
David Krieger and Tashmyra Crowe, Mentors
Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
(250) 538-8513
dovredfox(at-sign)hotmail.com, earthtrack2000(at-sign)yahoo.ca
www.earthtrackeducation.com
At Earth Track Education our mission is to connect kids and help them understand their cultures and their relationships with the natural world. We offer a list of programs including, Wolf Valley Homeschooling Program on Saltspring Island, Earth Track Thailand/Canada Youth Exchange Program, ESL Outdoor Coyote Mentoring Camps for Thai Urban and Rural Youth and Foreign Exchange Students, Summer Wilderness Survival Quest along the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers on Vancouver Island.
Earthwise Ventures: Environmental Education, Communications and Consulting
Patricia Spencer, Owner/ Operator
Box 10135, 108 Mile Ranch, BC V0K 2Z0 Canada
(250) 791-1901
earthwiseps(at-sign)shaw.ca www.earthwiseventures.net
Nature Journeys, offered by Earthwise Ventures, is an experiential program that introduces youth to the many wonders and mysteries of the natural world. Employing a mentoring approach to teaching, children are guided into the world of nature through the use of inspiration, games, stories and questioning techniques. Enhancing students’ sensory awareness of nature, developing their observation skills and creating a solid knowledge base about their local natural community are key program elements.
Natural Journeys Society
Wes Gietz, President
471B Anderton Road, Comox, BC, V9M 1Y9 Canada
(250) 339-3197
wgietz(at-sign)windwalker.ca www.naturaljourneys.ca
Natural Journeys Society offers mentoring for awareness in nature and personal development, including ongoing programs as well as shorter intensive workshops and events, in the mountains, forests, rivers, and ocean shores of Vancouver Island on Canada’s west coast. Programs are offered for adults, children, youth, and family groups.
WildSpirit - Rediscover the Connection
Bruce Carron
2960 Rachel Road, Courtenay, B.C V9N 9L4 Canada
(250) 338-8431
wildspirit(at-sign)shaw.ca www.members.shaw.ca/wildspirit
WildSpirit is dedicated to restoring people’s connection to wildness through Nature-based mentoring. We offer programs for kids, youth and adults and are located in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island.
Ontario
Divine Transformations - Spiritual Psychotherapy & Spiritual Direction
Dieter Staudinger, Founder
21 Sleepy Hollow Crt, Dundas, Ontario, L9H 1H4, Canada
(905) 923-8175
dieter(at-sign)divinetransformations.ca
www.divinetransformations.ca
Divine Transformations combines Spiritual Psychotherapy and the Principles of the Art of Mentoring to assist both adults and children in transforming challenges into opportunities for Personal Growth and True Healing. Its Vision is to foster greater intimacy and knowledge about oneself and the natural world, recognizing the interconnectedness of all things within the Circle of Life - and our purpose within it. This unique therapeutic approach helps clients find lasting Peace and Meaning in their life.
Earth Mentorship Programs
Chris Gilmour, Founder/Mentor/Wilderness Guide
Southern and Central Ontario, Canada
chris(at-sign)earthmentorship.com www.earthmentorship.com
I have been guiding wilderness trips and teaching Ancient Wilderness Living Skills workshops for the past few years and use an 8 shield medicine wheel approach to mentoring. Courses focus on personal connection with nature and primitive living skills as techniques to develop deeper awareness and learn about ecology. The sit spot and creative exploration of our senses and nature are foundations for all programs.
Earth Tracks ─ Outdoor Adventures and Nature Education
Alexis Burnett - Founder/Mentor and Wilderness Guide
Southern and Central Ontario, Canada
(519) 217- 4921
earthtracks(at-sign)gmail.com www.earthtracks.ca
We strive to blend ancient and modern wisdom through our teaching style and view nature as the ultimate teacher. Our classes and trips are small and very focused, providing quality education and practical field experience. "Earth Tracks strives to foster a deep connection to the earth, encourage self-awareness and develop a sense of place in today's world.”
Europe
Kamana Europe
Anneke Treep, Instructor
anneke(at-sign)kamana.eu www.kamana.eu
Kamana Europe provides Kamana instruction for European students who prefer a local instructor and/or students who prefer to write their journals in (for example) German or Dutch. Since 2006, these options are available through Kamana Europe.
Austria
Natur-und Wildnisschule der Alpen
Ron & Geli Bachmann-Hoenlinger
Tafelweg 9, 6094 Grinzens, Austria
Tel. +43 (0) 5234-67770
kiefernzapfen(at-sign)aon.at www.wildniszentrum.at
The Natur- und Wildnisschule der Alpen mentors naturalists, outdoor educators and interpreters, hunters, therapists, globetrotters, adventurers and all people interested in nature and outdoor activities. Our classes take place in the Austrian Alps region of Tirol. Programs cover survival, tracking, and mentoring philosophy. We offer day, weekend or weeklong intensive workshops, wilderness camps, wilderness journeys, and year long training as a nature and wilderness instructor.
Abenteuer Wildnis-Nature/Community Mentoring
Hans Muellegger
Jainzen 83, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria
Tel. +43 (0) 6132-22885
office(at-sign)wildnis.at www.wildnis.at
Mentoring naturalists & trackers, our school began 17 years ago with school projects, summer camps, wilderness expeditions, wilderness trainings, intensive tracking and workshops with young children. Programs are designed to foster understanding and appreciation of nature, community and self. Each year we train 3 to 5 naturalist interns, who live in our Wilderness camp for 2 years.
Ueberlebensschule Tirol
Thomas Patzleiner
Oberstrass 209, 6416 Obsteig, Austria
Tel. +43 (0) 5264-20113
thomas(at-sign)ueberlebensschule-tirol.at
www.ueberlebensschule-tirol.at
Ueberlebensschule-Tirol the survival school of Tirol/Austria is a private organization. Our goal lies in gathering knowledge of our ancestors and passing this knowledge along to people. Each course you attend will raise awareness and include basics of Art of Mentoring. You will be guided to experience your inner voice, your intuition and will be given the opportunity to track your heart.
Germany
Abenteuer Natur
Andrea Traeger
office(at-sign)abenteuer-natur.org http://abenteuer-natur.org/
Allgäu Scout Natur & Wildnisschule
Stefan Koch
87527 Sonthofen, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 172 76 298 79
info(at-sign)Wildnisschule-Allgaeu.de
www.Wildnisschule-Allgaeu.de; winter program: www.IgluScout.de
Allgäu Scout nature and wilderness school is located in the southern part of Germany, in the northern edge of the Alps. We offer various programs in summer and winter for children, youth, adults, school classes and families. Every program has the intention to bring people back to their center and to connect them deeper with the natural world. We pass along many tools and skills to integrate the natural knowledge and connections into daily life.
Arven, Schule für Heilpflanzenkunde und Wildniswissen
Susanne Fischer-Rizzi, Traditional Healer and Author
Postfach 24; 87477 Sulzberg, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8376-1777
susanne(at-sign)fischerrizzi.de www.susanne-fischer-rizzi.de
ARVEN - School for Medicinal Plant Lore and Wilderness Knowledge offers three year long trainings, tutorials, workshops and wilderness journeys. Susanne Fischer-Rizzi, the school’s founder has been instructing medicinal plant lore for the past 30 years. She is inspired to reawaken mankind’s connection to nature – for us to rediscover its healing potential, its beauty and how very precious it is. She is a Naturopathic practitioner who connects her knowledge of plants with the old European healing traditions.
Connected
Dr. Marc Kalkuhl
Grotenbacher Str. 27a, 51643 Gummersbach, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 2261-302023
info(at-sign)connected-community.de
www.connected-community.de
Connected are a group of enthusiastic people who have committed themselves to the vision of returning to the wild. Evolved from a tracking club in 1999 our diverse programs include wilderness skills, perception, tracking, earth philosophy, scout, community and more. In wilderness children’s camps, workshops and long term intensive studies we practice lost skills and rediscover self, nature and pure life’s joy. We are located east of Cologne in a beautiful forested area with thousands of creeks and hills.
Corvus Natur- und Wildnisschule
Patrick Schank, Rainer Besser, Alex Meffert, Christian Schorpp,
Christina Meffert
Postfach 1304, 88003 Friedrichshafen, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 700-2678 8762
info(at-sign)corvus-bodensee.de www.corvus-bodensee.de
Corvus teaches wilderness skills, awareness, earth philosophy and cultural
mentoring. We encourage people of all ages to learn more
about nature and themselves. Our programs include kids' camps,
classes for adults, vision quests, trainings for educators -
ranging from 1 day workshops to long term mentoring experiences.
Corvus is based in the South of Germany, near Lake Constance.
JAGWINA-Jagd-und Wildnisschule
Tim Taeger
Dorfstraße 58, 16230 Breydin / OT Trampe, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 33451-55053
info(at-sign)jagwina.de www.jagwina.de
The hunting and wilderness school JAGWINA offers workshops which strengthen the connection between people and nature for school children, adults and families. Our hunter awareness and safety training aimed at successfully receiving the German hunting license integrates knowledge of wilderness and principles of the sacred hunt. We are located 50 km north of Berlin.
Kinder der Erde e.V.
Dr. Barbara Deubzer
Siedlerstraße 5, 86911 Diessen am Ammersee, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8807-928637
barbaradeubzer(at-sign)kinder-der-erde.de
www.kinder-der-erde.de and www.wildnishort.de
Verein Kinder der Erde e.V. organizes nationwide after school programs and wilderness learning centers helping children and teenagers strengthen the connection with nature and themselves. Additionally we offer summer camps and continuing education programs and workshops in the areas of wilderness knowledge and teacher training. Our vision is to encourage multi generational communities based on a deep connection to nature and to peacemaking principles.
Natur-und Wildnisleben
Hartmut Rieck
Brunnenreuther Weg 21, D-85051 Ingolstadt, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 160-1080579
wildnis-leben(at-sign)web.de www.natur-und-wildnisleben.de
Natur- und Wildnisleben was founded 2006 in Ingolstadt, Germany. We offer very unique and individually developed environmental education-, mentoring programms and wilderness camps for all ages and groups, mostly in the Jura hills of the Naturpark Altmühltal. We want to help to reconnect to nature and to the personal treasures for individual growth.
Natur-und Wildnisschule Ralph Müller
Ralph Müller
Wennenkamp, 31737 Rinteln, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 5754-926714
Ralph.Mueller(at-sign)t-online.de
www.Natur-Wildnis-Schule.de
The nature and wilderness school Ralph Müller is located in the Weserbergland, close to Rinteln in northern Germany. We teach the old knowledge of the indigenous people of respectful living in and with nature in workshops and wilderness expeditions, nature mentoring and advanced nature training. Our programs connect old and modern knowledge to foster a deep connection to our earth and to ourselves.
Natur-und Wildnisschule Teutoburger Wald
Dr. Gero Wever
Mödsiek 42; 33790 Halle, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 5201-735270
info(at-sign)natur-wildnisschule.de www.natur-wildnisschule.de
The nature and wilderness school Teutoburger Wald supports people of all ages on their path to deeper awareness and a stronger connection to nature, community and self. We offer 1-10 day camps, intensive workshops, vision quests and wilderness expeditions. Long-term programs include a multi month wilderness residential program, a 9 month accredited wilderness educator’s program, and a 2-4 year wilderness mentor training.
Natural Skills–Unkommerzielles Wildnisforum (Hans-Juergen Niebuhr)
Andrea Träger
Alter Postweg 1b, 32689 Kalletal, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 5264-657590
andrea(at-sign)natural-skills.de www.natural-skills.de
Natural Skills is a free, autonomous and noncommercial forum where like-minded people interested in nature and wilderness skills meet to exchange thoughts and ideas and get to know each other. We also offer mentoring opportunities. Aimed at all German speaking regions and recommended by the German Wilderness Schools. Subject areas are: awareness, independent projects, tracking, primitive crafts, scout and philosophy.
ONGWEHONWE Nature and Wilderness School
Karlheinz Holl, Wilderness Trainer
Lögesmühle 2, 61194 Niddatal-Kaichen, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 6187-900718
kalle(at-sign)ongwehonwe.org www.ongwehonwe.org
We teach people between the ages of 8 to 99 the practical skills needed for a balanced life with our mother earth, based on the knowledge possessed by indigenous people. Our philosophy is to treat the earth and all of its children with care and respect. Our mission is to commit ourselves to preserve the earth, its unique beauty, as well as to restore the natural environment of the
world.
Uwe Belz
Wildnisschule
Wilhelmstr. 33a
53902 Bad Münstereifel, Germany
Tel. +49(0)2253-545568
info(at-sign)uwebelz.de www.uwebelz.de
Waldkindergarten-Wentorf
Wieland Woesler
Golfstrasse 7b, 21465 Wentorf, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 40-7028869
redestab(at-sign)waldkindergarten-wentorf.de
www.waldkindergarten-wentorf.de
Waldkindergarten-Wentorf is a non-profit organization located 20 km east of Hamburg, Germany. Our team shares outdoor learning experiences with a group of 16 children between the ages of 3 and 6. Throughout all seasons we spend 4 hours a day, 5 days a week in our forest. Our children experience individual learning, community and a lot of pure nature.
Wildnis-leben
Patrik Schneidewind
Kronmühlstr.6, 83623 Dietramszell, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8171-910756
wildnis-leben(at-sign)gmx.net
The nature and wilderness school Wildnis-leben, located at the foot of the alps close to Munich, is dedicated to conserving and passing along old wisdom and to help people along their path of a deeper connection to nature. Century old skills and crafts of survival and living are passed along as well as visions of peaceful and appreciative being among humans and all living creatures on this earth.
Wildnis-Wege
Wald- und Wildnispädagogik
Anna Köhler
Tel. 49 (0)-160-96843299
info(at-sign)wildnis-wege.de www.wildnis-wege.de
Wildnisschule Allgäu
Am Schleifenbach 8b
87549 Kranzegg Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8327 932 731
Mobile +49 (0) 172 76 298 79
info(at-sign)wildnisschule-allgaeu.de www.wildnisschule-allgaeu.de
Wildnisschule Chiemgau - Elementar Erfahrungen
Dirk Schröder
Postfach 1131, D-83201 Prien, Germany
Tel. +49 170 2956253
www.wildnisschule-chiemgau.de
The wilderness school Chiemgau is situated at the bottom of the Bavarian Alps. Its intent is to support people of all ages to find the contact to nature and therefore to their own abilities, qualities and treasures. Participants experience that awareness and ceremony are woven one into the other and build the base for living in harmony with oneself and the environment.
Wildnisschule Uwe Belz Wildnispädagogik
Uwe Belz, founder
Escher Str., 53949 Dahlem, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 2447-913628
info(at-sign)uwebelz.de www.uwebelz.de
The wilderness camp of Uwe Belz is located close to the Eifel National park. Our motto is living and learning with nature. We offer Wildnispädagogik teaching wilderness and a diverse array of workshops for adults and families.
Wildnisschule Wildeshausen im Verein für ganzheitliches Lernen/Zentrum PrinzHöfte
Myriam Kentrup, Judith Wilhelm, Jörg Pospiech
Zur Großen Höhe 4, 27243 Horstedt/Harpstedt, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 4244-966224
info(at-sign)wildnisschule.de or wildnisschule(at-sign)zentrum-prinzhoefte.de
www.wildnisschule.de
Our wilderness school located in northern Germany has been in existence for 10 years. Our hearts desire is to deepen our close contact to nature – our intrinsic home. Programs span wilderness camps, school excursions, coyote teaching, and hikes with horses, wild vegetable and healing herbs, wilderness life, wilderness educator programs Natur- und Wildnispädagogik and much more.
Wildnisschule Wildniswissen
Wolfgang Peham
Freihorstfeld 2, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 511- 5199680
info(at-sign)wildniswissen.de www.wildniswissen.de
We offer a variety of programs throughout Germany and Austria, 28 day wilderness living in the Carpathian Mountains as well as wilderness experiences in Canada and Africa. Graduates of our multi year Wilderness Education Program are admitted at Gaia University to do their Bachelor or Masters. We also offer a Waldkindergarten based on Art of Mentoring to share with the littlest of people.
Wildnisschulen Bayern
Network of Schools please check website for current contact
info(at-sign)wildnisschulen-bayern.de www.wildnisschulen-bayern.de
The Bavarian wilderness schools have created a network called Wildnissschulen Bayern. We are connected by the vision of reconnecting people with nature and creation. For this we share the skills and wisdom of Stalking Wolf as it is passed along by Tom Brown Jr. in his Tracker School as well as of Jon Young, founder of the Wilderness Awareness School.
Wildwechsel Naturschule
Katharina Fichtner
Naturfreundestraße 4
83734 Hausham, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8026 - 929 65 80
wildwechsel.naturschule(at-sign)t-online.de www.Wildwechsel-Naturschule.de
Wildwechsel nature school located in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps hosts events on earth survival skills, sustainable living and social pedagogy. Amongst others we offer team training in nature, school class programs, further education for teachers and nature camps. We are a family establishment and our goal is to support people in finding their home in nature and within themselves.
Wolfsgruppen
Wieland Woesler
Golfstrasse 7b, 21465 Wentorf, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)40-7028869
wielandwoesler(at-sign)arcor.de www.wolfsgruppen.de
The Wolfsgruppen program is held 20 km east of Hamburg, Germany. We mentor school age children in weekly nature groups and camps year round. We help young people see their own abilities and the beauty of nature.
Italy
Natur Agentur
Juergen Gerzabek
Lessnitz 5; 9572 Deutsch-Griffen; Austria OR Via della Val Cosa 73; 33090 Clauzetto PN, Italy
Tel. +43 (0) 4265-25258 or +39 0427-845176
office(at-sign)naturagentur.at www.naturagentur.at
Natur Agentur offers long term mentoring programs for all ages. We are located in the southern foothills of the Alps in Northern Italy. Unique flora and fauna exist on the land that mostly has been untouched in the past 30 years. It surrounds us and serves as a magnificent playground to learn about nature. Languages spoken are German, Italian and English.
Sweden
Svenska Vildmarksskolan (The Swedish Wilderness School)
Miki Dedijer
Orreviks Gård 310, 45196 Uddevalla, Sweden
Tel. +46 (0)708-159259
miki(at-sign)dedijer.com www.vildmarksskolan.se
Svenska Vildmarksskolan nurtures a regional community using earth-based values, supporting personal growth and self-esteem by teaching wilderness survival, nature awareness, tracking, and outdoor environmental education to youth of all ages.
Switzerland
Naturschule Woniya
Simon Hasler
Quadergasse 5, 7204 Untervaz, Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)81 630 06 18
info(at-sign)naturschule-woniya.ch www.naturschule-woniya.ch
The Naturschule Woniya (Nature School Woniya) runs tipi-camps during the summer holidays and offers classes for adults as well as programs for schools.
The goal of Naturschule Woniya is helping people reconnect to nature and themselves.
The Netherlands
Skills Weekend
Anneke Treep & Roel Meijer
Enschede or Veendam, The Netherlands
anneke(at-sign)onica.net
Privately organized gatherings aimed at people with at least some experience who are willing to attend regularly. An opportunity to practice, share and learn. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from experimental archaeology to bush craft to spiritual training, etc.
South Africa
AnimalSpirit
Anna Breytenbach, Founder
P O Box 1204, Stanford, 7210, South Africa
Tel. +27 (0)72 111 4052
info(at-sign)animalspirit.org www.animalspirit.org
AnimalSpirit, based in South Africa, helps people maximize relationships with non-human animals and restore a deep relationship with all of life – through the practice of interspecies communication. Hundreds of people attend workshops and wildlife experiences annually, with the aim of enhancing communication, balance, empathy, compassion and understanding among all beings.