The
Living with the Earth
Classes
Living with the Earth
Classes
Learn to live in connection with your surroundings as a native of place. In these
workshops students are guided to develop earth-based skills of survival, observation,
and awareness. These are skills that were once known to our ancestors across the
world yet today they have become rare. Unlock the mysteries of nature and get to
know yourself better through the wilderness arts.
Take a look at the variety of class offerings with descriptions and if we have it
scheduled you will see the date posted. These programs are for ages 18 & up.
workshops students are guided to develop earth-based skills of survival, observation,
and awareness. These are skills that were once known to our ancestors across the
world yet today they have become rare. Unlock the mysteries of nature and get to
know yourself better through the wilderness arts.
Take a look at the variety of class offerings with descriptions and if we have it
scheduled you will see the date posted. These programs are for ages 18 & up.
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2011-2012 Class Offerings
Spring Wild Class
We will be running a spring "Wild Class" that will include one weekend in
April and one in May of 2012. Click here for Details
Backcountry Survival Skills
Each year people head into remote areas while overestimating their abilities and
underestimating how physically demanding and challenging the wilderness can be.
This class is designed to give participants real and practical survival skills that could
save your life.
Click here for Details
Fire (level 1)
Fire gives us warmth, light, and heat for cooking and other crafts. A well-tended fire
often becomes a place of gathering. Learn to make and use the bow drill fire by
friction kit along with gathering and making tinder, fire pit design, and how to
properly tend and use a fire.
Fire (level 2)
Learn to make and use the hand drill and mouth drill fire by
friction kits. You will also learn about coal extenders, using stone
tools, plant identification, and other topics regarding the art of
fire.
Date: TBD Time: 4 hours Cost: $35
Shelter
A person can die within hours due to exposure to the elements which makes
shelter an important topic. Having a good shelter can be the difference
between a miserable night and a relaxing sleep in a home away from home. This class
will cover all you need to know to build several different types of shelters and to
choose the one that will fit your needs. All shelters we teach come from the earth and
will return to the earth. We will also discuss clothing as your first layer of shelter and
how to make improvised/hybrid shelters using modern and natural materials.
Wilderness Living Skills 3-Day Course
Spend 3 days living and learning awesome wilderness skills in Indiana.
May 18-20th, 2012. See the description here.
Nature Awareness (Level 1)
Unlike the survival skills of shelter or fire, nature awareness is intangible. However,
developing good awareness skills will assist you in survival, navigation, tracking,
predator avoidance, and everyday life. This class will guide participants through "the
core routines of nature awareness" which draws from indigenous practices in living
close to the earth and paying attention to the patterns and disturbances in our
surroundings.
We will practice techniques of enhancing the senses, developing good observation skills
and inquisitiveness, and relaxing into the quiet mind. This class is taught through
experiential activities in nature.
Nature Awareness (Level 2)
This class will continue to build on what you experienced in Level 1. We will introduce
activities that expand the physical senses further and even bring out stronger intuition,
or the 6th sense. The exercises in this class will also explore the relationship between
awareness, dynamic meditation, and movement.
Date: TBD Time: 5 hours Cost: $40
The Language of the Birds (Level 1)
Bird language is an expansion of awareness that draws us into
detailed observation and listening to wildlife around us. Songbirds see
in color and can see the landscape from higher vantage points than us.
Birds also have to pay attention to the movements of predators around
them and for these reasons they can be great indicators of disturbance in
the forest.
If we can train ourselves to pay attention to the birds then we can open up a doorway
into awareness of our surroundings not only in the forest but also in the city as bird
language behaviors can be seen in human behaviors. Learn the basics in understanding
how and why bird language works and how to interpret it and develop your skill.
The Language of the Birds (level 2)
This course goes further into understanding the baseline and the disturbances in nature.
Specific bird alarm behaviors will be taught along with techniques of reducing your
own disturbance which enables you to see more wildlife.
Date: TBD Time: 4 hours Cost: $30
Wildlife Behavior & Tracking (level 1)
Wild animals live not only in the deep forest but also right in our backyards and city
streets. Often, people will go years without noticing the red fox living in their
neighborhood let alone where it lives or what it is eating. This class will teach you how
to approach the art of tracking and how to use it in your everyday life. Together, we
will look at various tracks and signs of local wildlife in the field as we draw out as
much information from the smallest of details and markings.
If you are fond of animals and you want to live in closer connection and awareness
with wildlife then this class is for you.
Date: TBD Time: 5 hours Cost: $25
The Healing Power of Nature (level 1)
Many studies have shown that nature assists in speedier recovery of illness, relaxing
from stress, and even countering symptoms of ADHD. Nature can also help us
maintain health and to bring out our greatest potential and creativity as an individual.
This class delves into techniques of tapping into the healing power of nature for
personal healing, health, and creativity. We draw from ancient indigenous practices
(Lakota, Apache, and Iroquois) in connecting to the healing power of nature.
Spring Wild Class
We will be running a spring "Wild Class" that will include one weekend in
April and one in May of 2012. Click here for Details
Backcountry Survival Skills
Each year people head into remote areas while overestimating their abilities and
underestimating how physically demanding and challenging the wilderness can be.
This class is designed to give participants real and practical survival skills that could
save your life.
Click here for Details
Fire (level 1)
Fire gives us warmth, light, and heat for cooking and other crafts. A well-tended fire
often becomes a place of gathering. Learn to make and use the bow drill fire by
friction kit along with gathering and making tinder, fire pit design, and how to
properly tend and use a fire.
Fire (level 2)
Learn to make and use the hand drill and mouth drill fire by
friction kits. You will also learn about coal extenders, using stone
tools, plant identification, and other topics regarding the art of
fire.
Date: TBD Time: 4 hours Cost: $35
Shelter
A person can die within hours due to exposure to the elements which makes
shelter an important topic. Having a good shelter can be the difference
between a miserable night and a relaxing sleep in a home away from home. This class
will cover all you need to know to build several different types of shelters and to
choose the one that will fit your needs. All shelters we teach come from the earth and
will return to the earth. We will also discuss clothing as your first layer of shelter and
how to make improvised/hybrid shelters using modern and natural materials.
Wilderness Living Skills 3-Day Course
Spend 3 days living and learning awesome wilderness skills in Indiana.
May 18-20th, 2012. See the description here.
Nature Awareness (Level 1)
Unlike the survival skills of shelter or fire, nature awareness is intangible. However,
developing good awareness skills will assist you in survival, navigation, tracking,
predator avoidance, and everyday life. This class will guide participants through "the
core routines of nature awareness" which draws from indigenous practices in living
close to the earth and paying attention to the patterns and disturbances in our
surroundings.
We will practice techniques of enhancing the senses, developing good observation skills
and inquisitiveness, and relaxing into the quiet mind. This class is taught through
experiential activities in nature.
Nature Awareness (Level 2)
This class will continue to build on what you experienced in Level 1. We will introduce
activities that expand the physical senses further and even bring out stronger intuition,
or the 6th sense. The exercises in this class will also explore the relationship between
awareness, dynamic meditation, and movement.
Date: TBD Time: 5 hours Cost: $40
The Language of the Birds (Level 1)
Bird language is an expansion of awareness that draws us into
detailed observation and listening to wildlife around us. Songbirds see
in color and can see the landscape from higher vantage points than us.
Birds also have to pay attention to the movements of predators around
them and for these reasons they can be great indicators of disturbance in
the forest.
If we can train ourselves to pay attention to the birds then we can open up a doorway
into awareness of our surroundings not only in the forest but also in the city as bird
language behaviors can be seen in human behaviors. Learn the basics in understanding
how and why bird language works and how to interpret it and develop your skill.
The Language of the Birds (level 2)
This course goes further into understanding the baseline and the disturbances in nature.
Specific bird alarm behaviors will be taught along with techniques of reducing your
own disturbance which enables you to see more wildlife.
Date: TBD Time: 4 hours Cost: $30
Wildlife Behavior & Tracking (level 1)
Wild animals live not only in the deep forest but also right in our backyards and city
streets. Often, people will go years without noticing the red fox living in their
neighborhood let alone where it lives or what it is eating. This class will teach you how
to approach the art of tracking and how to use it in your everyday life. Together, we
will look at various tracks and signs of local wildlife in the field as we draw out as
much information from the smallest of details and markings.
If you are fond of animals and you want to live in closer connection and awareness
with wildlife then this class is for you.
Date: TBD Time: 5 hours Cost: $25
The Healing Power of Nature (level 1)
Many studies have shown that nature assists in speedier recovery of illness, relaxing
from stress, and even countering symptoms of ADHD. Nature can also help us
maintain health and to bring out our greatest potential and creativity as an individual.
This class delves into techniques of tapping into the healing power of nature for
personal healing, health, and creativity. We draw from ancient indigenous practices
(Lakota, Apache, and Iroquois) in connecting to the healing power of nature.
| Want to go deeper? Try our 10-week immersion program. |