Program Details

EMBODIED ETHNOBOTANY
(mornings)

Activities:
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• Ecological awareness exercises

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• Wild plant Identification

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• Plant spirit meditations

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• Intuitive plant communication

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• Harvesting/wildcrafting

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• Wild medicine/food making

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• Wild-tending/habitat restoration

Learning Goals:
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• Ecological understanding of Cascade mountain ecotones, those present at the site, and several key native ethnobotanicals within each.

 

• Visual recognition and basic botanical understanding of at least one dozen key ethnobotanicals present at the site.

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• Direct, experiential, creative connection to at least three student-chosen ethnobotanicals present at the site - through engaging all senses, creative exercises, meditative awareness/inquiry, and intuitive plant communication.

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• Understand and practice techniques for locating, tending, harvesting, processing, and consuming/using at least six teacher-chosen ethnobotanicals present at the site.

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• Ecological understanding and practical experience related to restoring, introducing, and planting native ethnobotanicals in a wild setting (nursery plants provided).

​INNER WISDOM OF WILDLIFE
​(afternoons)

Activities:

• Ecological Awareness exercises

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• Wild animal identification

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• Animal medicine meditations

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• Learning tracks

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• Learning traps

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• Small animal processing/Gratitude Ceremony

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• Wild-tending/habitat restoration

Specific Learning Goals:

• Ecological understanding of Cascade mountain ecotones, those present at the site, and several key wildlife within each.- Visual recognition and basic biological understanding of at least one dozen key animals present at the site.

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• Direct, experiential, creative connection to at least three student-chosen animals present at the site - through engaging all senses, creative exercises, meditative awareness/inquiry, imagination and embodiment, and intuitive animal communications.

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• Practical understanding and physical practice of techniques for observing wildlife and their patterns, tracking their behaviors/territory, making basic traps and tools for harvesting, and processing (as a group) at least one small animal from the site during the program.

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• Ecological understanding and practical experience related to restoring/managing the ecology of a site to increase the carrying capacity and ecological abundance for wild animals. (native plants provided).

WEAVING A NEW WAY
​(evenings)

Activities:
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• Harvesting and processing materials/supplies

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• ​Weaving willow baskets, cordage, and possible other crafts.

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• Telling stories/insights and song from personal communications from plants and animals of the site.

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• Guided group sharing and integration.

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• Additional nighttime explorations and adventures...

Specific Learning Goals:
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• Gain an understanding of the ecology, growth cycles, and harvesting regimes associated with the ancestral craft supplies (i.e. willow, nettle, etc). If possible, include observation of the plant(s) and the physical practice of harvesting and processing.

 

• Gain confidence and embodied skill in the crafts of basket-weaving and cordage.

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• Gain an understanding of value and fundamental importance of storytelling and creative vocal expression in the maturation of the individual and the maintenance/evolution of healthy earth-based, community-driven culture.

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• Gain confidence and embodied skill in the crafts of telling one’s story, reflecting other’s insights, and liberating the creative, intuitive, and spontaneous potential of the voice in song and poetry.

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• Integrate the learnings of each day and deepen connection to the community of participants.