Chickadee Camp - Nature Connection & Wilderness Skills
Fridays 2:00 - 4:30. Ages 5 - 17. Location: Talent. Winter Session begins January 16, 2026
$223 - $527 sliding scale* per season. (Fall, Winter, Spring).
Join us this Winter to learn from nature. Games, stories, ancestral skills/crafts and exploring will weave together as we learn to blend into the landscape and open our senses. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm. This program is based on holistic mentoring, rather than imparting information, yet information is woven throughout the experiences. We teach a broad curriculum of local species, wilderness skills, and sensory awareness, through experiences that also awaken attributes such as aliveness, curiosity, agility, self-sufficiency, common sense, and helpfulness through connection with the natural world.
Fridays 2:00 - 4:30. Ages 5 - 17. Location: Talent. Winter Session begins January 16, 2026
$223 - $527 sliding scale* per season. (Fall, Winter, Spring).
Join us this Winter to learn from nature. Games, stories, ancestral skills/crafts and exploring will weave together as we learn to blend into the landscape and open our senses. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm. This program is based on holistic mentoring, rather than imparting information, yet information is woven throughout the experiences. We teach a broad curriculum of local species, wilderness skills, and sensory awareness, through experiences that also awaken attributes such as aliveness, curiosity, agility, self-sufficiency, common sense, and helpfulness through connection with the natural world.
Sacred Animal Harvest
Saturday, November 15. 9:00 - 3:00. Enrollment Open.
$75 - $375 sliding scale*
Talent. For Adults. Kids 9 and up, or youngers with parents ok too.
Instructors: Robin, Taylor, Ben, & Anya.
Join us to celebrate life and transform an animal into food, tools, and clothing with reverence, respect, and honor. The unescapable mystery of life is that we must kill to feed ourselves, whether it's kale and broccoli or beef and pork, we take life so that we may live. How do we acknowledge this fact of life in a way that honors our food with reciprocity, and respect, and humility? Often, someone else has done the 'dirty work' for us. A neat package of meat or bunch of bananas traveled a long road before arriving at the store. Can we stay connected to our hearts and feed ourselves? It's been said, 'In the old days, no part of the animal was wasted.' Let's turn back the clock. With skilled instructors, this class will travel back in time and once again people will harvest an animal so that nothing goes to waste.
This is a hands on class. Yet students can choose their own level of participation, whether you wish to watch or help throughout the process, you are free to join at the level with which you feel comfortable.
Please bring a lunch, water bottle, snacks, dress warmly enough to be outside.
Saturday, November 15. 9:00 - 3:00. Enrollment Open.
$75 - $375 sliding scale*
Talent. For Adults. Kids 9 and up, or youngers with parents ok too.
Instructors: Robin, Taylor, Ben, & Anya.
Join us to celebrate life and transform an animal into food, tools, and clothing with reverence, respect, and honor. The unescapable mystery of life is that we must kill to feed ourselves, whether it's kale and broccoli or beef and pork, we take life so that we may live. How do we acknowledge this fact of life in a way that honors our food with reciprocity, and respect, and humility? Often, someone else has done the 'dirty work' for us. A neat package of meat or bunch of bananas traveled a long road before arriving at the store. Can we stay connected to our hearts and feed ourselves? It's been said, 'In the old days, no part of the animal was wasted.' Let's turn back the clock. With skilled instructors, this class will travel back in time and once again people will harvest an animal so that nothing goes to waste.
This is a hands on class. Yet students can choose their own level of participation, whether you wish to watch or help throughout the process, you are free to join at the level with which you feel comfortable.
Please bring a lunch, water bottle, snacks, dress warmly enough to be outside.
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Archery Weekend
Sunday 10:00 - 3:00. November 9. Enrollment Open. $75 - $175 sliding scale* (Families $90 - $225) Near Ashland. For Adults and Kids 7 and up. We had a blast this summer and by popular request, we are offering an Archery Day this Fall! Beginners will Learn - The Five Fundamental Techniques - How to hold the bow and arrow - The "Big Three" for accurate shooting, - How to safely practice together with others. - How to create an effective practice routine - How to make your own free/affordable targets *Optional: we will help you order a complete bow and arrow set up for under $150. With enough notice, we can make sure you have your new set up at this workshop so you can get to know it with guidance. Experienced Archers will learn - How to reinforce the "Big Three" - How to bareshaft tune arrows - Arrow repair - Follow up activities - How to form "good" habits - Recommended resources Everyone will learn by doing. We will join in games, activities, crafts and tournaments to enhance our archery skills and knowledge. |
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Katie Hicks Katie's connection to nature, music, and community is evident as soon as you see her with the kids - laughter, fun, and learning through inspiration and natural curiosity carry them masterfully through the day until it's time to go home!
Scott Davidson is a deep nature guide who cultivates an ecology of belonging through a unique weaving of wildlife tracking, tending and questing in community. It’s all about deep connection in community. As a lifelong guide, he nurtures the genius in each of us, one relationship and curiosity at a time. Scott deeply listens to the truth of the moments, helping people learn from all of wild life, both surrounding us and within us, and our inherent ability to live fully in balanced connection and service with all of life.
As a gifted council and quest guide, Scott collaborates with and serves many locally and internationally. His first 4-day solo fast was with the School of Lost Borders in Death Valley National Park, and he continues to work, play and train with the School in CA wildlands, including a personal renewal fast each year. Scott mentors boys into young men through wild adventures and skills, councils and quests, with the Stepping Stones Project in the SF Bay Area. With the Wilderness Guides Council, he coordinates annual gatherings nationally and intimately engages with the rites of passage guides community, including South Africa in 2014.
http://www.scottfdavidson.com/about-scott.html
As a gifted council and quest guide, Scott collaborates with and serves many locally and internationally. His first 4-day solo fast was with the School of Lost Borders in Death Valley National Park, and he continues to work, play and train with the School in CA wildlands, including a personal renewal fast each year. Scott mentors boys into young men through wild adventures and skills, councils and quests, with the Stepping Stones Project in the SF Bay Area. With the Wilderness Guides Council, he coordinates annual gatherings nationally and intimately engages with the rites of passage guides community, including South Africa in 2014.
http://www.scottfdavidson.com/about-scott.html
Michelle Sauceda is a loving mother, naturalist, auntie and mentor to youth of all ages in connection to nature, self, community and place. She carries a love of life, love of this beautiful creation, love of friendship, and a knowing that children are magical beings.
Drawing on her life experiences she connects youth of all ages deeply with nature through the sharing of stories, play, laughter, games, music, medicine making, wild edibles, all in balance with the rhythms of nature.
Michelle also facilitates youth and adults in marking key transitions of life through rites of passage work. She has been blessed to spend years being mentored by a number of indigenous elders, who have helped guide her into the facilitation of potent and loving ceremonies that provoke the deep introspection and vulnerability needed for powerful transformations to occur.
Drawing on her life experiences she connects youth of all ages deeply with nature through the sharing of stories, play, laughter, games, music, medicine making, wild edibles, all in balance with the rhythms of nature.
Michelle also facilitates youth and adults in marking key transitions of life through rites of passage work. She has been blessed to spend years being mentored by a number of indigenous elders, who have helped guide her into the facilitation of potent and loving ceremonies that provoke the deep introspection and vulnerability needed for powerful transformations to occur.
[from 2024]
Chickadee Camp: Weekly Nature Awareness Program
Fridays 2:00 - 4:30. Enrollment Open. Location: Talent. $295 - $550 sliding scale* (paid per season, Fall, Winter, Spring)
Ages: 6 and up.
Learn ancient skills such as animal tracking, wilderness survival and more. Games, stories, ancestral skills/crafts and exploring will weave together as we learn to blend into the landscape and open our senses. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm. This program is based on holistic mentoring, rather than imparting information, yet information is woven throughout the experiences. We teach a broad curriculum of local species, wilderness skills, and sensory awareness, through experiences that also awaken attributes such as aliveness, curiosity, agility, self-sufficiency, common sense, and helpfulness through connection with the natural world. Knowing all your needs are provided for in nature, you may begin to feel at home in the wilderness.
Chickadee Camp: Weekly Nature Awareness Program
Fridays 2:00 - 4:30. Enrollment Open. Location: Talent. $295 - $550 sliding scale* (paid per season, Fall, Winter, Spring)
Ages: 6 and up.
Learn ancient skills such as animal tracking, wilderness survival and more. Games, stories, ancestral skills/crafts and exploring will weave together as we learn to blend into the landscape and open our senses. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm. This program is based on holistic mentoring, rather than imparting information, yet information is woven throughout the experiences. We teach a broad curriculum of local species, wilderness skills, and sensory awareness, through experiences that also awaken attributes such as aliveness, curiosity, agility, self-sufficiency, common sense, and helpfulness through connection with the natural world. Knowing all your needs are provided for in nature, you may begin to feel at home in the wilderness.
Spring 2023 NATURE EXPLORERS:
Nature Explorers: A New Wilderness Skills and Nature Connection Program
Saturdays 2:00 - 4:30 twice a month.
Ashland area.
$275 - $450 Sliding Scale. (sibling discount, $375 - $515 covers any amount of siblings).
Ages: 6 - 17 (Five and under with parent)
Dates: Saturdays April 15, 22. May 13, 27. June 16* (Fri).
Welcome in the Spring by learning about the plants, animals, birds and trees. We will play nature awareness games, share stories, make things with our hands, and learn skills such as tracking and bird language that were once commonly used by our ancestors on all continents. Nature is our teacher in this program. Our holistic mentoring approach uses games, stories, crafts, song, and skills to support the kids to learn from nature by inspiration and curiosity. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm.
Saturdays 2:00 - 4:30 twice a month.
Ashland area.
$275 - $450 Sliding Scale. (sibling discount, $375 - $515 covers any amount of siblings).
Ages: 6 - 17 (Five and under with parent)
Dates: Saturdays April 15, 22. May 13, 27. June 16* (Fri).
Welcome in the Spring by learning about the plants, animals, birds and trees. We will play nature awareness games, share stories, make things with our hands, and learn skills such as tracking and bird language that were once commonly used by our ancestors on all continents. Nature is our teacher in this program. Our holistic mentoring approach uses games, stories, crafts, song, and skills to support the kids to learn from nature by inspiration and curiosity. This is an opportunity to unplug, learn to make things with our own hands, and sync to nature’s rhythm.
chickadee camp
Spring after school nature skills for youth ages 6 - 17
Adventure with us and deepen your connection to nature this year. Through sensory awareness, games, hiking, survival skills, crafts, song, story and exploring the land, we will take the opportunity to unplug and sync to nature’s rhythm. Our holistic mentoring approach encourages inspiration, curiosity, aliveness, and self-confidence by meeting students where they are at, inspiring nature awareness, and learning important skills and techniques including identification of hazards, animal tracking, plant ID and uses, bird language, natural history, knowledge of place, and survival skills. Learn to feel at home in the wilderness.
Wednesday Chickadee Camp
March 22 - April 26, Ashland. $250 - $425 Sliding Scale
Friday Chickadee Camp
March 24 - April 28, Talent. $250 - $425 Sliding Scale (choose your own price within the suggested range).
* No Class on March 29 & 31 (We will be out of town teaching at the Acorn Gathering)
* 3:00 arrival is an option for students who get out of school later.
* Note: Chickadee Camp runs Fall - Spring. There are two separate groups, Wednesdays and Fridays
Wednesday Chickadee Camp
March 22 - April 26, Ashland. $250 - $425 Sliding Scale
Friday Chickadee Camp
March 24 - April 28, Talent. $250 - $425 Sliding Scale (choose your own price within the suggested range).
* No Class on March 29 & 31 (We will be out of town teaching at the Acorn Gathering)
* 3:00 arrival is an option for students who get out of school later.
* Note: Chickadee Camp runs Fall - Spring. There are two separate groups, Wednesdays and Fridays
essential survival series: Workshops in Self-Sufficiency, Homesteading, and Ancestral Skills
Animal Tracking 101 Saturday January 14. 10:00 - 1:00 $75
Knot tying: Top 10 Essential Knots for the outdoors and the homestead. Sat. Feb 11 $30 - $45
Knife Sharpening, Knife Safety, and Spoon Carving. Sat March 11 $50
Keep an Eye out for these classes in the Spring:
Fire By Friction: learn to start your campfire without matches. $75
Bird Language. $40
Plant Walk: Make medicine from the land. $40
Knot tying: Top 10 Essential Knots for the outdoors and the homestead. Sat. Feb 11 $30 - $45
Knife Sharpening, Knife Safety, and Spoon Carving. Sat March 11 $50
Keep an Eye out for these classes in the Spring:
Fire By Friction: learn to start your campfire without matches. $75
Bird Language. $40
Plant Walk: Make medicine from the land. $40