We will be guided by the living plants and learning directly from them, discovering how they are used for food, medicine and pleasure.

The class includes practical information on harvest and preparation.

Who is this for?

This series is for beginners as well as for more experienced plant people who want to practice and develop their plant identification skills. Folks currently enrolled in herbal classes and herb class graduates can reinforce and expand their “hands on” plant knowledge. This is a useful course for outdoor education instructors as well.

About the Wild Gardens:

This class takes place entirely outdoors in our gardens (and a bit in the surrounding meadows and woods).

The gardens, for the most part, are no-till, permanent beds, with year-round mulch that contain over two-hundred diverse species of annuals, perennial herbs, bushes, trees, vines and poultry.

The wild flora are welcome and encouraged in the gardens. We are drawn to these gardening techniques that work with nature to create lively, productive, beautiful gardens with less work.

Another goal along these lines has been to maintain the gardens without the use of any chemical inputs: pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, etc. – which we have succeeded in doing (from our point of view) throughout the gardens’ lifetime. Our homestead serves as an herbal teaching site and botanical apothecary.

Please note: This course does not include lab projects, cooking, or any indoor classroom time.

Program Information:

For:  Limited to 15 adults

Dates: Every Wednesday (18 sessions) from May 23 thru Sept 19 (we skip Aug
15)
Time: 5 – 6pm
Location: The lovely hamlet of Lyonsville, Stone Ridge, NY
Cost: $200 ($100 deposit by April 25)

Note: All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Dina Falconi is a clinical herbalist with a strong focus on food activism and nutritional healing. She has been teaching classes about the use of herbs for food, medicine, and pleasure, including wild-food foraging and cooking, for over twenty years. She produces Falcon Formulations natural body care products and Earthly Extracts medicinal tinctures. She is a founding member of the Northeast Herbal Association, a chapter leader of the Weston A. Price Foundation and on the board of Slow Food-Hudson Valley. An avid gardener and wildcrafter, Dina is passionate about ecological agriculture and has completed the Permaculture Design Certificate Course. She is the author of Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Everybody.

Make a traditional one piece hickory or white oak bow under the instruction of master craftsman Rolando Negoita. Over the course of four classes you will shape a wooden stave into a beautiful, fully functional bow.

You’ll be learning the proper use of traditional tools and methods such as:

• Lay out and shaping
• Rasping
• Tillering

Followed by some target practice with your new bow!

Tools and materials will be provided.

Dates and Times: 5pm – 8pm Tuesdays & Thursdays

• Tues May 15th
• Thurs May 17th
• Tues May 22nd
• Thurs May 24th

Ages: 12 and up

Cost: $360 per person

Location: Accord, NY

Group cooperation, strategic thinking, hand-made shelters and tools, self and group caretaking, gratitude, quiet mind. All of these skills will be called upon for this five days of thriving in the wild.

The ROPES OVERNIGHT camp will provide an opportunity to deepen connections to nature and each other, test wilderness skills, and challenge ourselves in adventurous ways. You’ll leave with a deeper sense of joy, belonging and self-confidence.

Whether you’re new to Ropes, or you’ve been a Roper since its inception the ROPES OVERNIGHT camp will be a wilderness immersion to remember.

During Ropes Overnight Camp teens will:

• Learn and utilize a variety of wilderness survival skills and native technology.
• Practice awareness, quiet-mind, telling the story of their day, animal forms, curiosity, exploration, caretaking, and gratitude.
• Face personal and group challenges tailored to build self-confidence, group unity, and self-awareness.
• Build comfort and competency living in the outdoors.

ROPES OVERNIGHT Camp Details

ROPES OVERNIGHT camp is for boys and girls ages 14-17.

The ROPES Overnight Camp will run:

• Sun, July 29 (noon) – Fri, Aug 3 (noon) – REGISTER NOW LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

Raven Overnight Camp will provide an opportunity to deepen our connection to nature, work on wilderness skills, and live in community much like our native ancestors did only a few hundred years ago.

During Raven Overnight Camp your child will:

• Learn and utilize a variety of wilderness survival skills and native technology.
• Practice awareness, quiet-mind, telling the story of their day, animal forms, curiosity, exploration, caretaking, and gratitude.
• Face personal and group challenges tailored to build self-confidence, group unity, and self-awareness.
• Build comfort and competency living in the outdoors.

Raven Overnight Camp Details

Raven Overnight camp is for boys and girls ages 10-14.

The Raven Overnight Camp will run:

• Sun, July 29 (noon) – Fri, Aug 3 (noon) – WAIT LIST ONLY

Click the links for more details about our overnight camps:

• Raven Overnight Camp is for children and teens ages 10-14.
• ROPES Overnight Camp is for teens ages 14-17.

• Sun, July 29 (noon) – Fri, Aug 3 (noon) – REGISTER NOW LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

Cost: $690 for the six day overnight camp. $150 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit per child is required with registration. Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need  (see registration form for details).

Location: The Woods, Fields and River at Camp Epworth, High Falls, NY.

The Teen Leadership Experience is for youth 13 and up who are interested in deepening their relationship with wilderness skills, exploring their relationship with themselves, and learning more about the teaching skills utilized by Wild Earth instructors.

The Teen Leadership Experience will offer your teen a chance to:

• Hone a wilderness skill in the area of their choosing
• Practice core routines such as awareness, journaling, sit-spot, story of the day, animal forms, questioning, wandering, gratitude, etc.
• Shadow a variety of Wild Earth instructors at each of the three camps
• Face personal and group challenges tailored to build self-confidence, group unity, and self-awareness.
• Practice honoring yourself and others, including self nurturing, setting boundaries with younger kids (how not to become a human jungle gym), and making intentions.
• Play, learn and design games.

Teen Leadership Experience Details

The Teen Leadership Experience is for boys and girls ages 13+.

Wild Earth is offering one three-week session of the Teen Leadership Experience:

• July 2 – July 20 – FULL, WAIT LIST ONLY

Time: Each week on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 9:30am-3:30pm.

Cost: $720 for the three-week session. $150 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit per child is required with registration.  Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need  (see registration form for details).

Location: Clove Valley Road, High Falls, NY

This year Wild Earth is also offering a one-week overnight camp for Raven and Teen Leadership Experience campers.

Registration begins on February 1st.

At Raven Camp our day begins by giving thanks in a big circle. After a few songs and silly movement games to get us into our bodies, we’ll split up into clans for the day to play amongst the trees and stream, build forts in the leaves, work on wilderness skills, wander the land, and work on service projects that tend and beautify the land.

At the end of the day, with sticks in our hair, mud between our toes and smiles on our faces, we’ll return to the big group circle, and share stories from our day.

Raven Camp is where your child will:

• Practice a variety of wilderness skills and native technology.
• Practice awareness, quiet-mind, telling the story of their day, animal forms, curiosity, exploration, service, and gratitude.
• Face personal and group challenges tailored to build self-confidence, group unity, and self-awareness.
• Build comfort and competency in the outdoors.

Raven Camp Details

Raven camp is for boys and girls ages 10-13.

Wild Earth is offering one three-week session of Raven Camp:

• July 2 – July 20 – FULL, WAIT LIST ONLY

Time: Each week on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 9:30am-3:30pm.

Cost: $720 for the three-week session. $150 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit per child is required with registration.   Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need  (see registration form for details).

Location: Clove Valley Road, High Falls, NY

This year Wild Earth is also offering a one-week overnight camp for Raven and Teen Leadership Experience campers.

Registration begins on February 1st.

Our day begins by giving thanks in a big circle. After a few songs and silly movement games bring us further into our bodies, we’ll split up into clans for the day to play amongst the trees and boulders, sculpt clay from the stream banks, look for mysteries under rocks and logs, build forts in the leaves, wander the caves and cliffs and explore the land.

At the end of the day, with cattail fluff in our pockets, our faces painted with mud and charcoal and smiles on our faces, we’ll return to the big group circle, and share stories of the day.

Kestrel is where your child will:

• Play and explore the beautiful outdoors.
• Experience and practice a variety of wilderness skills and native technology.
• Practice awareness, quiet-mind, animal forms, curiosity, exploration, telling the story of the day, and gratitude.
• Face personal and group challenges tailored to build awareness, self-confidence, and group unity.

Kestrel Camp Details

Kestrel camp is for boys and girls ages 7-10.

Kestrel campers can attend one 2-week session, two 2-week sessions or all three 2-week sessions:

• July 2 – 13 – FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY
• July 16 – 27 – FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY
• August 6 – 17 – FULL, WAIT LIST ONLY

Time: Each week on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 9:30am-3:30pm.

Cost: $480 per two-week session. $150 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit per child is required with registration.  Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need  (see registration form for details).

Location: 81 Clove Valley Road, High Falls, NY

Registration begins on February 1st.

Alongside a wondrous, ambling stream at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge, we will play in rhythm with nature and the seasons. We will gather inspiration from the forest to guide our activities through movement, song, crafts, stories, games, fire and fun!

Each day begins with a morning circle where thanksgiving, songs and silly movement games bring us further into our bodies. During the day we’ll play amongst the trees, create bridges across the stream, build fairy houses and explore nature’s treasures. We’ll also take plenty of time during the day to recharge with snacks, rest and lunch. At the end of the day, with leaf and flower crowns on our heads, our faces painted and smiles on our faces, we’ll return, energized from a day in the woods!

Screech Owls is where your child will:

• Play and explore the beautiful outdoors.
• Experience a variety of wilderness skills and crafts, story and song.
• Practice awareness, quiet-mind, telling the story of their day, animal forms, curiosity, exploration, and gratitude.
• Be in a nurturing environment to build self-awareness, confidence and group unity.

Our Screech Owl instructors are experts in guiding children to safely and freely move in the direction of their own curiosity. Several of our instructors also have extensive experience in Waldorf Early Childhood Education.

Screech Owl Camp Details

Screech Owl camp is for boys and girls ages 4-7.

Screech Owl campers can attend one two-week session or both two-week sessions:

• July 2 – 13 – FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY
• July 16 – 27 – FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY

Time: Each week on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 10am-3pm.

Cost: $480 per two-week session. $150 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit per child is required with registration.  Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need  (see registration form for details).

Location: 47 Butterville Road, New Paltz, NY

Registration begins on February 1st.

A typical day will flow with a natural rhythm, focusing on a common nature-based theme while together creating our own special home in woods.  Nature exploration will be interwoven with crafts, story, song, games, and sharing circle.

This program is structured to spark curiosity while also fostering the feelings of comfort and peace that can be found by simply being outdoors.

Program Information for Parent/Tot Camp

For: Boys and Girls ages 3 to 4 accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian

Parent-Tot campers are invited to attend one three-week session:

• July 3 – 19, Tuesdays and Thursdays

– PARENT/TOT IS FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY

Time: 10:00am to 12:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Location: On pristine and private land bordering the Mohonk Preserve & Shawangunk Ridge in New Paltz (Butterville Road)

Cost: $240 for the three-week session.  $50 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit due with registration.  Sibling discounts apply.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need (see registration form for details).

Registration begins on February 1st.