Our Parent/Tot half-day Camp is designed for children ages 3 & 4 who wish to play in the outdoors with parental companionship.  Together, we will explore the wonders of nature within the fascinating world that surrounds us.

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.

Join seasoned instructors Thomas Meli, Josh Roberts, Erin Domagal and Sheena Marie as we journey into the magical secrets waiting for us in the woods.

Through song, games, primitive skills, environmental projects, adventures, journaling, and more – we will follow your children’s hearts into what they most desire to learn.

Using experiential learning skills, your children will exercise self-confidence, creative problem solving, and compassionate communication.  Additionally, we will explore place-based knowledge such as local edible and medicinal plants, animal biology, ecology, geology, and more.

Letting your child’s excitement and passion lead, we will link what they already love to an expanded connection to place.  Our goal is for your child to emerge with a deeper sense of belonging to the greater community of life.

Spring Curriculum Will Include:

• Land stewardship & caretaking skills such as identifying exotic invasive weeds as well how to encourage natives.  This includes basics in landscape ecology and plant identification.
• Shelter craft such as debris hut, understanding how heat moves and how to trap it for your benefit.
• Navigation skills – how to orient yourself, and how to find your way if you are lost.
• Primitive Fire making skills such as bow drill & hand drill, fire safety, match handling, teepee and tinder construction,
• Water finding / purification skills – how to know if water is drinkable or not and how to purify it if it isn’t.  Basic meteorology skills, weather prediction, cloud identification, etc.
• Gardening skills – partnering with Regeneration Farm  to help harvest and plant.
• And much more!

Program Information

Serving:  Youth age 7 years and older, and teens.

Dates: Nine Tuesdays and three overnight experience this spring:  3/13, 3/20, 3/27-3/28 (overnight), 4/10, 4/17, 4/24-25 (overnight), 5/1, 5/8, 5/15-16 (overnight).

Time: 10:00am – 3:30pm on Tuesdays, pick-up from overnight, time to be announced.

Location: Beautiful land bordering the Shawangink Ridge at Outback Farm, 81 Clove Valley Road, High Falls, NY.

Resources: For additional learning and support, we may recommend some resources to enhance your child’s naturalist journey. Depending on their age, learning style, and skill, we may suggest Kamana for Kids, Kamana One, or a specialized packet suited for their needs.

Cost: $660 includes tuition, land use, and materials fees.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need.  Program cost does not include Kamana for kids / Kamana One / specialized packets which we may recommend, but are optional for your purchase (approximately $25).

Register Now for Dawn Song Village Program

Additional Questions and Information:Please call Thomas Meli at 516-850-8187 or email him at tpmeli@gmail.com about this program.  Please call David Brownstein at 845-256-9830 or email him at david@wildearthprograms.org with questions about registration.
Note to Parents:  We would like to include parents in the process as much as possible.  If you would like to visit the program, or be involved in some piece of it during our time out there (especially the overnights), please contact me to let me know of your interest.Though what happens in our days is highly dependent on what is alive in the children to learn, a curriculum is available for parents who would like to use it to submit to the State.

An Imaginary Moment at Dawn Song Village School:

To the east, I watched as she stalked up slowly and gently to a robin with the intention to touch it.  As she moved a purple damselfly landed on her arm and she smiled.  To the south, a boy is excitedly collecting wood from a Pine grove across the stream to see how the heat and light of a Pine fire differs from a fire made from Oak.  To my west he is splitting dogbane to make cordage for the hammock he wants to sleep in for our overnight.  To the north she is following the tracks of Deer to its day bed while her friend is hiding in the brush nearby to see if she notices.  So much pulls on our natural curiosity!  Why is there a Pine grove over there past the stream anyway? I hear the crunching of leaves as he walks over to check the plant field guide to find out if that is a Cedar or a Pine.  I hear the grasses bend to the east and see the gleam in her eyes as she reaches out to touch the Robin. It flew out into the Cedar nearby, but later it will return to the nest it already made in her heart.

This active program for boys ages 9-13 will focus on various earth skills as well as adventure and exploration in the Shawangunk region of Ulster County — and beyond.  We will usually meet every other Sunday from October – May, and will also have an overnight in the spring.  We will be sharpening our wilderness skills and deepening our connection to nature through guided activities such as:

• Tracking
• Fire by friction
• Wandering with awareness
• Stalking and the art of camouflage
• Storytelling
• Discovering natural mysteries
• Shelter building
• Making natural cordage
• Primitive tool making
• Practical camping skills
• Being outdoors through different seasons and weather
• Games and play

Program Information

For: Boys ages 9 – 13.  This program has a limited enrollment (fifteen boys ages 9-12 and five boys age 13).

Dates: Thirteen Sundays October – May and one overnight experience:
Oct. 2, 16, 30, Nov. 13, Dec. 4, 18, Jan. 8, 22, Feb. 5, Mar. 4, 18, Apr. 15, April 28-29 (overnight).

There will be an optional two-night “Winter Wolverine Campout” on Feb. 18-20 for boys ready for this experience under separate registration and an additional fee.  Please let us know if you might be interested in registering for this experience.

Time: 10am-3:30pm on Sundays, overnight times to be announced.

Instructors:  Program will be led by Peter Ferland and Josh Roberts with Larry Brown, Thomas Meli, Tyler McNamara and other guest experts and instructors.  The staff are experienced and dedicated guides who will treat you and your children with compassion, respect and positive communication.

Location: Outback Farm at 81 Clove Valley Road in High Falls, as well as new terrain – possibly High Point Mountain in West Shokan and/or day hikes in the Catskills.

Cost: $790 includes tuition, land use and materials fees.  You may pay program fee in one lump sum or in three seasonal installments, with the first installment due at registration.  Limited scholarships available depending on enrollment and need.

This Program is currently full.  Please call for more information.

Additional Questions and Information:

Please contact Peter Ferland or Josh Roberts with questions about the content of this program.
Peter Ferland: (845) 384-6192 or peter_ferland@yahoo.com
Josh Roberts: (703) 881-2388 or joeroberts3rd@gmail.com

Please contact David Brownstein at (845) 256-9830 or david@wildearthprograms.org with questions about registration.

Join instructors Simon Abramson, Tyler McNamara, Alisha Mai Frank and special guests for edgy and fun experiences in nature.

We’ve found that there’s no easier place than nature to become our favorite versions of the people we are. We expect that each weekend, you’ll walk away with an extra dose of joy, strength and confidence.

We welcome you to join ROPES if you’re ready to show up as yourself and to take risks.

See you out there,
Simon Abramson
Tyler McNamara
Alisha Mai Frank

Program Information

For: Teens age 14+ and attending high school – ONLY 20 SPACES AVAILABLE.

Dates & Times: Three Friday evenings and three overnights from December through May.

Friday Evening Programs are from 5pm-11pm:

• December 9
• January 13
• February 10

Friday-Saturday overnights from 5pm–2pm (the next day):

• March 9-10
• April 13-14
• May 4-5

NOTE: Parents of registered teens are asked to join us for a parent meeting, Wednesday, Jan 11 from 7pm-9pm. This meeting will be for parents and instructors and will be an important opportunity for the instructors to share about the ROPES program.

Instructors: Simon Abramson, Alisha Mai Frank, Tyler McNamara and Special Guests

Cost: $540, can be paid in lump sum or seasonal installments. Scholarships (limited) are available upon request. Wild Earth has never turned anyone away for lack of funds.

Additional Questions and Information
Please call Tyler at (828) 335-3446 or email him at tyler@wildearthprograms.org with questions about the program or call David at 845-256-9830 or email him at david@wildearthprorgams.org about registration.

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ROPES Registration

1. Complete the Program Registration Form below
2. Make payment online or mail a check
3. Print, complete and mail Medical Release & Participant Agreement

*Deposit Policy: A minimum 25% non-refundable deposit is due when registering for a program. Full payment is required at least two weeks prior to the start of the program unless you have arranged to pay installments over the course of the program.

Household Discount Policy: A second member of the same household registering for the same program will receive a 10% discount off the regular program fee. A third member of the same household registering for the same program will receive a 40% discount off the regular program fee.

Confirmation Letter: Prior to the start of a program, you will receive a confirmation letter with instructions for and directions to the program.

Cancellation Policy: Participants canceling one week or more before the first day of a program begins will receive a full refund less the non-refundable deposit. Cancellations from 48 hours – one week prior to a program receive 50% program credit (non-transferable and valid for one year), 50% balance forfeited. Cancellations less than 48 hours prior to a program will receive no credit or refund. All payments for Herbal Intensive with Dina Falconi are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Scholarships: A limited number of need based scholarships are available. Please include a short note in the comments section of the online registration describing your needs and indicating the amount you are able to pay for the program, or call David at 845-256-9830.

Program Status: If you are wondering if a program may be cancelled due to weather, please call our office at 845-256-9830 to check on the status of the program.

Email: info@wildearthprograms.org
Phone: 845-256-9830

Please make checks payable to:
Wild Earth

Checks can be mailed to:

47 Butterville Road
New Paltz, NY 12561

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.

Wild Earth is an equal opportunity employer. Wild Earth is a not-for-profit public organization, and recognized as a Federal Tax Exempt Organization under I.R.S. code section 501(c)(3).