New Programs

Summer Camps 2010 --Just Announced!  Go to the camp page for more info. 

Featured Programs

Our featured programs include the following (scroll down to find more information about each one):

  • Samara Circle--Gearing up to begin in April.  Get Ready!

  • Earth Skills Intensives

  • Guild Days

  • Red Wolf Tracking Expedition

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Samara Circle

Contact!
samaracircle@gmail.com

Beginning January 2010

An exclusive mentoring journey based on the six shields

This program offers advanced learning for students who are ready and excited push the edges of their knowledge, skills, comfort and ability in the natural world.

There are four challenges you must complete to join Samara Circle.  The first is open for anyone to see, but the rest are secret. Once you have passed the first challenge, we will give you the next one. The other three challenges will involve a task of naturalist skills, a task of primitive skills, and a task of spirit.

These challenges prove that each student in Samara Circle motivated and willing to put in effort in order to learn. We will mentor you, we will encourage you, and we will support you in your journey to reach new levels. Like all things rewarding, this journey will take effort, but you will be part of a circle of inspiration, support and learning.

After you complete your challenges and join the circle, the real adventure begins. At your first meeting you will choose one of six paths, and walk that path for the 3 month session. We will be here to guide you, as will your peers, but this is your path. You will build your skills, push your edges, and grow in the way that most inspires you.

Whether you want to work on building a bow and tracking animals or diving deeply into the mysteries and medicines of plants, we will give you challenges, ideas, and stories to encourage you all along the way.

REMEMBER: ANYONE CAN COME WHO MEETS THE CHALLENGES!
Feel free to invite your family and friends. All are welcome to complete the challenges and join!


Every three month session includes:
A 2 hour meeting, once a week
A weekend camp out, once a month
Constant Access to your mentors. We are here to help you will your challenges, answer questions and tell stories. You can email us everyday if you want, and we will be excited to answer!

For those who have completed the challenges by the second session we will have:
A week-long camping trip during the summer

Details

Structure:
Weekly Meeting: Thursday, 7-9
Monthly Camp Outs: To be announced
Summer Session: To be announced

Location:
Right now we are working on the best location to meet. We are looking for a place where we can build a fire and get out of the rain. We have a few ideas, but are very open to suggestions!

Cost:
3 month session:
$150 for weekly meetings (equates to $12.50 per week)
$20 one time registation fee

Monthly Overnights:
$60-$80 per campout. Includes food, mentors and challenges.

Click here for the first  challenge!

Please send all questions and comments to:

samaracircle@gmail.com




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Earth Skills Intensives


We will all get hands into a skilled project and see finished products.  They are in depth learning experiences where you will walk away with the skills and experience to apply what you have learned at home.  In the intensives, we teach specialized skills and techniques and we look very carefully to find the best teachers in each subject area. For some of the intensives, we will host regional and national specialists.  Intensves are designed for adults and motivated young people.

Our first Intensives are to be announced later this fall.

Possible Intensives:

  • Hide Tanning and Leatherworking
  • Utilizing a deer
  • Blowgun intensive
  • Bow and arrow intensive
  • Trapping intensive
  • Edible mushroom intensive
  • Primitive instruments
  • Primitive pottery intensive (including primitive methods of harvesting, tempering and firing)

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Guild Days

Each guild meets 1 time a month, providing an opportunity for in-depth study and skill sharing within a circle of interested students.  We are planning to establish three guilds this year:

  • Tracking Guild (Investigating Animal behaviors in the field)
  • Plant Guild (Ethnobotany, Plant medicines, Plant foods and Folklore)
  • Storytelling Guild
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Red Wolf Tracking Expedition

Coming next Fall, September 2010. 

Details TBA


The endangered Red Wolf has been reintroduced into the isolated coastal wetlands of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. We invite you to join us on a naturalist and tracking adventure as we explore the wildlife refuge for any signs of this fascinating top predator.  Alligator River also boasts the highest concentration of Black Bears on the east coast.  We'll search for clues and unravel some of the stories of the resident wolves, bears, Muskrats, Whitetail Deer, Raccoons, and whatever else we may find! And of course, there are the Alligators... We may also explore Jockeys Ridge, only a half hour away on the Outer Banks, to see the tallest sand dune on the east coast and to track along the vast expanses of sand and quiet pools. Come prepared for an unforgettable experience!