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Beginning Naturalist and Awareness Courses

"Kamana is a supportive, structured program for learning the language of nature. I found it opened my awareness and deeply changed my perceptions. I highly recommend it to all who want to learn to be a home in the natural world."
-Starhawk [Author, Activist & Kamana One graduate]

 

Join us as we explore the flora, fauna, and ecology of the Pacific Northwest. Develop a rich understanding of plants, trees, mammals, and birds, as well as the identification, taxonomy, and natural history of North American species, and come away with the background necessary to succeed as a well-rounded naturalist.

Get to know who and what lives in your backyard. Meet us downtown in Seattle each month for a talk by one of our treasured local naturalists, or come to our Summer week-long nature skills course where you will be introduced to a myriad of skills that will set you years ahead in your studies.

When it comes to nature education, sometimes it is difficult to know where to start. Learn about your own backyard and on your own schedule, with our Kamana One course. Using fun stories, games and exercises, you will be guided through ways to open up your senses and learn more about your own local environs.

Sounds interesting? Check out these Naturalist Training courses...

Our Naturalist Training and Awareness Courses

Monthly Nature Talks at REI: Seattle
Many of the region's finest naturalists share their wisdom in these monthly talks. Usually the first Monday of the month, these talks each feature a different topic of nature study. Brighten up your Monday by joining us at REI in downtown Seattle.

Kamana Naturalist Training Program
The Kamana Naturalist Training Program is a comprehensive independent study course that covers the naturalist background needed to engage in the wilderness arts, including wildlife tracking, bird language, survival and primitive living skills, traditional herbalism, and naturalist mentoring. Study "at your own pace and in your own space."

Begin with Kamana One: Exploring Natural Mystery. During this short course you will experience two weeks of awareness exercises and six areas of ecological study using a field guide and audio series narrated by Jon Young. Begin to see the world through "native eyes."

Wilderness Women's Weekend - June 13-15, 2008
Join the women of Wilderness Awareness School as we explore the woods and rivers of the Snoqualmie Valley. We will work together to harvest and prepare local edible plants in primtive and gourmet fashion. When visiting a local sandbar, we'll learn to read the beautiful stories animals leave behind in their tracks. This flexible course will freely adjust to meet the experience and interests of the participants, and there will be opportunities to play with fire, smash rocks, and get unreasonably muddy!

NatureSkills Weeklong - July 13-19, 2008
Get a jump on your skills with Wilderness Awareness School’s most experienced instructors as we learn fundamental tools for connecting with and studying nature. During this week-long course, you will learn shelter construction, fire making, crafts for primitive outdoor living and other wilderness survival skills basics. You will also gain skills in tracking, birding, studying edible and medicinal plants, and exploring the natural world. It’s a wonderful mix of wilderness survival training, other outdoor skills, and nature awareness.

Training for Outdoor Instructors - Earth Mentor Program - June 26-Aug. 7, 2008
This six-week outdoor instructor course offers foundational tools for becoming a meaningful mentor in the lives of children. You will receive training in Wilderness Awareness School's unique educational method, gain experience teaching children as an Assistant Instructor at our summer nature camps, hone your wilderness skills and learn new ones, and even go on an expedition! College credit is now available as an option to students in this course.

Year-long Naturalist Training and Survival Course - Residential Program - Sept. 2008 - June 2009
Our core intensive course is nine months of thorough grounding in every aspect of our curriculum, spent as part of a supportive community of fellow learners. At the Residential Program, you will develop the eyes, the ears, and the awareness with which to help our culture move forward into the future in a healthy and sustainable way.

Some nature education articles of interest:
Come to Your Senses - by Ellen Haas
Learning to Be Quiet - Alone in the Wilderness - by Jon Young
Deepen Your Connection to Sacred Space - by William Wittman

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