Primal Pride: Queer Nature Connection

Nature Connection: With a Queer Twist 🌈

Join us for Primal Pride: Queer Nature Connection, a transformative retreat that celebrates *queer identity, connection to the wild, and the sheer joy of living boldly in the natural world. Feel empowered in your freedom over Independence Day Weekend as we honor queer connection!

*Queer in our context means anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ or who is questioning how/if they identify on that rainbow spectrum.

Immerse yourself in the Wilderness Awareness School curriculum, where you’ll learn practical wilderness skills, mindfulness techniques, and eco-conscious practices. Connect and play with a vibrant pack of LGBTQ individuals passionate about nature, self-growth, and authentic connection. Together, we’ll balance structured skill-building sessions with spontaneous, fun-filled moments that celebrate both wilderness exploration and queer culture!

Reconnect with Self

Let the natural world be your classroom and sanctuary as we explore personal empowerment, resilience, and the joy of living authentically. Together, we will:

Program Logistics

Class takes place on our 60-acre property outside of Duvall, WA. It will go from Friday, July 4th at 2pm through Sunday, July 6th at 1pm.

This will be a catered overnight program. Food is provided starting with Friday dinner and ending with Sunday brunch.

*A discount of 25% is available for those who need financial support in order to attend this program. If finances are a hardship for you, use code PrimalPride25 at registration.

Meet Your Instructors:

Mike ‘Prince’ (he/him)

Mike Prince is a veteran instructor at Wilderness Awareness School and serves as Land & Facilities Manager and Lead Ranger. Prince’s previous roles have been as Operations & Finance Director, Summer Program Director, Immersion Core Instructor, Lead Instructor of Community School & Wild Within, and Land Manager for Linne Doran. As a Delaware native, Prince spent many years exploring the wilds of the Chesapeake Bay region and the Mid-Atlantic coast. He earned a BA from the University of Rochester in upstate NY and taught High School for 5 years. He also was a director of a Boy Scout Camp and a YMCA Camp & Conference Center. In 2004 Prince followed the coyote west to join The Immersion and deepen his nature connection and follow his passion for the art of mentoring teens and adults. He has been teaching and leading at WAS ever since.

Prince is a gay man and dreams of creating queer (LBTQ+) teen programs. He continues to walk the path of becoming more himself and tending the center fire. Prince loves tracking wolves, swimming, snorkeling, eating tasty soul food, the way of the scout, his barrel sauna, Seahawks football, stock investing, bird alarms, fire, and wildness.

Thuja Noba (She/Her)

Thuja is a trans woman who grew up in Duwamish territory in a place now called West Seattle. She spent her early years making backyards into entire worlds of imagination and play. Thuja is a 2023 graduate of The Immersion and served in the Adult Nature Instructor Training in the Immersion. She also leads a Queer youth program with Rites of Passage Journeys. In addition to her Nature and Wilderness Skills, She is also the creator of Breathe Light – A Bow Drill Song.

Siana Stutchbury (she/her)

Siana grew up in a beautiful indigenous forest on the outskirts of Nairobi, in Kenya. She spent much of her childhood exploring the natural world with her family, going on epic camping trips, gardening with her mum and riding bikes with her brother. Growing up with a deep reverence for the planet, she always felt a deep desire to protect the more than human inhabitants who share the planet with us. 

After teaching English in Spain for a year, Siana came to Duvall to participate as a student in The Immersion in 2016. She has since spent 2 years with the Adult Nature Instructor Training in the Immersion, and 1 year with Wild Within 2 in the Youth Nature Instructor Training. 

Siana loves her curiosity and how she connects with the natural world through it. She loves biking—especially overnight trips, reading novels, sneaking, crafting, and learning more about Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.