Community School

“We have a lot of fun in nature, a refreshing change from regular life where you can just let go of whatever else is going on and just relax and have a good time… and be aware and connected with the earth, I feel comfortable there.”

– Rutah, age 14

“Thank you for all you do for our children. It is a blessing to have adults who care deeply about our children and who are passing on their love for the world and people around us.“

– Dawn Behm, Parent

Wilderness Awareness Community School is a weekly program that helps teenagers engage their natural intelligence and awaken their innate abilities to perceive and connect with the world around them. Our students immerse themselves in intensive, experiential studies of nature. Our approach to studying nature combines modern scientific understanding with ancestral ways of connecting with the natural world. 

This course focuses on many topics, including:

We explore these topics using a powerful hands-on curriculum. We begin our inquiries experientially, taking students into the natural world where they can see, smell, hear and feel the subject matter. To this experiential understanding, we add a cognitive component as our students research the current topic through books, field guides, lectures, and other resources.  

Our Educational Philosophy:

Our signature Coyote Mentoring methods draw the learning out of our students rather than forcing it in. Curiosity is strategically ignited, and mentors keep a keen eye on their students, looking for moments of awe and opportunities for passion to grow. Our curriculum focuses on:

• Creating grounded, healthy, self-motivated young adults 
• Developing in those teens the confidence and inspiration to dream a vivid vision of their own future — as well as the skills, critical thinking, and enthusiasm to pursue that vision
• Teaching a naturalist curriculum through experiential, hands-on experiences 
• Encouraging students to identify their unique gifts and passions, as well as to meet their growth edges
• Mentoring delivered by experienced wilderness and naturalist instructors who have a deep understanding of the unique needs of teens
• Using our widely-respected educational philosophy, we encourage creative thinking rather than simply providing answers. Our goal is to help students develop problem-solving skills and self-sufficiency, fostering a deeper level of learning and connection

Our Instructional Staff:

• Follow a targeted 1:10 adult to student ratio, and are supported by volunteers and apprentice instructors
• Are compassionate professionals trained as Coyote Mentors with current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications
• Are part of a larger community of amateur and professional naturalists, artists, crafters, teachers, elders, and young people.