The age of electronics has brought incredible access to information and technology, but at what cost? I realized at age 17 that with all the formal "education" I received in school, no one ever taught me how to use my five senses to do real things in the world. It's one of the big reasons I first got interested in traditional skills of survival, wildlife tracking, harvesting edible plants, aidless … [Read more...] about 8 Amazing Sensory Awareness Exercises
Articles
How To Keep A Nature Journal (EASY)
Are you excited to open your eyes to the incredible world of plants, trees & birds living around you? That's exactly what I wanted ten years ago when I started my quest towards exploring & reading the patterns of nature on a very deep level. Luckily I had an easy tool to help me quickly unravel the mysteries of local forests, fields & wildlife hotspots. Can you guess what it … [Read more...] about How To Keep A Nature Journal (EASY)
How To Track Animals In The Woods
If you want to know how to track animals in the woods then get ready to embark on an exciting journey of excitement and discovery. I love this topic... I'll never forget the first time I followed a fresh set of snowshoe hare tracks in the woods. I was amazed by how much could be read in the trail of that animal. I saw how it stopped to feed on a shrub. I noticed the scattered droppings along … [Read more...] about How To Track Animals In The Woods
7 Tips For Connecting Children With Nature
Are we doing enough for the kids? It's a question driving the ceaseless thoughts and fears of countless parents & educators. I certainly don't claim to have all the answers, but I am very confident that connecting children with nature is one big piece of the puzzle. Nature is something that's often missing in the home life and school life of developing bodies and minds. Yet research in … [Read more...] about 7 Tips For Connecting Children With Nature
Beginner’s Guide: The Art of Mentoring With Nature
I attended my first Art of Mentoring course in 2009 at Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall Washington. Here are some of the questions we were exploring through fun activities and adventures on the landscape: What does it mean to be mentored in the ways of nature? How do people change when they develop deeper awareness of the environment? How can you be a better mentor for positive … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Guide: The Art of Mentoring With Nature
How To Survive In The Wild With Nothing…
Let’s talk about how to survive in the wild with nothing… As some of you may already know, I've done a few different survival trips over the years to test my skills in various situations. During my year with the Anake Outdoor School I spent a week sleeping under the hallowed root ball of a big spruce tree in the woods, drinking rainwater out of holes I had dug in the ground lined with … [Read more...] about How To Survive In The Wild With Nothing…
How To Stalk Animals (And Not Get Caught!)
Have you ever wanted to touch a deer? Or get an inside look at animals in their native habitat? I've been a dedicated practitioner of animal stalking techniques since sometime in my late teens. I love the thrill of getting close to wild animals, and I love pushing the limits of my abilities. It's one of my favourite ways to test awareness skills. It's also nice to know that if I ever need to … [Read more...] about How To Stalk Animals (And Not Get Caught!)
What Can Dandelions Be Used For?
I remember when I first discovered that dandelion isn't just some useless yellow flower that grows in fields and lawns. As a child, I went to a local Waldorf school where we were taught to respect nature (and how to make dandelion crowns). But it wasn't until later in my teen years when I realized that dandelions also have amazing edible & medicinal qualities. Many herbal teachers will tell … [Read more...] about What Can Dandelions Be Used For?
How To Identify An Herb Of The Parsley Family
Did you know that it's possible to identify plants in the parsley family with just a handful of easy-to-spot growth patterns? The parsley family is a large and common group of plants. Some of them are highly edible and nutritious while others are very poisonous. For this reason, the parsley family is one of the best to know for survival and general wildcrafting purposes. Luckily you won't have … [Read more...] about How To Identify An Herb Of The Parsley Family
Cat VS Dog Paw Prints: How To Tell The Difference Between Canine & Feline Tracks
Is it a dog or a cat? This is one of the first questions that anyone with a basic knowledge of animal tracking should be able to answer. Do you know the clues to look for? Cat vs dog tracks can be discerned by looking at the overall shape, presence or lack of nails/claws, negative space, heel-to-toe ratio and track symmetry. Track CharacteristicsCat Tracks (Felines)Dog Tracks … [Read more...] about Cat VS Dog Paw Prints: How To Tell The Difference Between Canine & Feline Tracks