• Home

Visual Calendar of Courses

Cool Stuff

• Music & Stories
• Blog & Forum
• Fun Challenges
• Photo Gallery
• Camp Store

Nourishment

• Our Book Series
• Guest Essays, Etc.
• Recommended Resources
• Similar Schools
• Related Links

Email us,
or print out a
registration form,
or call a phone number listed below at any time.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Wolf Camp does not share its database — period.
COPPAct Notice:
Children 12 and under must obtain parental consent before contacting us.

Blog & Forum for Staff, Students & Campers

Directions: Email us whatever you want and we will post it here as soon as we get a chance to review the content. Topics may include, but are not limited to: Comments on the website; Your experience at Wolf Camp; Things you experienced out in nature; Questions related to the practice of earth skills; Messages you have for people you met at Wolf Camp programs; Etc.

March 14, 2008: ST.PATTY-EQUINOX-EASTER by Chris

Things are gearing up for summer, and I'm especially looking forward to having so many veteran campers returning as apprentices and assistant instructors this year. My slogan for the year, stolen from my high school graduating class of 1988 and no doubt every other even decade before and since, is: 2008 Is Great! Spring has arrived here, and it's been beautiful, no matter the weather.

And what a wonderful upcoming week! First palm sunday occurs on a "leaf" day according to the biodynamic calendar. Then St. Patrick's day slides in Monday, my personal ethnic holiday of the year, although I'm celebrating tomorrow by attending a morning mass for peace with the Seattle Archbishop Alexandar Brunett and guest speaker John Burton, who is the former Irish Prime Minister in office when the Good Friday accord was signed about 10 years ago, finally quelling most violence in the island of (half) my anscestors. Then there's the parade down 4th St. and festivities at the Seattle Center House.

The equinox happens at 11 p.m. Pacific Time the night of the 19th, when I like to do a sweat, though this year I'm not sure what we'll do. Then Easter weekend comes, when I traditionally like to fast from 3 p.m. on sunset on Holy Thursday sunrise on Easter Morning. Something special is happening, and I pray that this week's gifts include health, safety, ease and happiness. I hope that you, too, hold it sacred, as we should hold every moment of our lives, no matter your ethnic or religious traditions.

I got an email from Elise Santa Maria who's one of our veteran youth mentors, and it was inspiring to hear all she's been doing. Click on her name link to visit our staff page where I've just updated her bio. Amongst many other attributes, Elise is a poet, and she composed this gem a couple years ago:

Sister Wolf

From the depth of the midnight sky
A pair of golden eyes comes forth
Crescent moons staring
Searching beyond my soul
Reading me
Like a book

From the pads of her feet she stands
To the bristling tufts of her ears
She takes in the essence of the earth
Tasting the dampness of night
Praising the land like a song
And sharing it all
Like a story

Her deafening silence reins high
Her spirit, aged with wisdom
Keeps the balance of the earth
While her moons span all of nature
And see what we cannot

She breaks the peace with a stride
Her paws taste morning's dew
As she honors the creator
The directions
And her guardian the moon

The wind softens the land
She senses it before it arrives
The breeze sifts through every part of her
Casting off a peice of her soul
She releases a song of creation

She shares a hymn for all
For celebration
For tribute
For life

From the pads of her feet she stands
To the bristling tufts of her ears
She takes in the essence of the earth
Tasting the dampness of night
Sharing it all like a story
And praising the land
Like a song

©2005 - Elise Santa Maria

February 1st, 2008: IMBOLC by Chris

To relax after 11 years of service, we're taking this winter and spring off except processing registrations and also offering custom designed programs for schools, families, businesses, service organizations and other groups. Otherwise, we'll see you this summer to share our wonderful lake and forest!

Tomorrow is Groundhog's Day, and it's been a wintery one here, apparently due to the effect of La Nina. In celtic tradition, the mid-point between winter solstice and spring equinox is Imbolc, and since the climate here is similar to the British Isles, we experience similar signs of awakening toward spring just about now.

For new years, I went to visit 3 of my siblings who live in northern Virginia, and spent time playing with their kids - 8 of my nieces and nephews between them, and that's not to mention those who live in Minnesota and out here in WA State. That was a blast, and it was also a real treat to be there where camp instructors Lorien MacAuley & Scott Fanello live, also not far from where apprenticeship graduates Micah Fay and Andrew Twele live.

I "treated" the four of them to a day at the Smithsonian Institution's new Museum of the American Indian although of course the Smithsonian is free, but at least I was able to buy them huge lunches at the Native American food court, which was an awesome treat for all of us. My favorite musical bard of western history, Jack Gladstone, was playing in the museum rotunda that day, and it was moving to hear him sing in person a couple of songs I like to share with campers in the summer.

At the museum, I came across a display about the 7 values inherant in the Anishanabe Nation, also known as the Chippewa, and speaking the Ojibwe language, from the area of the country my family is from: the lands surrounding Lake Superior. I've always liked the 3 principles of peace the Iroquois confederacy shared with our founding fathers as they drafted the constitution, but as I explain in my youth mentoring essay, there seems to be many other principles which our culture needed to embody even more than those, principles which may already have been embodied in their culture so they didn't need to be emphasized so much.

The museum displayed the following principles, or values, associated with walking the good road in the Anishanabe way, including:

TRUTH: This value was symbolized, or embodied by, the Turtle in the museum's display. It was explained that the Creator is Truth, like the Sun is always true, as no one can change it. Truth represents that which never changes.

HONESTY: This value is embodied by the Sasquach, also known as the Wilderness Man. In the display, honesty was described as having to do with how we see ourselves, that we need to see ourselves accurately in order to achieve health, happiness, and harmony in life. Wilderness Man was described as looking after human life. His honesty encourages ours, and is reflective of how we treat his home: the natural world. (Garry Raven, Conrad Spence)

HUMILITY: This value was embodied by Wolf, who teaches us our place, as we put ourselves where we belong in the universe. (Garry Raven)

COURAGE: Bear represents moral courage, the strength to follow the Way. In other words, it gives us the courage to embody all 7 of the teachings, to responsibly care for our families and each other.

RESPECT: Buffulo

WISDOM: Beaver

LOVE: Through its love for people, Eagle says that to love someone, you have to love yourself first.

The last value especially reminds me of the late Cha-das-ska-dum Which-ta-lum of the Lummi Nation who eloquently inspired me to see people for who they truly are through a prayer he wrote just days before the passing of his own son. It's called: Prayer on the Passing of a Great Warrior

Oh, Great Grandfather, we stand before you small like a grain of sand on the beach.
We cry this prayer to you; this one who comes to you was a warrior of the greatest.
He taught us to love ourselves! And that was a mighty fight!
Take this one to the council of our ancestors to sit around the Council fire.
Welcome and warm the tender soul. Let the smell of buffalo, elk, deer and bear enter and float gently on the wind, that the new warrior may feel as our ancestors felt, at the dawning of each day.

We feel the reunion that's taking place with all that have gone on before us, and we rejoice for them!
We shed tears, not for the warrior's soul, for it is where it was born to be. We shed tears for ourselves. We are still here, without our friend, and must yet walk a good life and earn our way to the Council.

We lay to rest the bodily remains in our Mother Earth, knowing the soul passed over on the 4th night.
We thank you, Great Grandfather, for preparing the Place where one day we will all meet and sit in the Medicine Circle once more! Let our tears no longer touch the ground. But send our cry to the Four Directions. The winds will carry our cry, the mighty Eagle our soul, the nightwalker our dreams.

Let us learn from our friend who has gone before us: we cannot give away what we do not have.
But let our walk speak loudly: I have love. I have love. I have love. I have lots of love.
Hear us, oh Great One. Aho.

I heard this prayer read at Cha-das-ska-dum's memorial service in 1999. Although he sufferred from problems that put him in conflict with much of his own community, those experiences also made him one of the elders in the region who reached out to non-Indians in our thirst for earth-based knowledge.

For me, he was a great herbalist and inspiring mentor, and I would like to pass on his prayer in dedication to all the mentors in my family, social and work lives, in the various lineages which influence the earth skills field, and to all those who are now endeavoring to deepen their skills through practice in nature.

In this time of Imbolc, which leads into the retreat season of lent, may healing prevail through the values written above, but how can we start? It is through door of forgiveness that healing starts. Oh, but how difficult it is to step through! May our political leaders walk through that door to reach peace on the other side, as may all whose lives I've touched also find that door and walk through it whenever they need to find happiness which awaits on the other side.

- For a friend from high school who just contacted me today, and to the participants in my 2007 cooperative residential intensives.

Blog Essays:

• Summary of Blog Archives for Typical Summer Camp
• Species List for the Woods Lake Watershed
• Nikki's Primitive Living Experience
• Survival Trek Log by Glen MacKay.
• Ethics of Earth Skills Education and Daily Routines of the Earth Skills Practitioner (using permaculture principles)
• Camper Preparedness & Emotions
• Naturalist Training: A Doorway
• Your Everyday Herbalist
• Law of Fours: The Critical Order of Survival

Our Book Series is called Wolf Journey, written by Chris Chisholm. It is a comprehensive curriculum of earth skills education for all ages, including field exercises for the naturalist, tracker, herbalist, scout, hunter, artisan, and permaculture pioneer.

• Introduction to Book 1 - Skills & Arts of the Naturalist
• Chapter 1 Your Secret Place: Written Essay & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs.
• Chapter 2 Eight Great Hazards: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP. Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 3 Sensory Awareness: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 4 Sketching & Journaling: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.

• Introduction to Book 2 - Skills & Arts of the Tracker
• Chapter 5 Humans and the Hidden Wilderness: Written Essay & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 6 Shape Shifting: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 7 Detective Mysteries: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 8 Bird Vocalizations: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.

• Introduction to Book 3 - Skills & Arts of the Herbalist
• Chapter 9 Caretaking Nature: Written Essays & Field Exercises; Recorded Stories & Songs to be uploaded ASAP.
• Chapter 10: Wild Medicine to be posted asap.
• Chapter 11: Fire Alchemy to be posted asap.
• Chapter 12: Primitive Cooking to be posted asap.

• Introduction to Book 4 - Skills & Arts of the Scout to be posted asap.
• Chapter 13: Attitude & Orienteering to be posted asap.
• Chapter 14: Navigating Air & Water to be posted asap.
• Chapter 15: Shelter and its Impact to be posted asap.
• Chapter 16: Stone Age Artisanry to be posted asap.

• Introduction to Book 5 - Skills & Arts of the Stone Age Artisan to be posted asap.
• Chapter 17: Hides & Hairs to be posted asap.
• Chapter 18: Skeletons & Viscera to be posted asap.
• Chapter 19: Tanning & Clothing to be posted asap.
• Chapter 20: Knapping & Playing to be posted asap.

• Introduction to Book 6 - Skills & Arts of the Hunter-Gatherer to be posted asap.
• Chapter 21: Butchering to be posted asap.
• Chapter 22: Fishing to be posted asap.
• Chapter 23: Trapping to be posted asap.
• Chapter 24: Hunting to be posted asap.

• Introduction to Book 7 - Skills & Arts of the Permaculture Pioneer to be posted asap.
• Chapter 25: Theory & Activism to be posted asap.
• Chapter 26: Farming & Forestry to be posted asap.
• Chapter 27: Appropriate Technologies to be posted asap.
• Chapter 28: Community Economics to be posted asap.

• Book 8: Wolf Journey Handbook for Students & Teachers

Come Meet Us

June 28, 2008, Saturday 2:00 p.m., Three Amongst the Wolves presentation by world-renown adventurist Helen Thayer, also author of Polar Dream and Walking the Gobi. We consider this the pinnacle event of our year, and believe us when we tell you that you will be absolutely grateful, profoundly moved, and totally delighted if you attend! Sustinance and refreshments provided, with donations accepted for Helen's world-wide youth education program, the Adventure Classroom. RSVP email required.

June 29, 2008, Sunday 10:00-5:00, Wolf Camp Open House, Visiting Day, Work-A-Thon, and Bar-B-Que. Come visit camp, joining us for the bar-b-que lunch by donation, or collect pledges to raise funds for your camp expeirence at the Work-A-Thon if you like. RSVP email required, and and click here for pledge forms.

September 21, 2008, Sunday 8:00-8:00, International Day of Peace bonfire, medicine lodge, autumnal feast and fast for cooperative intensive participants and alumni.

October 25, 2008, Saturday 5-8 pm, Twelve Year Anniversary Harvest Party for alumni, family and supporters. This is our way to say "thank you", with dinner provided plus inspirational music and stories with violin virtuoso and salishin bard Swil Kanim, tentative. You may arrive as early as 5:00 pm on Friday and stay as long as 5:00 pm on Sunday to help harvest and prepare for the winter. Our annual summer raffle runs throughout the summer, with winners drawn during the Harvest Party.

Click for a link to the Summer Weekend Stayovers course descriptions. Campers ages 9 and above who attended camp the week prior (or in the past) may stay by themselves. Otherwise, all ages are welcome with parent or legal guardian. The cost is $75 for the first family member, $50 for the second, and $25 for the third. No charge for children 5 and under. The weekend itinerary normally includes a pot-luck lunch on Saturday from Noon-1, clean-up and naps from 1-2, swimming and fishing from 2-4, pizza and pop from 4-5, clean-up and campfire prep from 5-6, nature movie from 6-8, and campfire music and stories from 8-10. Sunday starts with a nature walk and fishing from 8-9, breakfast runs 9-10, the weekend theme workshop runs from 10-12, lunch is from 1-2, camp clean-up is from 2-3, scavenger hunt prep is from 3-4, camp tours for newly arriving campers are from 4-5, and dinner is from 5-6.

June 28-29, 2008: Leadership Theme (Unique Schedule due to Helen Thayer presentation and Work-A-Thon)
July 5-6, 2008: Wildlife Theme (arts of tracking and bird language)
July 12-13, 2008: Firemaking Theme (fire by friction and hazards)
July 19-20, 2008: Ethnobotany Theme (wild and cultivated edible/medicinal plants)
July 26-27, 2008: Arts Theme (primitive crafts and the composition of poetry, painting, and music)
August 2-3, 2008: 4x4 Essencials Theme (preparations for backcountry travel)
August 9-10, 2008: Scouting Theme (history, philosophy and challenge, with unique schedule due to Stilliguamish River Festival)
August 16-17, 2008: Maps Theme (geographies of washington and scotland)
October 25-26, 2008: Thanksgiving Harvest Theme (Unique Schedule due to Swil Kanim performance and Harvest Party)

2008 Online Scholarship Fundraising Auction

June 15-22, 2008, Sunday-Sunday 8:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Online Auction for Max Davis Scholarships. This is the annual fundraiser upon which we depend for most of the year's scholarship funds, so please consider donating an item (by sending us an email with a description of the item, then we will arrange to pick it up) or by bidding on an item during the auction. Thanks!

Employment: We only need instructors with experience running camps and teaching in the field of Earth Skills, including Permaculture, Tracking, Primitive Artisanry, Advanced Herbalism, or Wilderness EMT training with real outdoor survival practice. If you would like experience as a teacher and learn skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Scout, Hunter, Artisan, or Permaculture Pioneer, apply to become an instructor through our Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship.

SITE MAP This site is updated often, so be sure to tell us if you find a missing link, erroneous information or other problem. Thanks!