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Process for the Wolf Journey Correspondence Course

Earning Academic Credits: Scroll right down to this option for students enrolled in the Wolf Journey classes or correspondence course.

Step 1: Apply for enrollment in Wolf Journey correspondence course by completing a Registration Form and sending it to us with $10, or emailing it to us and also calling us with your visa or mastercard number, along with a succinct description of your Goals, as described in the Introduction to Wolf Journey Part One, and also a completed Naturalist Self-Assessment. Chris or another Wolf Camp staff member will respond asap with suggestions considering your time of life, bioregion, area population density, and other factors which are noted in the "ramifications" paragraphs following the "goals" section. Remember, there may be other costs associated with proceding with this book series, including field guids unless you can continually use those from your public library.

Step 2: Begin reading Chapter One and start your first field exercises. If you feel you would like an interview to get yourself started, or a scheduled phone discussion at any time in the future to keep yourself on track, please do so. Interviews and scheduled discussions are designed to set goals for studying, answer questions you have about Wolf Journey, and to assess how to best continue. Phone or office interviews cost $1 per minute, and you will be billed afterward. But please email and call as often as you like without worry. Chris will let you know if a paid or scheduled discussion is needed. Lengthy emails will be billed at the same rate (again, with notice) based on the time it takes to read and respond. Alternatively, if you prefer Chris or another Wolf Camp staff member to visit your study site directly to help you get going, the cost is $100 for a minimum 2 hour visit, plus travel expenses.

Step 3: When you finish each field exercises and summary in each chapter, you can send or email your work to us for written and/or verbal feedback. The cost for written feedback per field exercise is $25, or if you send us a completed chapter (or give us a link to your blog page with all the necessary information posted) then the cost would be $100 which also includes a complimentary phone conversation if desired.

We do encourage you to email or call us at any time of day or night; please do not miss precious days waiting for us to explain something you need to know – ask so we can help you progress right away. Correspondence students have the responsibility to ask for help whenever they are feeling frustrated, elated or distant from their study site or program mentor. Email or call when you need to talk, and we will respond asap.

Easy as 1-2-3: That's it! When you send in your finished Part One journal entries, we'll send you Part Two, and so on. Remember that we spend June-August running summer camps, so please be patient during the summer if you need feedback and guidance on your work. We're really looking forward to witnessing your learning process!

Private lessons are also optional and available with Chris or any of our instructors. The cost for 1 hour lessons at your study site are $50 per hour, plus mileage. Further, upon ultimate completion of the 7 Wolf Journey books, or upon completion of the requirements for specialization (described below) in your area of earth skills interest, there is a complimentary Rite of Passage graduation ceremony that may take a variety of forms, based on your needs.

Earning Credits, Graduation Ceremonies & Earth Skills Specializations

Specializing in the area of earth skills which most interest you can be earned by correspondence students as well as those taking classes. For example, you may choose to specialize as a Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Scout, Artisan, Hunter or Pioneer. You will need to write a series of personal stories and field exercises in one area of specialization outlined in the Handbook for Students & Teachers.

The cost for correspondence students working toward a specialization is the same per chapter as for those working toward the basic Rite of Passage graduation, plus and the cost of reviewing each of the field exercises you repeat as directed in the Handbook is an additional $10. Your Wolf Camp correspondence mentor will discuss with you which chapters will require this level of study if the Handbook's suggestions don't fit your particular interest.

Rite of Passage graduation ceremonies are available for enrolled students who complete all six parts of Wolf Journey or Coyote Challenge. The rite of passage may involve a test of skills and a celebration with friends and family, demonstrating to the community that the graduate is a true earth skills specialist. There is no fee (beyond your basic travel and living costs) for the Rite of Passage graduation ceremony.

High School or College Credit is available through a variety of means for your study through Wolf Journey classes or correspondence course. • The most common method is for you to arrange an independent study course through a teacher or professor at your school. Your teacher or professor will sign off on your studies as you progress through the Wolf Journey course, and arrange Natural Science course credits to appear on your high school or college transcripts. • You can also earn an accredited High School diploma through Independence High School, which allows you to study from home and pay for high school credits, earning a diploma based on the work you do in the Wolf Journey course. The Independence High School contact information is www.independent-learning.com or 360-595-2630. • Another option is to enroll in a college which allows you to design your own major, such as Fairhaven College at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. Besides your general education requirements and electives at the university, your entire course of study could entail the Wolf Journey course, ending with an earth skills specialization through Wolf Camp and Bachelors Degree at the university. Check out www.ac.wwu.edu/~fhc/ or call 360-650-3680 to have them send you general information on their degree program. • Many universities also allow you to design your own specialty through their Natural Science graduate programs leading to a Masters or Ph.D.

Email or call us at 360-799-1997 and we will help you arrange academic credit at your chosen high school or college for your study of Wolf Journey.

Still Not Sure About Starting? Read This!

Have you been thinking about coming to Wolf Journey classes, camps, or participating in our correspondence course? Are you wondering what you’ll be getting out of the experience. Well, everyone who participates exclaims after the first little while “I had no idea what I was missing in nature, and how great Wolf Journey is!” To give you a few clues, read the next couple paragraphs, and consider for a second the possibility that a whole new world of nature may be hidden from you, no matter how much time you’ve spent outside.

Have you ever wondered what a bird is saying? There are millions of people who enjoy bird watching and can identify many by their songs, but, what happens when we finish our checklist? Do we really know Robin Redbreast? Have we really paid any attention to their beautiful white eye ring, or their individually marked chins. How many of us can pick up a feather and know it’s a robin’s outer tail feather because the inner side is tinged with white, or that he was eaten by a raptor? Can we distinguish between the different individuals in our yards by their voices? Birds don’t just randomly sing. In fact, each bird has a wide range of voices and calls, specific to particular circumstances. If you can understand their language, they will tell you what is happening in nature and your backyard. "Bird watching" will take on a whole new meaning!

Do you have the vague feeling that you hike past much wildlife but rarely see any – the deer hiding in the thicket, the coyote silently watching your every move, or the minutes-old cougar tracks saying she heard you coming? There are millions of people who love hiking, maybe for the exileration of reaching the peak, the breath taking views, or being out in nature with the clean, crisp air. But, learning to have an expanded awareness, far greater than imaginable, and walking invisibly – this is just the beginning to seeing or knowing that those animals are there. You won’t just be "out in nature" anymore, but with nature, developing an understanding and connection with it. Why else do we seek these places if not for these reasons!

Do you walk past the same plants and trees yet not know who they are? We miss so much life around us, not just in nature but everywhere. Plants and trees are one of the most disrespected and overlooked allies we have. Many of our common "weeds" are not just edible and free, but more nutritious than food in stores. There are hundreds of edible plants in our region, many with a tremendous amount of medicinal properties as well. The diverse plant world may seem overwhelming, but learning and utilizing their gifts is actually very attainable. By starting to know the plant kingdom, you will begin to feel safe and at home in nature, even in survival situations.

Do you ever wish you could just leave that gigantic, heavy back-pack at home when you go camping? You can, and your outdoor experience will be greater than you could imagine! Learn how to become comfortable in nature and lighten the burden. Do you secretly miss making forts? Practice warm shelter-making and thatching, harvest wild edibles, prepare medicinal teas, learn primitive cooking methods, delicious recipes, the wonder of fire by friction, amazing in-depth tracking, artisan tool making, primitive hunting, fishing, tanning, plus crafts such as rope making, weaving, and basketry.

Take the next step and begin classes and workshops. Go as deep and as far as you wish. The only requirement is finding your own secret place to visit. You can then choose to start practicing field exercises in Wolf Journey or simply attend weekly classes. Wolf Journey offers a way for modern people to feel comfortable rediscovering skills of the naturalist, tracker, herbalist, scout, hunter and artisan. It is the first course ever written in the field of nature awareness and survival skills which is simple enough for a consumer to purchase off the shelf or through the internet, take home and successfully complete.

Some think you need a degree, others feel that years of "dirt time" are necessary, or that only elders can teach as naturalists. Yet we are all walking along the infinite path of nature, and although some people are further along than others, every person possesses a bit of the knowledge. Classes are a great way to meet others who share your passions, new and old, and we look forward to gathering together. Join us as we discover nature’s mysteries, and you will gain great knowledge and a deeper connection with the natural world.

It’s easy to start. Just print out a registration form, and send it to us, indicating whether you want to come to classes, study by correspondence, or come to an adult camp. Alternatively, call us for a interview at your convenience, and we’ll make sure you have a copy of Wolf Journey to read. Then come to a class, or begin the first field exercise in the book. We’re looking forward to spending time in nature with you.

In the fall we harvest wild edible and medicinal plants and practice primitive cooking methods. In the winter, practice survival skills of shelter construction, water purification, and fire by friction, also honor the animals through primitive hunting ways, and working with animal parts for crafts. In the spring, we track mammals for identification, interpretation, trailing, timing, and ecology, and we interpret bird voices to determine concentric rings of communication in nature. Topics covered during every season throughout the school year include sensory awareness, invisibility, and dexterity in nature, responding to the 8 greatest hazards in nature, and secret place field exercise assignments between classes.

Independent Study correspondence course students follow the field exercises in Wolf Journey. Begin with a phone interview or a BackyardJourney at your home, which is designed to help you find the best location for your secret place, and to give you feedback about the area from your instructor. When you finish the field excercises and summaries in each chapter, you can give your work to your instructor for a fee for written and verbal feedback.

Index to Wolf Journey (chapters currently uploaded)

• Introduction to Part One - Skills of the Naturalist
• Chapter 1 - Your Secret Place.
• Chapter 2 - Fears & Hazards.
• Chapter 3 - Sensory Awareness.
• Chapter 4 - Sketching & Journaling.
• Introduction to Part Two - Skills of the Tracker
• Chapter 5 - Humans and the Hidden Wilderness.
• Chapter 6 - Shape Shifting.
• Chapter 7 - Mammal Mysteries.
• Chapter 8 - Bird Vocalizations.
• Introduction to Book 3 - Skills of the Herbalist
• Chapter 9 - Caretaking Nature.
• Wolf Journey Handbook for Students & Teachers.
• Chapter 30: Glossary of Terms.
• Chapter 31: Outings Checklists.
• Chapter 32: Understanding Taxonomy.
• Remaining chapters to be uploaded asap.

If you would like to use book series as a correspondence course, read about that process by clicking on this link. Basically, you can email us your blog page, or send us a copy of your written field journal. Then, Chris or another staff member will review your work, and email and/or call you with feedback. You can also earn academic credit by using Wolf Journey as a correspondence course. There are costs for these services which, again, you can read about by clicking on the previous link. If you would like to study on your own, with a local instructor, or within a group, feel free to continue with Wolf Journey without our assitance, although donations to the WOLF Foundation - Max Davis Scholarships for earth skills education are requested with the suggested amount of $2.00 per chapter you utilize, with checks payable to the WOLF Foundation, c/o Scott A. Davis, CPA, 103 E Holly #401, Bellingham, WA 98225, or by calling us at 360-799-1997 with your visa or mastercard. An alternative way to contribute is to become a WOLF Booster which gives you the additional benefits of board membership and complimentary access to the Wolf Camp property on Woods Lake. The latter alternative requires completing a property use form. Finally, books and other resources which you will need for successful completion of field exercises throughout Wolf Journey can be purchased through our camp store once it is up and running. In the meantime, we recommend purchasing through Tom & Renee Elpel's wonderful online Granny's Country Store or simply email them at orders@grannysstore.com or call 406-287-3605.

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!