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Home and Calendar Mission and Staff Bios Application Form, with our whole schedule listed, Driving Directions, Phone Number, and Email WOLF JOURNEY Program INDEX: Wolf Journey TESTIMONIALS Wolf Journey FAQs Wolf Journey CORRESPONDENCE COURSE Wolf Journey CLASS SERIES offered in Western WA WEEKEND WORKSHOPS throughout the Academic Year Wolf Journey STUDY DAYS in Puyallup CUSTOM DESIGNED Wolf Journey Programs OVERVIEW of Wolf Journey Index to Wolf Journey ARTWORK, SONGS & STORIES PART ONE Intro - Trail of the Naturalist • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 PART TWO Intro - Trail of the Tracker • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 PART THREE Intro - Trail of the Herbalist • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 • Chapter 11 • Chapter 12 PART FOUR Intro - Trail of the Scout • Chapters TBA PART FIVE Intro - Trail of the Artisan • Chapters TBA PART FIVE Intro - Trail of the Hunter • Chapters TBA PART FIVE Intro - Trail of the Pioneer • Chapters TBA PART EIGHT Intro - Handbook for Earth Skills Students, Environmental Teachers & Outdoor Leaders • Journaling Cover Page • Wildlife Recording Form • Student Transcripts • Glossary & Rescources • Taxonometric Classification • Outings Guide • Teaching Guide • Outdoor Leader Program Policies • More TBA Virtual CHALLENGES including Earth Skills Self-Assessment Print out an Application Form which has the whole schedule listed; or email or call us with questions or to register. CONFIDENTIALITY: Wolf Camp does not share its database — period. COPPAct Notice: Children 12 and under must obtain parental consent before contacting us. • The Wolf College SITE MAP • Wolf Camp SITE MAP • Wolf Journey SITE MAP • WOLF Foundation SITE MAP • Fun Nourishment

Guest Essay Article on this Page: American Ginseng by Christie Wolfe. Also check out our other articles available in the Ethnobotany series, Survival series, Wildlife series, and Earth Skills Education series. American Ginseng by Christie Wolfe Hi! I'm Christie Wolfe. I'm so pleased to have the honor to write for WOLF Tales. I call myself a “budding naturalist”. Over the past eight years my formal studies have focused on quality and now I am blessed to incorporate my passion and reverence for nature into my spiritual practices. With my new found sense of connectedness to all things I have begun to recognize the beauty and balance in nature and in myself. I hope you enjoy my article as you enjoy the seasonal wonders of the autumn and winter in love and thanksgiving. Into the Magic Forest Just last spring I began a most remarkable journey back into the wonders and magic of nature. As with many of us, my union with Mother Earth was very evident as a child. I talked with the plants for hours, sang with the woodland fairies, ran with the wildlife (some seen and some unseen), and hid from my mom in gnome caves. Sometime during my early teens, perhaps under the enchantment of one of those crafty gnomes, I fell asleep to our natural world. Now as I wake up to the glory of the world out of doors, I find myself back in the woods with the plants, animals, gnomes and fairies. It is good to be home. Through my adventures I have come to realize that I have much to learn about our Creator's gifts. The Pacific Northwest has some of the most fascinating and distinctive ecology on earth. No need to travel far from home to experience a large diversity of flora and fauna. I have found myself particularly drawn to edible and medicinal plants, and I focus my studies there. This article is to help remind you of what you may already know or to introduce you to a new plant you have yet to experience. You can test your plant knowledge by trying to identify the plant I describe before I tell you the name at the end (hey, no peeking!). Now, let's go into the woods! Shrub of Gnome Village I first encountered this incredibly powerful and sacred plant on my first spiritual retreat. Our destination was a sacred spot of old growth forest nestled between Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters. There we would spend an entire week away from our busy lives, reuniting with the natural world. Our hike began by following a small creek up a mountain side. Just after entering the magic forest my guide stopped to point out a very wicked looking plant. Since this plant loves wet, well drained areas it was thriving right along our route. He said that this plant held much power and magic and that even though it looks angry and dangerous, if it befriends you it will protect you and provide for many of your needs. Because this was my first intense experience into the forest since I was a kid, I was more than a bit overwhelmed before we had even gotten out of the car so I had not yet made the transition from "doing" to just "being". The plant did look very interesting but I really wanted to keep moving. "HURRY!" I thought, "Let's get there!" The chattering monkey in my mind was still fully activated and impatience was leading the way. I gave my guide a quick nod and vowed to myself that I would remember to notice this plant later and include it in my plant journal. The plant, however, decided that it would introduce itself to me personally in spite of my desire to delay the interaction. It was not until I slipped on a mossy log and reached for an arm of this spiny, heavily armed shrub to use as a hand hold (OUCH!) that I began to truly appreciate its power and my relationship with this ancient plant began. After my intimate christening, I noticed its bright green maple leaf shaped leaves everywhere there was saturated ground. The leaves offered much cover for the delicate under-story plants beneath it. This plant spouts many shoots from the interconnected root systems. It is told that the gnomes use these majestic guardian plants as sanctuary. The plant's roots provide a vast network of tunnels superb for underground elf travel! One plant can be parent to hundreds of stocks rising from the forest floor. To look upon a grove is just like looking into a small village. Listening to the Elders As told by the Lummi Cultural Resource Specialist Chadaskadum Whichtalum, the dethorned bark was applied to a woman's breast to stop the flow of milk. He goes on to tell that baldness and graying hair was never a problem for the Lummi people because this plant was used as a shampoo. Just lather up, and apply to the scalp! Other native cultures use this plant in many ways. It is related to ginseng, and is one of the most important medicinal plants. The entire plant can be used in different ways to treat numerous ailments including arthritis, ulcers, diabetes, tuberculosis, and much, much more. The bark is very aromatic and has been used for perfume, deodorant, and baby talc. The bark can also be burned to make dye and face paint. The woody stock was carved into hooks and fishing lures. I've only known this wonderful plant since late summer, but I'm told that in the spring, it blooms with pyramids of small white flowers. Later in the summer, I remember the flowers transforming into bunches of bright red berries. Perhaps the bears find the fruit delectable, but they are not suitable for humans. This mystical magical and powerful plant is called Devil's Club (also known as american ginseng) – Oplopanax horridus. Next time you are creek side in the forest take some time to get acquainted with Devil's Club. It is now one of my most favorite and beloved woodland friends. Resources include Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Pojar & MacKinnon. Special thanks to Eileen Van Bronkhorst and the Wise Woman Tradition for inspiration. For new articles by Wolf College staff, please see: Herbal First Aid The Most Important Plants Learning to ID Plants If Sedges have Edges, and Rushes are Round, Grasses are Hollow from Nose to the Ground A Cattail Tale Spruce, Firs, Larch & Hemlock are all Pines? Why Has the Oak Fallen? Rose and Other Tasty Berries Secrets of Seaweed Gifts of the Cedar Cactus, Bamboo & Palm

Employment: We only need instructors with experience running camps and teaching in the field of Earth Skills Education, including skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Survival Scout, Primitive Artisan and Sustainable Pioneer. Apply to become an instructor through our Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship.

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