Coyote's Path is a bi-weekly wilderness youth program, for ages 6-16, starting in October of the year. It will be taking place on or around the second and fourth Saturday of each month. There will be approximately 24 youth in the program, split into three age-appropriate "clans" of approximately 8 youth each. The children will have the opportunity to come together as a whole group at the beginning and end of each day, and spend the day with their clans. The goals of the course include:

- Immersion in core routines of Native Awareness

- Practical applications of nature study

- Developing a close connection with not only nature, but with group dynamics and interaction as well

- Empowering youth to bring their constant awareness to maintaining a container for physical and emotional safety and trust, while...

- ...Building self-confidence outdoors in all kinds of seasonal changes and weather

- Balancing individual attention and peer-to-peer mentoring

- Creative and imaginative play

- Honoring diversity

- Giving each student the tools to continue passionate study of nature in their own home, on their own time

Learn through:

- Tracking
- Fire making
- Wandering with Awareness
- Stalking and the Art of Camouflage
- Storytelling
- Discovering Natural Mysteries
- Shelter Building
- Making Natural Cordage
- Play

Why is it important to have our children connect to nature?

Nature immersion time is an opportunity for youth to experience the inner ­stillness of the wilderness mind, the core routines of native awareness, and fun challenges throughout the seasons. Children discover their unique strengths and come to feel their inner power. They come to know that they can care for themselves, successfully face difficult challenges and even set their sights on solving seemingly impossible problems. Nature is the ultimate teacher when it comes to expectations, facing change, faith, positive attitude, gratitude, magical mysteries, problem solving and inventive play.

In the process of our programs, campers develop important life­ skills like teamwork; thankfulness; patience; common sense; self confidence; and respect for self, each other and nature.

Important tangible and intangible skills are woven invisibly into each day. For example, campers might learn inner stillness through the need to observe a songbird singing its morning song. They might learn teamwork and communication through talking circles or the need to quickly build a group shelter. Our focus is on helping campers to build skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

Personalized attention insures that experienced students are fully engaged. They have the opportunity to learn skills such as fire making, bird language, tracking, naturalist skills and shelter building techniques; take a greater responsibility for group decisions and projects; participate in their own advanced challenges; and assist the staff in teaching the skills they have practiced with new students.

2008-2009

The Dates are:

*All dates include an optional overnight for ages 10+ only, unless where otherwise noted. 

Oct. 11

Nov. 15

Nov. 29 

Dec. 13

Jan. 17

Jan. 31 

Feb. 14

Feb. 28 

Mar. 21 

Apr. 4   (optional overnight for all kids)

Apr. 18 (optional overnight for all kids)

May 8   (optional overnight for all kids)

May 22 (optional overnight for all kids) 

Cost

For 12 sessions, cost is sliding scale $550-$750 with an additional sliding scale $35-50 added for each overnight.

For registration, please fill out the registration form and submit check payable to the Institute for Natural Learning.