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Wolf Journey FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Wolf Journey

Notes from the author, Chris Chisholm

What are earth skills, and how has it become an independent field of study?

We're currently writing a definition for Wikipedia, and will post that link as soon as it's done. It has several streams of influence, and is related to natural science, outdoor adventure, "primitive" skills and other genres of experiential environmental education, but to us, it covers a gamut of nature awareness and survival skills, including skills of the naturalist, tracker, herbalist, survival scout, stone age artisan, hunter-gatherer, and sustainable pioneer. In the early years, there was no name for the combination of these skills, and being a former piano teacher, I always wished there was a simple name for them. It just took too long to explain without a simple name, so I advocated the term "earth skills" along with a handful of other people in the field. For insteance, take a look at a guest essay on Earth Skills Education re-printed with permission by Tim Smith, M.Ed.

What is your background, and why did you name your program Wolf Journey?

Start with our staff bios page for some credentials, and feel free to email us to request references spanning decades, but in sum, I grew up in northern Minnesota, playing outside every day of the winter, and spent a lot of summertime outdoors in northern Wisconsin, back when wolves roamed the forest unbeknownst to the general public, or even to its myriad regional hunters. On my parent's cabin property located in the geographic center of the Chequamegon Nat'l Forest (now the Chequamegon-Nicolet NF) we heard the wolves howling when they first showed up, and everyone assumed they were coyotes. Now the acceptance of wolves in the north woods is widespread and fairly well tolerated (unlike out west in the ranch lands), but even during my college years, people still thought wolves were big, bad child eaters. Of course, we now know that healthy wolves don't attack humans, but in the 90s when I started Wolf Camp, the name was a political statement: that wolves were good. Fortunately for them, and for my business, wolves have become very popular and rather revered. I also knew that wolves traveled far and wide in their pursuit of survival, like the archetypical human quest for knowledge, so what better symbol to emulate student progress into nature awareness and wilderness survival? It is a journey, of heart, mind, and soul as well as body.

Why is Wolf Journey free and online?

After several years selling Wolf Journey in bookstores, the printing process became a bit of a chore, and the era of online books and free flow of information arose. Basically, it's much simpler, and of course has the benefit of getting to so many more people geographically and financially. It also has the benefit of directing people to Wolf Camp programs, so it works out fine for us as well. Finally, it's really turned into my life's work, involving original music, songs from my favorite eco-spiritual musicians, artwork from students who have gone on to create amazing projects partially as a result of working through Wolf Journey, stories that are too sacred for me to sell, and field exercises that are based on indigenous cultural knowledge that I don't want appropriate. So feel free to use what I've got here as you like, although we ask that you support the artists and musicians who have graciously allowed us to record their works and whose links can be found next to those works. We also ask that you support us work by attending our programs, hiring us for custom programs in your area, and donating at least $1.00 per chapter or set of recordings you utilize, with checks payable to Wolf Camp, 1026 14th St. SW, Puyallup WA 98371.

When are you going to upload the remainder of Wolf Journey parts?

I was just asking myself the same question. I have drafts of all the parts, but I just don't think they are well-edited enough to post online yet. There's so much work to do running Wolf Camp, that I haven't gotten around to editing Wolf Journey for years. In fact, re-writingn Part Two is my first priority, as Chapter Five isn't what I want, and there has been such incredible progress in the field of human and wildlife tracking over the past few years. That's my first priority, along with editing Part Three so we start attracting more herbalist using the curriculum. So, the answer to my own question came to me: it's a life's work. In the meantime, you can send $5.00 per chapter you don't see posted yet, and I'll email it directly to you. That helps motivate me to edit things which are requested, or at least add comments which should help you through the weaker sections.

What's the history of Wolf Journey and the difference between it and Kamana?

We recommend considering the Kamana Naturalist Training Program through the Wilderness Awareness School which inspired Wolf Journey Part One. Kamana takes naturalist training to a deep level similar to what we guide Wolf Journey Part One students to do in Wolf Journey Part Eight - Handbook for Earth Skills Students, Environmental Teachers & Outdoor Leaders, but Kamana also includes an overt metaphysical component that is wonderful for spiritual people. Please note that Kamana is a naturalist training program, as opposed to a full-scale earth skills curriculum, so you may be introduced to tracking, herbalism, and scouting, but it does not include the full professional tracking, herbal ethnobotany, scout survival, primitive artisanry, hunter-gathering, or sustainable pioneer field exercises of Wolf Journey. In addition, payment for Kamana is compulsory, while Wolf Journey is optional unless you elect to use it as a correspondence course.

It is also important to note the history of Wolf Journey development. I began writing Wolf Journey for two reasons. First, in the initial Kamana years, it cost hundreds of dollars up-front to get the materials, which I paid; and second, when I received it, the text was confusing. Kamana has evolved since then, but at the time, I thought this information should be broadly available, yet simple enough for anyone to grab off the bookstore shelf, go home, and have success completing. I also found that the overt spiritual component, while wonderful and very attractive to many, was also limiting its reach.

Kamana author Jon Young made it clear to me that Kamana was limited to nature awareness, while I was also interested in wilderness survival at the time. So while keeping him up on my progress, I wrote Wolf Journey, not thinking that it might stir up proprietary feelings of competition in his circle. This was the naive attitude I carried with me when I was called down to the Wilderness Awareness School for a meeting after the first edition of Wolf Journey appeared on bookshelves. They felt it was just a simplified version of Kamana, and expressed worry that I might not honor the spirit of its origins, despite many references to Jon Young throughout the book, recommendations that those who wanted to go deeper spiritually sign up for Kamana, and myriad student referrals to the Wilderness Awareness School over the years.

Wolf Journey Part One remains a simplified version of Kamana, which has now been wonderfully updated and whose first sections are now offered by the Wilderness Awareness School very inexpensively. Thomas J. Elpel of the Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School, Granny's Store and HOPS Press has a nice comparison between Wolf Journey Part One and the Kamana Introduction. Wolf Journey Part One is a simple introduction to a completely comprehensive earth skills curriculum which maintains the benefits of Kamana, but also adds the following unique things:

1. Makes the study of nature available to everyone of nearly any religious or non-spiritual belief system.
2. Makes the study of nature simple, without superfluous information, so that even inner-city dwellers with no backyard, those who don't think they can draw or tell a story, can be successful, while maintaining the integrity of these skills which many hold so sacred.
3. Opens the experience to those without financial means, while still offering correspondence mentoring to those without outdoor elders to guide them at home.
4. Adds music and art to the storytelling approach of education, utilizing MySpace, YouTube, and whatever else may arise online.
5. Maintains the integrity of the "control site" approach to nature study which many hold sacred, while acting as a critical introduction to a more comprehensive earth skills curriculum, including wilderness survival, primitive living skills, herbal medicine and permaculture .
6. Goes beyond nature awareness to offer comprehensive Human & Wildlife Tracking, Wild Edibles & Herbal Studies, Scout Survival, Stone Age Artisanry, Primitive Hunting & Fishing, and Sustainable Pioneer curricula in Wolf Journey Part Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven, while Part Eight, the Handbook, allows students to take any and all of these skills to a deeper level of specialization, and trains the outdoor educator with standard policies.

Can I get school or college credit for completing Wolf Journey?

Yes. 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, or Evergreen State College in Olympia, 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 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 Wolf Journey and been 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 peaceful 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 peaceful place field exercise assignments between classes.

Click on the following to start Wolf Journey on your own or use Wolf Journey as a correspondence course or contact us by phone or email with more questions, including the possibility of coming to one of our courses, or having us come to you.

Any more questions?

Email us and maybe we'll post your queries here!

RECENT COMMENTS
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"We had a really great time--it was fun, and LOTS of great information! Looking forward to the next one." - Janet Traweek, Homeschool Class Parent, Vancouver WA, January 2011

"I am so glad something like this exists in this area to facilitate awareness among people about the natural world. I am thankful for Chris and Kim dedicating the time to making long trips over the pass just to accomplish this." - Tiffany Olvera, Parent of Wolf Journey Homeschool Classes in Ellensburg, November 2010; and from December 2010: "I enjoy being in an enviroment where my knowledge and skill are appreciated and I want to learn at the same time. It is a wonderful sharing that sparks the creative juices. We cannot wait for another meetup."

"It was great! The kids loved it and so did the adults! We plan to continue the activities at home and look forward to the next class." - Brandie Penningroth, Homeschool Parent of 4 from Mission, B.C., Sept. 2010 attending Mt. Vernon Wolf Journey Classes, and from November 2010: "Another great class! The kids were so excited to show off their rope making skills that they were still twisting away at 10:30 pm! Thanks." - Then from December 2010 after arranging a class in Sumas WA for other Homeschool Families from British Columbia: "My family enjoyed yet another great wolf camp! Really liked the incorporation of outside activities as well as inside ones. Great activities and information. I love that I get to learn new things right alongside my kids. The group was awesome and we learned a lot, as usual. Kids are inspired to look around outside and see what other uses that they can find for plants that we have on our property! Many thumbs up!"

"We really enjoyed this class! So much interesting information and fascinating for both kids and adults. My daughters talked about it for hours after it was over. We'll definitely be back next month and we'll probably do the summer day camp too. Thanks, Chris and Kim!" - Jill Caywood, Parent in Ellensburg Homeschool Class, October 2010

"Chris - I just wanted to let you know how thrilled the kids were with their wolf camp experience. Also, thanks so much for the feedback.... Hope to see you at some of the homeschool classes." - Julia Taylor, Fox Island parent of Puyallup Day Camps & Wolf Journey Classes 2010

"This workshop was awesome! We found tracks left by raccoon, elk, deer, great blue heron, coyote, river otter, and others. With help from (Kim &) Chris' lovely assistant Skye we learned to distinguish wild from domestic canine tracks and were introduced to the arts of determining the age of a track and interpreting what the animal was doing / thinking when it made the track. We finished the day with a stroll through the woods for practice finding animal sign in forested areas. It was a great time and we all learned a lot!" - Jurgo Bielowski, Tracking Workshop, 2010/06/05

"I went to Clark's Creek Park in Puyallup last night to attend a a class about tracking animals. We went into a park, near dark, to learn how birds interact with other birds using five different communication styles. Chris & Kim, the instructors, identified the alarm calls of a robin being vocalized to others and sure enough we spotted the dark form of a Barred Owl in the direction of the alarm calls. Later we saw the owl swoop down and grab dinner off the forest floor. Just to show off he landed in the tree above us with a mouse in his talons. I was sold. Just being able to identify a bird is great but limiting, knowing it's vocalizations helps you understand the pulse of the forest. A more dimensional awareness in the woods learning these bird calls is important. It's like the difference between an Imax 3D movie and a rerun on TV in a foreign language. Anyway I had a good time, also learned how to handle nettle plants. He said it's the most nutritious plant in the forest. Indians used the fiber for fish nets, very strong stuff." - Mike Weatherby, Wolf Journey Class, 2010/04/29

"It was a relaxed group of participants with varying degrees of outdoors experience. Throughout the day, we learned about the uses of local plants for survival. Chris encouraged active learning among the group with his careful explanations on how to harvest and consume plants on the trail in a sustainable way.We spent the second half of the day at Chris and Kim's farm, where we saw how to make a fire, soup bowls, and boiled nettle stew using nothing but wood and stone. We also used freshly harvested ingredients to make tinctures and balms that we took home in sample jars. As another eloquent attendee put it, learning how to survive in nature makes it possible to walk out of your home and feel like you're walking into your living room. By the end of this meetup, sitting by our fire and drinking nettle soup, I had tasted the possibilities of living in the wilderness, and was ready to come back to learn survival skills in more serious detail." - Samual Wan, Herbal First Aid Workshop, 2010/03/05

"Chris, I attended the training session on Saturday. Thank you for a such a terrific experience. I enjoyed it even more than I expected and came away wanting to know more." - Tim Crowther, Wilderness Survival Workshop in Puyallup, 2010/02/05

"Thanks for the class dates, Chris. I am looking forward to them, as I enjoyed last night immensely. There is something deeply satisfying about working with your hands while chatting with other wonderful people. I also really appreciated your humble, egalitarian teaching style-- how you elicited knowledge from others in the group and let everyone teach everyone instead of looking to you as the only "expert." When letha challenged you about the hummingbird feeding, I was very impressed how open you were to her ideas... it impresses me when people treat someone who disagrees with them with as much respect as someone who agrees with them. You put people at ease, and that is always a better mind space from which to learn." - Chris Wolf, Bellingham Adult Class, 2010/02/01

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.

Come Meet Us: Click for a link to the Academic Year Wolf Journey Class Series for your next opportunity to experience our welcoming educational style.

email or call us • wolfcamp.com / wolfcollege.com / wolfjourney.com • mailing address and driving directions
All rights reserved, with content, graphics and photographs ©1997-2010 by Wolf Camp and the Wolf College and used only with permission.