Clam chowder is a New England specialty and perfect for a foggy day down by the shore. Being the prestigious dish that it is, it must be complicated, right? Not necessarily so. With a few tips and tricks, anyone can make a delicious chowder! First we’ll start by preparing the clams. Fresh cooked clams will…
A day on the seashore is fun, but a if you know some basic information about seaweeds and shellfish, then a day is never enough. In fact, you could live on the beach always discover new things. “Edge” areas are always the places where the greatest number of species cross paths, and there is no…
Read More “Eating From The Seashore: Seaweeds & Shellfish of the Salish Sea” »
It’s hard to think of anything that embodies the spirit of the great outdoors more than a good old-fashioned campfire under the stars. They provide us with warmth, light, and a great social atmosphere. There’s something deeply human about huddling around a raging fire with friends and family that brings us all closer together. Great…
Please click here to read critical introductory material in Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine, Part 1 of 2 including the non-flowering plants, and my article on the Tenets of Herbal Medicine. These articles are designed to help the beginner cut the chaff, and start studying plants that will give a solid foundation of…
Read More “Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine: Part 2 of 2 – Flowering Plants” »
The following plants which are native to the Pacific Northwest either 1) are scientifically proven to effectively treat health issues, or 2) I have personally tested to work. However, many of them should only be used under the care and advice of a naturopathic physician. Please seek medical advice and never rely on internet advice…
Read More “Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine: Part 1 of 2” »
I was hurriedly descending the lowest slopes of Mt. Baker, through a giant old-growth forest, trying to reach the road before nightfall. My ride was waiting there, and I could see my friend in her car, just below me through a break in the trees. The trail continued at a gradual angle 1/4 mile sideways before…
Read More “The Tenets of Herbal Medicine: Guidelines & Rules for Health, Safety & Success” »
Article written by Dr. Thomas P. Chisholm, Col., USA, Ret. Identifying tracks of wild animals is easiest in new snow when the temperature is moderate on a sunny day. March is often the best month when the snow is deep and the weather is warmer. Tracking on skis is pleasant but snowshoes are best when…
Since the founding of the Boy Scouts and to the era of modern of survival schools, the “debris hut” has enjoyed great popularity. Unfortunately, the debris hut is not a practical design for emergency shelter. To build a debris hut, you need 1) plenty of time, which no one in a survival situation has, 2) a mind sharp enough…
Recommended Orienteering Compasses First, it is critical to get a “spinning dial” compass that is clear plastic, although it’s also nice to get one that allows you to “set declination” which is a fancy way of saying that it has prominent red lines/arrows that clearly shows your magnetic declination so that every time you use…
Read More “Video & Blog: How To Use A Compass; Using Map & Compass; Recommended Compasses” »
Wolf College Top 10 Lostproofing Skills Plan your route and risk manage it (empower all to say “stop, is it worth the risk, and if so, let’s make a mitigation plan) Every person needs to bring the 10 essentials. See https://www.mountaineers.org/learn/how-to/the-ten-essentials Always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Then go there! If…
Read More “Top 10 List of Natural Navigation, Lostproofing & Orienteering Tips, Tricks & Advice” »
Wolf College founder and co-owner Chris Chisholm finds red-wing blackbirds in cattail pond, harvests cattail rhizomes, transplants the cattail into the Wolf College bioswale rain garden, and cooks cattails for carbohydrate loading.
Chorus Frogs Singing March 1, 2013 – The Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla) is our regional “chorus frog” and we heard them singing in an impressive chorus for the first time this winter a couple hours before we turned our calendar to March. We’d been hearing a “ribbit” here and a “crek-ek” there for a few…
First Plants to Learn No plant is more important than any other, just like no person’s life should be more important than anyone else’s. But all of us who publish books about plants make choices as to which plants to highlight, and which to leave out during the editing process. My choice of plants is…
The Opposite of Panic Experts say “don’t panic” in case of emergency, but we are biologically wired with a “freeze, fight or flee” response, so the only people who don’t automatically panic are trained emergency responders. So what are the rest of us to do? When we panic, adrenaline floods our system, and our “lower…
Read More “Emergency & Wilderness Survival – Tips, Suggestions & Advice” »
February 12, 2013 – Chris and I headed out this morning for a walk at our local park to see if there were any signs of spring to be found among the local flora and fauna. The first thing I noticed were these lovely Red Elderberry buds (Sambucus racemosa) just waiting to burst forth. There’s…
Sign up for our First Tuesday of the Month Outdoor Skills Newsletter The newsletter contains deals and information not available anywhere else! Examples include: – Where to find current hot wildlife spots and more – Previews of program ideas and upcoming skills videos – Mini skills newsletter workshops from our workshop hand-outs – Special program discount…
Read More “First Monthly Outdoor Skills Newsletter publishes March 4th, 2013” »
In Bellingham on Tuesday, it was a cold, snowy day! After some quick introductions, a few exercises to help us stay warm and a fictitious emergency scenario in front of Village Books we walked over to Padden Creek Trail to continue class. Each family was given a packet of emergency preparedness and survival handouts to take home to read…
Today’s class met at Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park off Umtanum Rd. The trees along the river were brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. We began our afternoon together learning how to spin rope out of raffia. It takes some practice to get it right but before long all of the kids were making some…
FOR 200 PICTURES FROM THIS WEEK WE WILL SHARE A GOOGLE DOC WITH YOU. THIS BLOG ENTRY IS WRITTEN BY FISHING CAMP INSTRUCTOR CHARLIE BORROWMAN. Rising at 5:00 a.m. to fish in the lake. Caught a whopper of a crawdad! Doing the salmon stretch for our hands before casting. Next we tried fishing in the…
THIS POST BY RACHEL EDWARDS, SUMMER TEACHING APPRENTICE… The first overnight camp of the summer was survival week. The kids came to either be a part of the introduction to survival or to go on the advanced survival trek out on your own away from base camp. To learn these skills is why I came…
Read More “Survivors Side of the Mountain – Wilderness Survival Training & Trek” »
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