Start your immerison without us15thApril
Why would someone do a full time wilderness skills program? It could take a year of your life, you pay a-lot of money and many of the skills shouldn't have to be learned, they're simply our birthright.
The latter is most important. Through the gorgeous saga of evolution you're hardwired to do the things Trackers teaches: from starting a fire with no matches to working and living in a village. Our bodies, minds and hearts have known it for millions of years. Unfortunately our 10,000 year old modern culture delivers a completely different message: four walls, twelve to twenty years of being graded and the inundation by an ever growing body of instantly obtainable goods. These things wear down even our most natural tendencies, breaking our spirit.
Every time we try to step outside that box, someone eventually tells us, "No!" This holds true for when we played in the mud at school or we can't stomp down the creek with our friends because the boss wants us to work on Saturday. The real purpose of a full time wilderness immersion program is to not simply teach a body of skills, its to have group of people (a family) always say "Yes!" Whatever transpires, everyone makes a commitment to support one another for set period of time. They agree to stave off the outside assault, one that coerces us to not connect to the wild world. Believe me, its hard work. In fact, the people that most often criticize the value of what we do are the ones simply passing through my community with no intentions of sticking around. They only ask, "What can you do for me?" with no real reciprocity intended.
Think about these blog as our weekly, "Yes!" Do what your body, heart and mind were designed to do. Sure, holding that space is hard. But me and plenty of my friends managed to even do it without an immersion program (its just took a lot of false starts).
Your prescription: Go outside. Hang out with the squirrels for a couple minutes. Light a campfire in wet conditions. Get a snake. Go collect stinging nettles. Come to our taster days (shameless pitch here) or get some friends to go hiking in the woods with you. And tell your boss you are absolutely not working on Saturday.
Oh, and when you really need someone to say yes, email me at tony@trackersnw.com. I'll answer with just that. Plus, I'll likely urge you to go do a random fun thing that's adventurous and slightly insane outside under trees.
Another Taster Day, May 16
This is the day everyone says yes. People that attend taster days overwhelmingly comment on how unique the atmosphere of team care and support feel.
Learn more about or RSVP for the taster day
Taster Day for Alumni of Taster Day, May 17
For those of you that have been. For those in the know. This is your day. Come party with us again. Both the day and the swanky wild or local foods potluck in the evening.
Learn more about or RSVP for the alumni day
