Nature Walks: take a stroll to learn about plants, mushrooms, lichens, wildlife, ecology, natural history, or something more specific to your interests. Ethnobotany, tree identification, medicinal uses of plants, ID the plants on your property, etc. You get to choose which topic(s) to focus on during the walk (i.e., just medicinal plants, or everything/anything)

Bushcraft or Survival Skills: topics are numerous because bushcraft includes practically anything that has to do with working w/ natural materials outdoors. If you’re interested in learning about wood carving including making arrows, fishing reels, spoons, spatulas, slingshots; making pine pitch glue, carving tools from bone, making arrowheads; learning knots, survival fire & shelter-making, camp safety and wild camping, water sourcing & purification, campfire cooking including baking outdoors (bread, brownies, pizza), bushcraft includes all of that. Also included: cordage-making, ax, knife, and saw skills, basic first aid (splinting broken bones, understanding & assembling first aid kits, and plant medicine for first aid). The list goes on. These are basic survival skills courses with a twist of wilderness awareness.

Foraging: bring a foraging basket or bag and come out to learn about and collect edible, medicinal, or utilitarian plants, mushrooms, and other organisms. Your outing can focus on a variety of forageables or be centered on just mushroom foraging, just edible plants, or just medicinal plants, for example. These courses are designed as nature walks with a foraging component. They don’t include wildcrafting anything. Check out the Wildcrafting description below if you want to make something together.

Wildlife Tracking: take a walk in a woodland or along the river to learn how to identify tracks and sign that animals leave behind including feeding sign, nests/shelter, prints, scat, and other forms of communication sign. Your instructor(s) are Level III and/or Level IV (professional) in the Art of Wildlife Track & Sign.

Northwest Natura offers Track & Sign for beginners, intermediates, and advanced trackers.

Wildcrafting: Book a wildcrafting class with me and we’ll sustainably gather materials from nature and craft something beautiful or delicious or potent together.

This includes weaving, basketry, natural dyes, seasonal wreaths, cordage and bead-making with plants, herbal medicines, jewelry-making, cooking with edible plants and mushrooms, and so much more.

More ideas for topics and crafts can be found when you click on the “Wildcrafting” link.

The possibilities for wildcrafting are endless. Let me know what you want to make and I’ll teach you!

Academic: private lessons for folks who want to be schooled in botany, mycology, lichenology, ecology, and other science topics.

If you have a child who needs science credits, let’s chat! If you personally have an interest in science (especially nature science) like Environmental Science or Biology, you will love the academic courses.

Your lesson will be tailored to your interest and designed to suit you personally.

Whether you’re currently in college or you wish you could take a college-level course without paying for all the higher education, these private lessons will provide you with the information you seek.

Learn how to key out mushrooms and plants; learn botany 101 and advanced botany, fungi basics and advanced mycology, ecology abroad or of the Salish Sea, weather patterns, natural history, and so much more in a deep-diving, academic setting. Lots of outdoor time outside can be included in these lessons too!

Location will depend on your topics.

Seasonal Immersion: this category is for folks who want to schedule multiple (3+) outings throughout the year to learn about and connect with nature in all seasons.

A minimum of three and a maximum of twelve sessions can be scheduled in 12 months.

This category is all-encompassing. If you want to learn about plants in the spring, medicinal herbs in the summer, mushrooms in the fall, and bushcraft in the winter, that’s exactly what we’ll do. We can even combine topics during our outings. Seasonal Immersion is perfect for someone looking to spend more time outdoors with a friendly and empowering instructor.

The possibilities are endless. Any topic is allowed. Courses are typically 4.5 hours per session but can be shorter or longer based on your interests and schedule.

Other / Combination of topics: Select this category if the descriptions above didn’t mention something specific you’re looking for.

You may also select this category if you’re looking to combine major topics like BUSHCRAFT + TRACKING or FORAGING + WILDCRAFTING

Further questions?

Please note that events and private lesson rates may vary depending on travel-time, level of coaching, and additional materials including park or venue fees, tools, and permits if they are required for your course.

For private lessons, details on location and travel fees, materials required, etc., will be discussed after you submit your request.

Small Group Pricing

Private Course Details, Tuition and Refund Policy

Please read the following carefully:

Details about your course will be discussed via email or phone until schedule confirmation is made. Tuition is due upon confirmation of your private event.

Pricing may vary. Prices listed on our website are baseline costs. Listings do not assume travel costs to areas outside of Whatcom County. Custom courses taking place outside of Whatcom County are subject to an additional fee based on commute mileage. Prices increase at a baseline of 40/hr when you add time to a set length. Prices increase at a baseline of 40/topic when you add topics to a short course or half day course. A complete outline defining all costs for the purpose of transparency is available by request. Any additional costs and price variation will be discussed with you before you commit to your purchase.
Non-refundable deposit: Tuitions, paid in full by a single person, or individually by attendees include a 50% nonrefundable deposit.
Rescheduling: Rescheduling your private event without additional fees is allowed up to 8 days prior to the event. “Last minute rescheduling” is defined as requesting to reschedule your private event with less than 8 days’ notice. Such may be subject to a 10% rescheduling fee.
Cancellations: Refunds for 50% of tuition will be rewarded if at least 8 days’ notice of cancellations is given. “Last minute cancellation” is defined as cancelling your event in less than 8 days of the workshop. In such cases, the participants forfeit their tuition in entirety. Special conditions may apply. Please inquire.