Our Fox Walkers Youth Programs introduce Earth Skills, a blend of the ancient arts of tracking, wilderness survival, and nature awareness. Through our programs, a re-thinking of our connection to nature begins to occur. Nature is not simply a resource that we control as a product, but a relationship we must cultivate. Through hands-on skills, games, songs and storytelling, we create an "invisible school", where kids learn directly from the Earth while having tons of fun, laughing and playing with each other.
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Our curriculum is inspired from Indigenous values and the Old Ways Earth Skills, largely learned from the Tracker School and through each Instructor's own "dirt time" living these skills. Included below is a brief description of a few of the skills we cultivate.  Please contact us using the inquiry form below for more details about scheduling, scope, and pricing.  We look forward to talking with you soon! 

Field Trips take place on our land in Nevada City - the Burton Educational Preserve is also home to the Pata Panaka village - map here.

SURVIVAL SHELTER BUILDING
Learn how animals use readily available, natural materials to create warm, dry, and safe homes for themselves and their young.
Program Description: This program starts with a powerful story about the need for shelter and how to learn from our furry backyard neighbor - the squirrel, and their home habitat, the Drey. This story is followed by a demonstration of exactly how to construct such a shelter. Afterwards, the group is put to the test to create a shelter of their own (or collaboratively), which is finally tested to ensure its water repelling and insulative nature!

FRICTION FIRE MAKING
Learning Objectives: Learn the risks and benefits of fire as a element, as well as its place within human history.
Program Description: Demonstration of the Bow-Drill fire by friction technique. Demonstration first includes proper safety considerations, then demonstration of ‘fire structure’ creation including tinder/kindling preparations. Hands-on portions may include anything from fire structure building , to lighting with a match challenge, to time spent working to create an ember from a Fire by Friction Kit (individually, in pairs or whole group).

NATURAL AWARENESS TRAINING
Learning Objectives: To be introduced to ancient and effective mindfulness exercises, activities, and games.
Program Description: Participants are challenged to expand all of their senses and become truly alive - focused, quiet minded, and cunningly aware! Through our challenging games requiring elements of silent movements, hiding abilities, natural camouflaging techniques, and a keen awareness of their surroundings; participants are welcomed to push the limits of their own sensory abilities into newfound limitations in a fun and enjoyable way. This allows them to leave feeling confident, mindful, and refreshed!

PLAY/RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Learning Objectives: Play awakens the processes of thinking, learning, and living like few things can! We aim to engage in play that simultaneously entertains and trains participants for a life full of purpose, resilience, and reprieve!
Program Description: Unique games are implemented around the principles of nature awareness, predator/prey relationships, natural movement training, and group cohesion/team building. We aim to create a space where worrying minds are eased and engaged minds are fed!
 
NATURE CONNECTION
Learning Objectives: From spending hands-on time with natural objects, participants get an up close and personal experience with the magic that surrounds us all in its many natural forms.
Program Description: Through acquaintance with our ‘Nature Museum’, participants are taken into a world where all things are real and full of wonder! From examining various stone tools, to deciphering the process of a friction fire kit, to running fingers through the fluff of a fox’s tail, this experience awakens curiosity! Participants are guided to feed their curiosities through direct observations, poignant questioning, and broad-minded learning approaches.