|
• Home
Visual Calendar of Courses
Cool Stuff
• Music & Stories
• Blog & Forum
• Fun Challenges
• Photo Gallery
• Camp Store
Nourishment
• Our Book Series
• Guest Essays, Etc.
• Recommended Resources
• Similar Schools
• Related Links
Camp Locator Map & Driving Directions
Email us,
or print out a
registration form,
or call a phone number listed below at any time.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Wolf Camp does not share its database — period.
COPPAct Notice:
Children 12 and under must obtain parental consent before contacting us.
Wolf Camp was voted 1 of 2 Best Camps in the Northwest Family News Reader's Poll of 2001, the only year they ran a poll, and we were also chosen as one of the five "best camps ever" by YM Magazine in its March 2003 issue.
|
Click here to skip to THIS YEAR'S NEWS. • Click here to go to our BLOG & FORUM page for our daily journal where all the latest happenings are posted.
Click Here if you would like to listed to an Audo Recorded Camp Greeting from Wolf Camp founder and coordinator Chris Chisholm for which you may need the free RealOne Player if it's not already installed in your system, and there is also a Audio Recorded Camp Greeting from our top earth skills specialist Nikki for you to listen to if you like.
Mission of the Wolf Camp Cooperative
"I will always remember the first time flying to the Pacific Northwest. It was winter, the horizon filled thickly with tall trees, so lush and with rugged glaciated mountains, and seemingly hundreds of Puget Sound islands. That was 20 years ago, and I still feel awed by this beautiful place, so different from anywhere else I have ever been. 10 years ago, my two sons attended WOLF’s very first tracking class along with my husband and me. Chris Chisholm was my boys’ much loved Spanish instructor at their school, and we were duly impressed after experiencing nature in a new way with him. It was one of the most interesting classes I had ever taken. Your WOLF experience will add so much to your life. Locals will never take the Seattle-Vancouver area for granted again, and those coming from afar will surely be inspired by our land filled with gifts of unique geography and climate." - Valarie Gervais
The Wolf Camp Cooperative invites you into a world where life thrives according to its original design. As students of nature, we’ll step peacefully into modern society with renewed strength from the natural world, equipped to live a healthy life.
At Wolf Camp, we strive to create unique outdoor experiences for you to enjoy and grow in permaculture and earth skills of the naturalist, tracker, herbalist, scout, hunter, artisan, and pioneer. We attract good role models to Wolf Camp, and help each person discover special talents in nature awareness and wilderness survival. We are serious about nurturing the growth and success of all our students, providing the rarest of positive experiences. Their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health is our top priority, and we are able to achieve these priorities because all Wolf Camp instructors are seasoned teachers in the fields of earth skills education and permaculture.
We hope to strike a healthy balance between modern society and nature as it was originally created. We teach children and adults to seek their truth, develop self-sufficiency, respect hazards, strive for success, be emotionally sensitive, express art and music, improve physical health, honor their own religion or spirituality, be tolerant of differences between people, and recognize similarities amongst everyone on earth. We are looking forward to your participation in this wonderful experience, sharing new skills and stories with one another.
No person is turned away from enrollment in any Wolf Camp program due to financial constraints. See our Scholarships & Giving page for more information.
Wolf Tracks Update
From Chris Chisholm, Founder and Coordinator
We just completed our 12th year of serving you, and we send thanks for sharing with us many wonderful earth skills experiences in this beautiful region of mountains, waters, sagebrush canyons and temperate rain forests. We fondly remember those of you who have attended our camps and classes since the summer of 1996, and we would be very blessed to receive another vital year of support from you and from the many new people who will attend in 2009.
The big news is that I just sold the Wolf Camp property on Woods Lake. Yes, it was the ideal property, save some small aggravations such as paying for it, and I'm grieving surprisingly little over our departure, perhaps because life is now simpler, or maybe because we had a wonderful burning ceremony the day the property closed which was incredibly cathartic, or in reality, we'll never leave Woods Lake since the whole east side is public land which we will always caretake with love.
The thing that really put the decision over the top was, in discussion with staff and board members, it became clear that my original vision was always to guide Wolf Camp to become a worker's cooperative, and with the overhead of land, few would be able to invest an adequate amount to cover their share of the land. So, without that, there remains just our 26' enclosed trailer full of camp gear, 12 years of wonderful experience, hundreds of active names on our database, and my sweat equity. But in reality, I never really made a profit, so the business is not worth too much more than its physical assets, perhaps $40,000 - $80,000 then depending on how you look at it.
Wolf Camp is now mobile and able to operate wherever new partners wish, free of debt so new partners have limited liability, and simplified to the point where the business is affordable for any qualified partner to acquire a share. It is my goal is to find two women and one additional man to join in business partnership, creating a gender-balanced worker’s cooperative with the working title:
Wolf Camp
Cooperative Adventures in the
Principles of Permaculture
and Earth Skills Education
featuring traditional foods, fire, shelter, stories, arts and music
www.wolfcooperative.org
Looking at logistical details, the process of transforming Wolf Camp into a worker’s cooperative would entail removing it from under my current sole proprietorship business license (which I will instead use only for my personal publishing, music and counseling services) and instead, I suggest that the new group of us attain an S-Corp license, transferring the business name, website, database, and all other relevant assets to become property of the new official entity we create.
Initially, each of us would wear two “hats” as detailed on the attached model, until, one by one, we are able to attract yet another four worker-owners, totaling eight of us as equal business partners each owning 1/8 of the business, and each possessing one vote for group decisions. Until that time, I will ask that the cooperative business principle of “one person equals one vote” to be on hold in favor of an interim “percent ownership equals percent voting rights” agreement so that my initial financial interest is protected until at least half the value of the business is owned by others in the cooperative.
Of course with each new worker-owner, the cooperative vision will change, including policies on things like decision-making, determining the number of business partners, hiring additional employees, planning finances, producing products and services, etc. However, my current vision is that our cooperative strive to achieve consensus on every decision requiring worker-owner input, but failing that, a ¾ majority voting in favor of a (previously tabled) proposal would be enough to enact changes. I have drafted a full set of by-laws proposing policies such as these.
ROLES
My hope is to join forces with someone (a Health & Farm Coordinator as described on the model I'm working on uploading next) who has a working farm where educational programs can be added, plus someone who has excellent business management skills (Business & Site Manager) to administer finances and maintain equipment, and another person who has success in running earth skills educational programs (Earth Skills Specialist). I would continue in a role of program mentoring and promotion (Cooperative Camp Coordinator).
HEALTH & FARM COORDINATOR: One of the four primary roles would be to attract an active permaculture practitioner who also has herbal knowledge, or who has contacts in the field of herbal medicine so that s/he can hire qualified persons to assist in that role. The ideal candidate would also understand and appreciate earth skills education, but most important, have stable access to a working farm where we can also station some large educational programs. The Health & Farm Coordinator would be responsible for the development of all farm-to-market activities, management of its land/water resources, our conversion to appropriate technologies, and the expansion of educational programs such as our Permaculture Pioneer, Wild Healers, and other relevant programs.
BUSINESS & SITE MANAGER: The ideal candidate would be familiar with the concepts of earth skills education, permaculture, and a worker's cooperative, but most important, have excellent skills of business administration, experience in the fields of education and food sales. The first tasks of a new business manager will be to write our new business plan, reorganize our finances, ensure the maintenance of equipment (or hiring a custodian until a custodial worker-owner buys into the cooperative), help partners run the logistics of educational programs and farm-to-market enterprises. The Business & Site Manager would also help to develop our Recreational Administration internship and provide logistical support for all other programs.
COOPERATIVE CAMP COORDINATOR: My initial duties would be to mentor other worker-owners, hired instructors, employees and students to succeed in their roles, while also continuing to co-design and promote programs so that they successfully fill according to our business plan goals, until we find a worker-owner to take the latter “hat” as promoter/marketer. I would continue to serve as camp director in the summer, and supervise all other educational programs where needed. I hope that my 20 years of teaching experience, the majority running Wolf Camp programs, gives me the experience that such a mentor needs to provide excellent educational experiences for every age group, employing various methodologies including my favorite, the Waldorf curriculum, but also be very skilled in program administration and soliciting services contracts and filling programs. I would also continue to facilitate the Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship and the Wolf Journey Naturalist Survey.
EARTH SKILLS SPECIALIST: The final priority is to find additional trackers and primitive skills specialists, dedicated to the mission of our earth skills camp and permaculture cooperative, serving to bring greater and greater health and balance to our staff while providing excellent teaching skills at some of our courses for all ages, but especially helping to promote and lead our resident camps and adult apprenticeships. The Earth Skills Specialist would also help to expand and fully facilitate the Future Scout Trackers Training, the Seasonal Primitive Skills Program and Stone Age Living Experience, as well as other relevant programs.
INVESTMENT
Your initial investment to become a worker-owner of Wolf Camp would be based on buying a minimum 1/8 share of the value of our combined business assets, including property, materials, inventory, websites, projected revenue from returning clientele, good reputation, profit history, etc. Currently, I estimate $40,000 - $80,000 in assets, meaning that if no other assets are added before we incorporate as an S-Corp, then your minimum buy-in would be $5,000, plus 500 hours sweat-equity which would give worker-owners $10,000 initial ownership.
In addition to your initial investment, worker-owner responsibilities will include an 1/8 share of our yearly expenses, meaning that if we do not gain more revenue than the amount of money we spend, that loss would be spread evenly according to the share you own in the business. In addition, all worker-owners would need to agree to direct all earth skills related personal business revenue into the cooperative, with compensation coming back to you based on policies detailed in the by-laws we develop together.
Worker-owners may also buy additional shares (until such time we have an equal number of worker-owners owning equal shares) and sell shares at the annual co-op value assessment, decided by cooperative group decision by the then current cooperative owners of the purchaser. Your share of ownership is backed-up by our assets, although the value of those can fluctuate, including any land, buildings, boats, website, gear, kitchen equipment, food stores, furniture, appliances, camp store goods, library, experienced human resources, etc.
So if you, or someone you know, would like to consider buying a cooperative share of this business, please let me know. Based on the previous success of Wolf Camp, cooperative worker owners could see a significant return on their investment in a short time. Thank you for being interested! – Chris Chisholm, 425-248-0253.
Coop Owner Responsibilities
Initial investment ($5,000 plus 500 hours sweat-equity for an eighth share).
Future Annual Work Hours (500 hours per eighth share, number derived from the rationale of 10 hours per week for 50 weeks, paid at the rate set in the by-laws out of the budget we set together such as $10/hour, but as the next sentence states, you are responsible for that budget, so it is circular revenue).
Endeavor to ensure that the business makes a profit, or cover share of any loss.
Adherence to the bylaws set by the cooperative and dedication to the goals and future of Wolf Camp, including agreement to direct all relevant revenue to the cooperative business.
Coop Owner Benefits
Based on share percentage, cooperative ownership and voting control over programs and assets in this wonderful enterprise.
Annual dividend based on profits from Wolf Camp when we make money – your primary financial benefit based on the performance risk you take as a business owner.
Wages paid for annual sweat equity as set by budget (but that you are in turn responsible for as described above under responsibilities).
First priority for teaching positions (normally a significant additional salary) at Wolf Camp.
Opportunity to sell shares at a later date for any increase (or decrease) in business value.
The support of our Advisory Union (Lead Instructors at Wolf Camp), the WOLF Foundation Board of Directors, Students and Parents of Wolf Camp (Wolf Boosters).
Come Meet Us
Click for a link to the Fall-Spring Class Series descriptions. All classes run from 6-9 p.m. including a pot-luck dinner. Classes take place at the new Wolf Camp home office at 1313 A 2nd St. in historic downtown Snohomish. Please park on "E" Street as there is no parking right around our home office. Costs vary, so see class descriptions for details.
AVAILABLE NOW:
Tuesdays: Permaculture Pot Luck begins January 6, 2009 and will run through Memorial Day, then pick back up again in the fall beginning September 22, 2009. This is a complimentary event for those who are currently engaged in permaculture projects and who will be preparing pot-luck dishes to share, while the public is also invited to attend at a $5.00 contribution level to learn about permaculture.
BEGINNING SPRING OF 2009:
Mondays: Cooperative Group Facilitation runs March 23 - May 19 in the Spring of 2009, and September 21 - November 16 in the Fall of 2009. The cost is $5.00 for those with demonstrated facilitation experience, and $10.00 per class for beginners.
Wednesdays: Earth Skills Study runs March 25 - May 21 in the Spring of 2009, and September 23 - November 18 in the Fall of 2009. There is no charge for those who are already teaching in the field of earth skills, or $5.00 for those who are actively studying the Wolf Journey or similar secret-spot-based curriculum, and $10.00 per class for everyone else.
Thursdays: Art & Music Composition runs March 26 - May 22 in the Spring of 2009, and September 23 - November 19 in the Fall of 2009. The cost is $5.00 for those who are currently teaching or professionally recording music and art, and $10.00 per class for beginners/intermediates. You can also try out your compositions on Friday nights at Open Mic Lives! located in the Thumbnail Theater just up the street from the Wolf Camp home office where Chris has some of his sound equipment on loan, and Chris will also help you schedule and promote cover performances of your compositions at the Thumbnail on Saturday nights if you like.
|
