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Applying for the Vision Quest

This essay is meant to help prepare you for a vision quest into the wilderness. I have learned only to do this for people who I have chosen to mentor. That means "being there" for them appropriately for the rest of my life if necessary, no matter the choices they make in life. Therefore, read each line closely, and you decide if you feel called to participate.

And we never know what life choice our students will make. Do not become attached to what religion they choose, career they pursue or don't pursue, and to the relationships they keep or don't keep. Yes, we give them our opinions, and demonstrate what commitment means. All you can do is offer yourself to a student and set a good example for him or her.

The location of a retreat should be as wonderful as a giant old growth forest, or a favorite desert sagebrush canyon, a secluded beach along the water, in the middle of one of the last remaining prairies, or upon a high alpine meadow. You really need to get away from society's lights and noises, although being buzzed by airplanes or come upon by hikers can never be totally avoided anymore.

It is best that you begin preparations seasons in advance. Look at the preparation list which follows. As for money, the retreat participants should donate whatever they wish, being made aware of the guide's expenses and time commitment, but never being made to feel anything but that the service is being given freely, with love as a mentor.

All rites of passage have a significant effect for participants in the spiritual world, but especially a quest. You need to take some time to reflect upon this choice, and decide whether you are willing to take on such kharma. As many fundamental religious people point out, the path to hell can be paved with good intentions. It's true in this case, because people may not be able to handle what they experience during such a rite of passage.

The preparation work begins when a participant commits, and though the work is most intense during the week before and during the journey into the wilderness, it is work that lasts a lifetime in order to follow up fully on participants once they return to daily life, trying to enact in the modern world what they came to realize in the wilderness.

Vision quests are ceremonies which bring clearer vision, and which initiate a student into a new era of life. They are co-created ceremonies of prayer, silence, and reflection contained within a sacred form which enhances, develops, and honors one's spiritual path. It offers space to reflect on the world as it was originally created, and to do such work as clarify one's vision in life.

Wonder is the attitude I find most fruitful during wilderness retreats. Wonder is being full of openness and reverence. Participants should practice sensory awareness exercises such as the ones in chapters 3 and 6 of this Wolf Journey. Consider that everything that happens during a retreat to be a message from the divine, answering the prayers we placed before us. The more open people are to what is going on around them in nature, the more they will notice beautiful "coincidences" happening regularly during their time in the wilderness.
For me, reverence means treating all of Creation as sacred. Each plant, stone, stream, and animal deserves respect when we are seeking answers in their domain. The results of being reverent are beautiful, magical. I strive to be reverent while walking in nature as well as in society, and I find that this means loving everyone and everything unconditionally while setting boundaries of what I tolerate around me.

Retreat participants need to consider their level of comfort toward what they may face, and set boundaries as a result. Understanding the paradox of unconditional love is knowing that though we are reverent, we also maintain our own needs, our own self in the face of invasion of our boundaries. For me, wonder is the key to being aware of this balance.

Fear is often the greatest challenge and the greatest teacher during these journeys into the wilderness. Even in the absence of any apparent danger, our minds may create irrational fears that arise from stories and images we have experienced in the past. Our cultures are full of fearful myths about nature, and you will discover many of them to be untrue. Use chapter 2 of Wolf Journey to help retreat participants explore and overcome any fears that may be unnecessary for them to keep.

Perhaps participants will like the rain once they actually let it fall upon them, even though we often refer only to sunny days as "nice" in our society. Perhaps they will discover that "wild animals" won't attack under most any circumstance, especially once we come to understand their behavior and how we need to behave around them. Maybe they will even grow accustomed to the beauty of insects all around. Disliking such natural things is simply fear and separation from what the Creator made here on earth.

There are many dangers in the wilderness, however. Foremost is simply that our bodies are doing something different that what they are used to, and may react to the change in foods, or overreact to the environmental stresses in a place where one doesn't yet know how to find the comfort that is there. So some people will get an upset stomach or headaches which may either become blessings to help them find answers to questions, or become distractions which need treatment or even evacuation. Whatever the problems that may arise, a guide must take responsibility and decide together with participants how best to solve them.

We should converse often in the months and weeks leading up to a quest. Hold at least one meeting as a group to clarify intentions and to prepare for the unique trip you will be undertaking together. Also as part of the preparation process, and without disrespecting needs for privacy, guides will want to ask participants to consult about the nature of their issues to ensure that such a retreat is the best place to be nurtured, and to allow the guide a clear understanding in how to pray for participants' well-being during times they are alone during the retreat.

Things like "going to the bathroom", bathing, and sleeping outside are often an uncomfortable concern for people, but during the preparatory meeting(s), participants should talk about how to make these enjoyable experiences. What to do during the solo time of the retreat is often a concern because many people are not used to spending time alone. Discuss appropriate prayers, song, exercise, journaling and other possibilities, and discuss the absence of books and electronic devices.

We all have mental and emotional needs and challenges which are important factors in these rites of passage. In fact, participants may carry with them into the retreat an intention to reflect upon and gain clarity about some social, mental, and emotional challenges which they are facing in daily life. They may wish to transform aspects of their being that they are ready to face or which they have been working to change for some time. Participants should reflect greatly on where their boundaries lie, and a guide should learn to recognize the less stable aspects of their students, and come to know how far inside to delve.

The physical demands of the wilderness are essential parts of these experiences. You may be walking miles into pristine environments which offer comforts people may not be accustomed to. Participants may choose to fast during much of their retreat, and this will require a lot of preparation. Guides should probably not fast, but eat pure meals so that they are strong in case of emergency.

People interested in a retreat may choose to go alone, and that is their responsibility. A solo guided trip may be better for them, however, or sometimes a trip with close relations, and sometimes a retreat with people of varying background is best. The influence of these variables are points to consider in finding what best meets a participant's needs.

Physically, participants will need to be able to carry a backpack with the weight of camping gear and be able to walk long distances with it. Organizations such as Outward Bound, NOWLS, the Mountaineers, or the local Parks Department offer camping trips that may serve preparatory needs for people who need to learn to walk and camp outside of populated areas and to become generally adept at backpacking and camping skills.

Socially, participants may become annoyed by the personalities of others on their trip, or they may grow to love each other very much. I consider these annoyances part of the learning experience, though obvious crossings of boundaries cannot be tolerated in any way during a retreat. Participants should meet each other at least once before a trip together, and teachers should encourage them to get together as much as possible to prepare. Parents should also be highly involved in deciding what form is best for teenage participants.

Sometimes things happen during a quest or retreat, like a water filter fails, and someone gets a water-borne disease which needs medical treatment. Or someone takes a stumble and needs first aid before deciding whether to leave or remain. Or someone makes the mistake of eating something rotten, and needs to be evacuated. Or perhaps someone gets bit by an animal and needs immediate medical attention. The dangers are in being far from ambulances and hospitals, whereas injuries on city streets, which are perhaps much more probable occurrences, can be treated more immediately.

Sunburn, hypothermia, lightning, avalanches, poison ivy, tick-borne diseases. There are many dangers and fears, but for each one, there are precautions which reduce the risk of incidents to be less than if you stayed at home. Detailed information about particular risks and fears should be studied beforehand, and a good wilderness first aid course is critical. However, the amount of fear which a person deals with should be monitored, and a guide should help participants through their fears, since overcoming them may bring great rewards.

Your Intention

The most important element for a quest for me has always been preparing a clear intention in the time leading up to the experience. The general intentions listed below work well for these journeys. Some, or one, or all may call you strongly, but only you, through prayer, meditation, concentration, and reflection, will know what your own specific intention or questions will be.

A critical element within an intention is that participants open their hearts to nature in the place where they journey, while perhaps sharing with their guide or, more rarely, with the group, what is needed to deepen the experience. Participants may remain as inward as needed during retreat, or feel moved to interact to a greater level with the group. Thoughts and interactions with nature and with the group should be held as sacred and remain confidential.

The following areas are general intentions which may be part of your a purpose for retreating:

As a quest for a purpose in life
As an initiation, a rite of passage in to a new stage of life
To pray for healing in yourself or in the world
To reach intimacy with the natural world
To contemplate questions in life
As a pilgrimage to honor God and nature as is was originally created
To rejuvenate through quest and prayer
To transform aspects of one's soul that they are ready to face
To heighten spirituality or clarify religious convictions

I pray that participants will carry what they learn from their retreat back into society, into their daily lives, for the purpose of sharing their unique gifts with the world. I pray that theses rites of passage help each person clarify his or her purpose in life, and that the journeys motivate participants to manifest their purpose.

Confidentiality

Participation in the these rites of passage should be confidential, viewed as sacred, though all guides have to refer to the laws regulating teachers in their state which give good guidelines for confidentiality. Encourage participants to tell people about their retreat when they feel called to do so, but not mentioning things that have to do with others in the retreat.

However, there are some things that, if spoken, loose a sense of sacredness. You also have ethical responsibility to keep confidential what other participants share in regard to the Rite of Passage, just as they have the same responsibility to you, including what is said and what is done in case any mention of the event may identify a participant.

Example

Tasks To Prepare

• Diligently study the area into which you will be journeying, both in person and on maps. Consider your physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual boundaries. Read as much information as you can about rites of passage and similar opportunities. Consult with other guides about how they carry out their activities to improve your retreat. Talk with others who have gone before you, and in the end, update your plans with new found knowledge, knowing your boundaries even better.

• Write a letter to yourself and to your student or teacher, which describes your intentions for participating in the retreat. Include at least one clear, precise question for yourself to remember daily as you prepare to take it into your quest. Describe in the letter anything you would like others to know about your physical, mental, or spiritual well-being that will help ensure safety and satisfaction for everyone.

• Discuss your intention for participating in your quest with a role model, with your minister or counselor, with intimate friends, or with other important people in your life. Hold what you are planning as sacred and share it with just those whom you feel called to share your intentions. Do this to help your intention age into fruition as your quest nears.

• Choose a "good habit" to do for yourself daily between now and the time of your quest which will help you remember and reflect upon your intention or questions, helping them mature, nurturing the forthcoming answers with respect and honor. A good example would be to walk barefoot outside for a moment in prayer every morning, something which gets your body and mind out into nature. (Don't go barefoot for more than few seconds outside if the ground temperature is under 50f, 10c.) Or you may choose to write down your dreams each morning and journal "coincidences" which happen during your daily life. Choose something which really draws your heart, and which you will be able to carry out daily.

• If you need to get into better physical shape in order to hike or otherwise get into and out of the quest location without great difficulty, this is very important, especially if you will be going with a group. Let your guide know what your exercise regimen will be. Make it something which simulates a part of your retreat.

• Review the provided checklist of what to bring on your quest as far in advance as possible. Gather, buy, or reserve what you will need, but make at least one of the items you will take that you might normally have purchased. For instance, you may knit a wool hat, sew a fanny pack, spin some cordage, make paper, make a little blanket, or stitch a knife case. Do whatever calls you, and watch the stores for sales in the meantime.

• Taper sugar, aged processed foods, and synthetic substitute foods out of your system to the point of elimination at least one week before your quest. Switch to principally organic foods grown in the bioregion where your quest takes place by that time as well. Taper domesticated meat and dairy out of your system to the absolute minimum required before your quest. Begin eating whole grains and whole fruits and vegetables with some camping condiments in the time leading up to your quest in order to get used to that kind of food.

• Consider strengthening the etheric forces you wish to carry into your quest. Begin tapering activities and contact with people and places which you do not want to focus on during the quest, mentally or physically, and consider how to reintegrate the ones you want back into your life after your quest. Ethically focus on other people and places you need a strong connection to during your quest. Sexual contact, physical exercise, sleep, food, caretaking, and other physically interactive activities affects your etheric life force one way or the other.

• Take time to practice silence and purification of the mind and body. Every day, find the most silent place around you and sit there until you have achieved having absolutely no running thoughts going through your mind at least for an instant. Prepare or receive yogic or massage practices or teachings which will purify your body as often as you need in the time leading up to, and during, your quest. Prepare prayers, mantras, songs, and other activities which you would like to take with you during your quest for alone time or group sharing.

• Invite friends and family members to attend a welcoming celebration the day after your return to society. Give your guide their phone numbers so s/he can instruct them on how to best welcome the new you home. Write them notes describing your whereabouts in case of emergencies, including dates and the guide's contact phone and address. Also include in your notes to them the time and location of your welcoming celebration, plus any requests about how to pray for or think of you, if appropriate, while you are questing.

Forms of Ceremony

There is no way for me to describe the many forms of retreat into the wilderness. Everyone has their own way, and many people feel passionately that theirs is correct. And that might be right, because doing this the wrong way could be more than problematic. I'll just include here some of the elements that I find helpful for a spiritual retreat into the wilderness

At the point where you begin your hike or journey, leave something hidden which represents your life back home. Begin there with a ceremony from your own tradition, and speak your intention for entering the wilderness. View that point and inward toward your destination, or other appropriate starting point, as sacred space – a space where only the energies that are beneficial to you may enter.

During the hike, I recommend utter silence, practicing the fox walk (Chapter 6 of Wolf Journey) and owl eyes (Chapter 3), and perhaps doing other nature awareness exercises during breaks during the journey. Once you come to the place where the guide will spend his or her time, approach it with reverence. After setting down backpacks, etc. do a blessing of the site according to your own tradition.

Once everyone has set up their camping gear in appropriate spots, not right near the area where group ceremony will take place, then gather together and acknowledge the immediate vicinity and broader area (the boundaries within which participants may find their solo sites). State your intentions again, and hold that place sacred, perhaps with an alter designed from your tradition.

Later, or the next day, participants should be briefed again on the hazards of the area, and given instructions to find a place they feel would be wonderful to spend their solo time. Have them go out and find that place, and then come back and show you where it is. Do meals as planned in advance.

The next day, or the day after that, a group ceremony should take place which helps to send participants into their solo time. Participants may all leave at the same time, or when they are individually ready. Participants should repeat their intentions again during that group time, and the guide should ensure participants that they can seek your help whenever they need, but that their solo time is just that: solo, without conversation between people unless it is to re-direct a hiker that stumbles upon you, or take care of health concerns.

During their solo time, participants should do the same thing, in their own way, for their solo site that the guide did for the central alter area. Approach with reverence, state the intention, set up an alter or circle within which to be during the solo time, and give thanks upon leaving. What to do there varies dramatically according to varying traditions. Talk in advance about suggestions on what participants can do there to facilitate their intentions.

I do recommend that participants do some sort of fast from sundown the day before their solo time, until after the group return celebration. Participants should listen to their bodies and to spirit to know how and when to eat. Perhaps a fast will simply be eliminating one type of food normally consumed, or perhaps just eating a cleansing food during the retreat.

If a participant chooses to eliminate all food, I highly recommend they taper before and afterward, and use EmergenC or other cleansing, rejuvenating herbs or products during their fast. A nutritionist should be consulted and a plan about how to reintegrate afterwards is key. Integration is the most difficult part for most people, and it is critical to leading a balanced life after a retreat.

Water is also an important concern during a retreat. Water bottles, collapsible water containers, water filters, purification tabs and other methods of creating potable water are important to prepare. It is critical that participants remain well hydrated, although there are some traditions which do not allow for the drinking of water during quests.

The guide should spend all available time at the alter, or other appropriate points, praying for the safety of the participants, and the realization of their intentions. The guide should also check on the participants regularly, taking care not to distract them from their solo retreating process, although gifts and messages may be appropriate in some cases.

A day should be designated beforehand as to when participants should return from their solo time, although it may end up being a shorter time or longer time than you planned. You need to decide how flexible or rigid your suggestions should be followed, because it is important that they don't come back before they are done, or maybe they need to stay longer to finish or to give more thanks.

An individual welcoming ritual, again according to your tradition, should be offered to participants upon return from their solo time. Everyone should consider staying near the alter until each participant has returned, and then a group closing ceremony should follow. Then celebrate appropriately, and do what needs to be done to re-integrate people back into human relations (appropriate food is always key) before packing up the following day, or the day after. The reintegration should include the telling of solo time stories, although private things should stay private.

Upon leaving, a group thanksgiving for the site should be carried out, and everyone should walk back out together. Then, before picking back up the hidden treasure that you left to represent coming home, the energies of the wilderness area that you brought in there should be released back into the ethos, and you should thank the loving energies which stay with you as guides throughout your life.

Reintegrating After Your Quest

Discuss the importance of integration during our preparation gathering(s). It is of utmost importance - critical to the process and often the greatest challenge of the retreat. The most important thing to remember about reintegrating back into ordinary reality after you retreat is to tell appropriate elements of your story in confidence to those who need to know it.

Return by telling your story, and plan other integrative exercises, taking care to hold some elements of the experience as utterly sacred. The welcoming celebration upon your return to daily life, where you can invite your close friends and family to learn about your experience, and acknowledge the rite of passage that you successfully undertook, is critical to the integration process.

Suggested Reading
Quest - A Guide to Creating Your Own Vision Quest by Denise Linn. Pages 4-6, 16-17, 24-
28, 48-52, 133-138, 156-160, 173-175, 177-196, 197-217 (for teenagers), 245-248.

Packing & Preparing Expectations

After registering, we will send you a detailed program description, with directions on how to prepare. To read an essay written by WOLF Founder Chris Chisholm on choosing an appropriate camp and the emotional challenges facing young campers, take a look at the WOLF Tales essays. For resident youth camps and the adult apprenticeship, we will also send a questionnaire for new campers to complete by the June 1 deadline. It will include health history questions and other information that are designed to ensure that the program for which you apply is the best choice for you. We will also send you a detailed letter on driving directions and how to prepare for camp, including items to bring, such as appropriate clothing. All group camping supplies, accommodations, and food is provided to you as part of your camp fees.

The most important thing for you to do is to sleep well the night prior to camp and eat a healthy breakfast and lunch the day camp starts. Also, please bring the results from your most recent physical exam to place into your file upon check-in on the first day of camp. A very recent physical is not required as long as you were forthcoming when you filled out the health history form (which was part of your registration form), but a physical is highly recommended if you have not had one in the past year. Please tell your doctor your plans for coming to camp, and the activities involved.

Remember, although we have use of the Wolf Camp house, this is really a primitive camp, so set your expectations appropriately. As for what to bring, if you cannot attain all of the required items, or if you have a favorite item you want, even though we haven't mentioned it, or advised against it, or provide it for you, simply advise us before camp starts. We always have extra to share. Otherwise, the items on this page and on the reverse are things you'll need to bring to camp to help ensure that everyone is comfortable.

We provide an emergency whistle, mini first aid kit, keychain flashlight, camp tee-shirt and bandana, plus some journal materials and craft products to be taken home after camp. During some weeks, we also train you to use a real survival knife, but only campers who attend a second overnight camp week and who reach our Level III knife safety can bring the knife home. Alternatively, parents may also pay for a $15 knife at the end of their child’s first week if they wish. We also have binoculars, field guides, instruments, extra sanitary supplies, water bottles, rain ponchos, compasses, blankets, and of course sunscreen available when necessary for use. Many products are also available in our camp store, with all revenues donated to the WOLF Foundation - Max Davis Scholarships.

New this year: Please bring the following food items if possible, the leftovers of which you can bring home or donate to camp. Store all of your foods using sturdy zip-locks, and be sure to label them well. Visit the bulk dispenser section of your store for these, using your zip-lock bags, instead of bringing highly packaged or processed foods, canned goods, etc. Our garbage service cannot handle so much waste. We will provide you with a glass container in which to store your food items in our pantry. You can bring home the entire container with you afterwards if you like. Leave no food or aromatic items in your tent! Remember, improperly packaged or disposed-of wrappers alone can cause problems with wild animals.

___ One cup of rice per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of beans or lentils per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of powdered milk (cow or soy) per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of a favorite breakfast grain (oatmeal, quinoa) or hot cereal per week,
or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of spaghetti or cous cous per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of wheat flour or corn flour (polenta) per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of dried fish or meat (jerky) or veggie burger mix per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of hot chocolate mix per week, or ground coffee per family per weekend.
___ One cup of dried fruit per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One cup of snack seeds (sunflower, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts) per week,
or per family per weekend.
___ One loaf of bread or packaged tortillas per week, or per family per weekend.
___ One package of dried seaweed per week or per family.

We will be teaching you to forage for fresh greens, fruits, seeds, eggs, fish, and other food items during your stay. Don’t worry, it’s all safe, environmentally sensitive, and of course, will be carried out according to legal regulations. If you can’t find certain items in your grocery store, don’t worry about it, and if you want to bring something other than this list, please call in advance to see if it’s needed. We don’t have extra refrigeration or freezer space, so don’t bring any perishables.

Do not bring your own snacks this year unless you have special dietary health needs. All accidentally brought snacks will be donated to camp for future use. You can bring a wooden, stainless steel, or durable plastic spoon, fork, bowl, cup, and plate if desired, with your name well labeled (no aluminum), but we do provide dishes for you at camp now, along with your own mesh bag for storing them.

___ Waistband pack or day backpack that holds a large water bottle (keep it full). Include two oversized plastic garbage bags to cover your gear in rain, and if desired, a disposable camera inside a zip-lock bag. The waistband pack might be a good place to initially pack your sanitary supplies such as toothbrush, floss, feminine products, and a small hair brush or comb. We'll provide biodegradable soap, shampoo, tooth paste, conditioner, and lotion. Leave cosmetics, etc., at home unless you need a special product for health/allergy reasons. Also, remember any protective cases for eyeglasses, contact lenses and solutions, plus for your medicines that you need to take and keep track of yourself.

___ Clothes: Two pair of long pants which are easy to move and run in, two long-sleeve shirts, and two undershirts (t-shirts and tank-tops should be tasteful, and noisy fabric should be avoided. ) 3-6 pair of underwear and socks. ( Two of the sock pairs need to be wool or synthetic material). Swimwear and a large, raggedy beach towel. One pair of shorts is plenty in addition to your swim suit. Also bring polypropylene or wool or nylon/spandex long underwear bottoms and top.

Clothes: Fleece or wool pullover (pants are a plus, too) because wool and synthetic materials are the best rain gear - cotton is very comfortable but it is worthless when wet, and you'll find out that gortex and other plastics are waterproof, but they are loud, they don't breath well enough, and they pool water. Remember that it gets cold by the water, at higher elevations, and at night, even in the middle of the summer. Note that earth tone (greens, browns, etc.) clothes are best for camp skill games and they will increase chances of seeing wildlife.

Clothes: Synthetic or wool hat and thin gloves for warmth, and a hat for the sun, and hair ties if applicable. Please note that for all clothing of every kind, you should expect them to get very dirty. Campers staying over between camp weeks can do laundry on Saturday evenings. The natural color or patterned clothing is most important for the following camp weeks: Scouts, Canyons & Dunes, Tracking, Primitive Fishing, Hunter-Gatherers, Endangered Species, and the Ultimates. The clothing for cold conditions are especially important for the Alpine Hike, Scouts, Canyons & Dunes, Tracking, GeoVORG, Sailing, Survivors Side, Kayaking, Primitive Fishing, Endangered Species, and the Ultimates. Sunglasses and a sun hat are required for those who burn easily, and for all who are attending the Alpine Hike, Canyons & Dunes, Rock Climbing, GeoVORG, Search & Rescue, Sailing, and Kayaking.

Backpacks & Luggage: If you are attending the Youth Mentoring CIT, Canyons & Dunes, Alpine Hike, Rock Climbing, GeoVORG, Advanced Tracking, Sailing, Kayaking, or Endangered Species, you need to be able to easily carry and pack all gear in a large backpack, with your sleeping bag and pad secured tightly to it. Those attending other camps can pack normally, such as in a big duffle bag, but still be able to carry everything in one load 200 yards from our parking area to your sleeping quarters.

___ Tent with a rain fly and zip-up screen if you have one, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad underneath for comfort and warmth. Brothers and sisters may camp together, but otherwise, we will separate boys and girls under the supervision of an appropriate instructor. They will also be grouped by age. Also, if you want, bring your preferred, non-toxic (that means not Deet unless that’s the only thing that you think works for you) bug lotion, not the spray kind. Look for Citronella lotion and other natural products, if possible. We do provide this in our camp store as well.

___ Two comfortable pair of outdoor shoes or boots, and a pair of thin sole shoes or aqua socks for swimming and stalking. Please make sure you have broken them in well in advance to avoid common blisters. Waterproof hiking boots are required for the following camp weeks: Alpine Hike, Pioneering, Canyons & Dunes, Rock Climbing, Tracking, GeoVORG, Wild Foods & Fire, Survivor’s Side, Primitive Fishing, Hunter-Gatherers, Endangered Species, and the Ultimates.

Lost & Found Policy: If you leave it at camp, it will be picked up by charity. We do not have staff to package and send home forgotten items. To help avoid loosing things, please put your name on every item you bring, and bring only what you need. For clothes, print your name on the tag. Go ahead and bring any small artwork tools if desired for drawing, carving, etc, and small musical instruments, like wooden flutes, rawhide drums, rattles, if desired. Leave all electronic devises and other distractions at home.

Wolf Camp - A Haven Of Physical & Emotional Safety: Please read these agreements for participation in camp. They are particularly important to ensure a safe, educational, and fun experience under challenging circumstances that are unique to the WolfCamp. Parents: please explain to your child that deciding to participate in Wolf Camp means agreeing to honor the experience as a safe haven for every person - physically and emotionally. Also, please help us best explain the following agreements by discussing them with your child in an age-appropriate manner consistent with your family values. Campers will also add agreements they wish the group to honor during the week, and instructors will have a few more details to add that will help make Wolf Camp fun and safe. Adults: please edit agreements for age appropriateness.

____I will remain within the designated boundaries during camp. The boundaries will be pointed out when we arrive at camp.
____I will go off by myself only with clear permission from my group leader. Otherwise, I will always be with a partner and make it known to my group leader our whereabouts.
____I will only enter water under clear direction from a lead camp instructor.
____I will respect the personal boundaries of others in camp, including bodies, belongings, and behavior that others may or may not witness. We will discuss appropriate sleeping, dressing, and bathroom situations at the start of camp.
____I will refrain from sharing any stories, jokes, or comments which are derogatory toward others in camp, toward groups of people in the outer world, or toward sacred themes such as bodily function, including human reproduction. Also, all participants agree to discuss only age-appropriate themes and behaviors around younger campers without adult supervision.
____I will refrain from taking action satisfying romantic desire or sexual attraction while participating in WOLF Camp.
____I will refrain from using drugs, including alcohol, from 24 hours before the day camp starts, until my last contact with any camp participant after camp is over. I will bring a written description of any prescribed medicines, including instructions for intake.
____I will respect the sensitive plants and animals in special areas during camp, and I will put nothing in my mouth that I don't know 100% that it won't cause illness or poisoning.
____I will always encourage others to rise to the challenge in every group activity.
____I will always watch out for the safety of every person in camp.

These agreements will be discussed the first day of camp to clarify them for participants, and campers will also add agreements they wish the group to honor during the week. Instructors will also have a few more details to add that will help make camp fun and safe.

Join Wolf Camp Instructors as we share these exciting, critical skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Scout, Hunter and Artisan. Wolf Journey author Chris Chisholm leads camps along with other great staff members to create a seasoned team of dynamic mentors. Click on Staff Biographies to read more about our expert, nurturing, fun staff. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health of our students is our top priority. Testimonials from past participants are dotted throughout our web site, and you will begin to understand by reading them how we strive to nuture the growth and success of everyone, while providing the rarest of positive experiences. To read an essay written by Chris Chisholm on choosing an appropriate camp and the emotional challenges facing young campers, click on Stories & Essays on Programs – Camper Preparedness & Emotions. Also, remember that all our food is purchased organic, cultivated in our gardens, or harvested in the wild ... and it tastes good, too!

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Application Form

Employment: We only need instructors with experience running camps and teaching in the field of Earth Skills Education, including skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Survival Scout, Primitive Artisan and Sustainable Pioneer. Apply to become an instructor through our Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship.