This post is going to be full of inspired photos and links!
I've just returned from a week of getting my teacher training certification with the Children of the Earth Foundation (COTEF). This was a great week with great folks. There I learned some tools and techniques to teach children and youth how to make things like shelter and fire in the wilderness, and ways to guide them towards a deeper connection with the Earth. Led by Simon Harrison of Wild Earth's Children (Simon's own non-profit primitive skills school in Boulder, CO) we covered some different aspects of Coyote Teaching, which is "a way of supporting children that creates lifelong learners and lovers of life. It treats each child as an individual, and supports them in finding and embracing their own passions. Coyote Teaching takes a long term view of development and aims to enhance the body, mind and soul of each individual" - Simon Harrison.
If at this point you are fully confused and have no idea what I'm talking about - fear not, I'm going to explain much more!
So, how did I end up at a teaching cert COTEF program? Well, here's the short version.Drawn to the wilderness at a young age, the natural world was a strong influence guiding my life. As an adult, I was introduced to the books by Tom Brown Jr. on survival and philosophy, and from there decided I would travel to New Jersey to take a course at the Tracker School to learn more. This was a life changing experience for me, in more ways than one.
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A more recent photo at Tracker |
Fast forward three years to now - a path presented itself where I would learn tools and techniques to pass on the teachings of Tom and grandfather Stalking Wolf to children. It would allow me to run COTEF programs, in places other than New York or New Jersey. I felt that the programs that I would be able to run after taking this course are much needed, both for individuals and for society. In an age where everything is fast-paced and children (as well as adults!) are exposed to more television and media than ever before, we have lost connection to the place from where we came, the place the sustains, the Earth.
“Teaching a child to become a child of the Earth, where they can survive, where they can look at the mysteries of the Earth through the tracks... this is what we are trying to achieve. To awaken that excitement, that spirit in children.” - Tom Brown Jr.
That's what these programs hope to accomplish... the first steps back, "not only allowing the Earth back into your life but also to finding true peace and purpose" - Simon Harrison. Look out Nova Scotia, they're coming to you soon!
SO. All of this has inspired me to team up with Brendan from Envision Shirts (who actually donates a portion of ALL purchases to some really fantastic non-profits) to create a line called "Call of the Wild". We care deeply about the preservation of our natural environment, and by raising people's awareness of ancient skills and ensuring the longevity of this wisdom for future generations, we aim to create a more balanced society, a deeper value for our natural world and a positive future. Because of this, fifty percent of every purchase from The Call of the Wild items will go to COTEF.
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Call of the Wild line |
And without further ado, here are some shots and behind the scenes thingys from the shoot!
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Brendan getting the bow ready |
The beautiful bow and arrow used in these photos are handmade by Brendan. The bow is made from Osage Orange and the arrowhead is made from bamboo with a (handmade by Brendan!) obsidian arrowhead, fletched with Blue Heron feathers and all lashed and sealed with sinew and pine pitch.
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Close up of the Blue Heron feathers |
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Close up of obsidian arrowhead and rings for sale (except the one on my middle finger... that one's mine! I've been wearing my antler ring every day for over a year now, I love it.) |
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Full shot of bow and arrow |
We really wanted to showcase some of the skills taught at Tracker and COTEF, which is why we chose the bow and arrow and fire (below).
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Brendan making the coal using a cedar bowdrill kit I made, except the bow |
As I stood by like a diva so I didn't get all sweaty for the shoot (haha), Brendan made a coal using a bowdrill kit... a skill that is taught at both Tracker and COTEF.
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Holding the coal that Brendan made in a tinder bundle |
Once the coal is made, it goes into a little nest of a home called a tinder bundle, where it can smoulder for a surprisingly long time if you let it.
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I never cease to be enraptured by this! |
The feeling of bringing fire to life with your own two hands is a truely amazing feeling.
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Blowing on the coal |
When it's getting ready to burst into flames, you'll see loads of smoke billowing out from the tinder bundle and...
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The tinder bundle goes up in flames! |
Fire!
And just incase any of you inquisitive minds were wondering, the kit that is shown in the close-up photos of the rings and earrings is actually a hand-drill kit, which is slightly different.
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Photo of the antler rings for sale, with arrowheads made by Brendan and a hand-drill he made. |
For some great videos on bowdrill and hand-drill, check out Wild Earth's Children.
For some interesting worth-the-while blogs on these sorts of subjects, check out Brendan's Blog at Envision and Simon Harrison's blog "Creating Change for Children"
And I'll leave you with just one inspiring and powerful question that was brought up throughout the week in my course:
You can only be truely powerful when you're living your own truth, not someone else's.
What is your truth?
