If I could recommend one class to you, this would be it! This experience is "what it's all about". This course is designed to give each student a solid foundation in outdoor skills. This is an intensely informative program, but is not physically demanding.

Your connection with nature will deepen as you learn: how to make fire by friction , how to make a shelter, about wild foods and medicines , water purification, primitive cooking and food preservation. You'll learn about animal tracking , stone tools and fiber technology (from plants). Powerful nature awareness exercises woven throughout this wonderful program provide the ultimate experience !

As many of you know, Victor is the Bass player for the famous band Bela Fleck & The Flecktones . He is considered, by his peers, to perhaps be the best Bass player in the world! He has won four Grammy awards and been nominated for several others. Victor and I have been friends for several years now. For the past 8 years I've helped teach the nature portion of his popular Bass & Nature Camp near Nashville, TN.

Please note:
This program is not a music camp...it is a Survival Skills Program. We do however expect that the majority of the students attending will have musical ability. Students will have ample time, most evenings, to express themselves (and Yes!  Victor will play also).  We suspect there will be plenty of great music! Also, you never know who will drop by ! Last year Steve Bailey dropped in for a few days and is threatening to do so again!! :))

>> More info about this program!

See the above course description for "Wilderness Survival & Self Reliance Skills" for additional information about this program.   This class will fill up pretty quickly, so sign up early. Materials, meals and camping fees are included. (Adults)  
  

Simply? ... This is a shortened version of the Survival Skills Week. A perfect Introductory program!  (Adults)

Testimonial: "Dear Richard...I simply wish to express what a blessing it was to share a weekend filled with your love and knowledge of the earth. Your compassion for our relationship with the earth shines through and fills me with a renewed sense of timelessness to be with all that is seen and unseen. You are a gifted steward Richard. Thank you with all my heart for your offerings."

Shonna Campbell, Asheville, NC.

This is the pinnacle of all Wilderness skills workshops. In this "Hands On Experience" students will learn and complete a multitude of great projects. Your skill and confidence will grow as you immerse yourself in these amazing outdoor survival skills. Here are some of the skills you'll learn:

*Survival Bowmaking     *Flintknapping     *Arrowmaking    *Firemaking    *Atl Atls    *Hide-Tanning     *Cherokee Blowguns    *Shelters    *Pottery     *Basketry   *Primitive Cooking     *Rock Oven     *SteamPit       *Food Preservation      *Acorn Bread     *Ashcakes     *Wild Plants    *Fish Traps     *Fish Spears        ...And Much More !

>> More info about this program!

Sign up today for this one of a kind experience ! Materials, meals and camping fees are included. (Adults)  
  

The amazing world of nature is the gift that connects us to all living things on this beautiful Planet. This fun family experience is designed to connect families to the natural world, like never before. This is a program that will strengthen family bonds and build each family members confidence and character as they explore and discover the amazing mysteries of the Natural World together. The emphasis of this program is placed on Earth living skills, a way of life that all our ancestors shared.

You and your family will learn valuable outdoor skills like firemaking, emergency shelters, lost-proofing your children, safe water collection, wild edible plants, tracking, animal studies and much more. A wide variety of nature awareness exercises are woven throughout the fabric of this course. Evenings will be spent around the campfire sharing new experiences and telling stories. We'll even have a talent night! This unique adventure will enhance and safeguard your family's outdoor experiences for a lifetime!     Come join the fun...

Materials & meals included. Children age 5 and under are free! ( When accompanied by an adult and older sibling ) (All ages) 

In this program, designed exclusively for teenagers, students will develop a new sense of confidence and empowering self-reliance as they explore nature, ancient skills, and the lore of the Native Americans. Wilderness Survival Skills are the core of this program. Students will learn numerous outdoor skills, such as Primitive fire-making, shelter building, safe water purification and how to identify wild edible and medicinal plants. From here we'll expand outward and introduce your teenagers to variety of nature awareness exercises. These lessons will engage and enhance all of their senses and heighten their level of Awareness for their entire lives. Teens will come away with a true understanding and respect for nature and life in this great program.  

Materials & meals included. (Ages 13-17)
  

Have fun with your Family while you learn Outdoor Skills together. Families will learn a variety of valuable Survival and camping skills. Traditional Archery, Animal Tracking and Nature awareness exercises round out this weekend experience. You'll also learn about plants as we collect Wild Edibles for our Saturday night dinner. And of course! You'll sing songs, hear traditional Native stories, lore and tell tall tales around the evening Campfires !         Join us for a Nature-ally Fun Family Experience !

Materials & meals included. Children age 6 and under are free! ( When accompanied by an adult and older sibling ) (Ages 7 - 108)  

Time: Saturday, May 24th, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sunday, May 25th.
  

Wild plants are everywhere! Their beauty surrounds us and we couldn't live without them. Did you know that most of the plants in your own backyard have more nutritional value than the produce you purchase at the supermarket? In this comprehensive program, you will learn how to properly identify, collect, prepare delicious nutritious meals, and make effective medicines from the plant world. Wild edibles, that we collect, will be a part of every meal.

Primitive cooking methods will be taught as well. We will construct a rock oven, cook a meal in a steam pit, clay-bake fresh fish and process acorns for bread! If you seek a deeper connection with plants, this class is for you. No experience is necessary. Materials & meals included.  (Adults)
  

Do have an interest in plants? Join us for "A Walk in the Park" Learn the edible and medicinal uses of dozens of plants that we walk past every day! These plants have been used by our Ancestors for thousands of years. Earth School's founder Richard Cleveland leads this outdoor adventure. "Come sample Nature's Bounty" !!

Location: Harmond Field, Tryon, NC.

Starting Point: "Old" Harmond Field Community Gardens

Things to Bring: Water, sunscreen, hat, notebook, pen, camera (optional),                                the desire to have FUN! (mandatory).

Dates: TBA, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. No experience necessary. (All ages,            children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult)

Come experience the World of Wild Edible Plants. Participants will learn to properly identify, prepare and use a variety of Wild Edibles. Join us as we collect and prepare an entire meal from Nature. Samplings will include a wild edible stir fry, lucious cooked greens, a wild salad and a yummy dessert of clover fritters! Students will also sample a variety of Wild teas including sassafras, pine needle and clover, to name a few.

Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. No experience necessary.

Materials included. (Adults)

Have you ever made a basket? Most of us haven't even though we all use them. The truth is basket-making is FUN!! You'll learn how to make a traditional egg basket you can be proud of. We'll be using all natural materials for this project..."no store bought materials".

All materials are included. No experience is necessary. (Adults)

Everyone loves a good fire. No one can resist the magic of the dancing flames. Without the ability to produce fire, it is doubtful that human kind would have evolved into the world as we know it. A variety of firemaking techniques will be taught in this program. You will learn 8 primitive methods, which include Bow Drill, Hand Drill, Mouth Drill, Pump Drill, Fire Crutch, Fire Saw, Fire Thong and the Fire Plow. Many clever and unique modern methods will be demonstrated and discussed as well.

This class will challenge and refine your firemaking skills. Come experience the gift of fire! You will never look at fire the same way again. No experience is necessary. Materials included. (Adults)

View our video clips of firemaking - click here.
  

Come learn the magic of "The Bent Stick" in this in-depth comprehensive course teaching the ancient art of bowmaking. You'll get plenty of hands-on experience as you learn how to make your own workable self-bow. Starting with a wooden bow stave an ending up with a beautifully functional bow is an amazing experience. You'll learn traditional Cherokee arrowmaking using our native rivercane an even attach your own arrowhead! Also, you'll learn how to make bowstrings using natural & modern materials. This is a truly remarkable program. Be prepared for long days, hard satisfying work and great rewards!

Materials & meals included. (Adults)

The rich history of archery is thousands of years old. Here's a fun program the whole family can enjoy. You'll receive expert instruction on equipment selection, proper form, shooting etiquette and archery safety. We'll even hold a friendly tournament (complete with prizes!). Come experience the magic of "The Bent Stick".

Location: TBA

Time: 12 noon - 3 pm. No experience necessary. (All ages, children need to be accompanied by an adult)

Rocks are beautiful and the ancient artifacts made from them are fascinating. If you’ve been lucky enough to find an arrowhead or even hold one, you know what I mean. Well, guess what ? We can teach you how to make your own!

In this fun informative program, students will learn how to transform stone into axes, knives, arrowheads, and various tools. Students will make their own Arrows from Rivercane and learn various hafting and fletching techniques. With practice, you’ll be able to make true works of art. Come solve “The Wisdom of the Rocks “.

Materials & meals included. (Adults)  
 

Arrowheads are fascinating. If you've been lucky enough to find one or even hold one, you know what I mean. Well, guess what? We can show you how to make your own! And, with practice, you'll be able to make true works of art. Come solve "The Mystery of the Arrowhead ".

Location: TBA

Time: 9 am - 5 pm. No experience necessary. (Adults)

Each year thousands of deer hides are discarded by outdoorsmen. Learn the art of making soft supple leather, from animal skins, the natural way. From start to finish, students will transform deer hides into beautiful buckskin ! Hides have a multitude of uses, and can be made into drums, clothing, bags, hats, moccasins, mittens and storage containers. The possibilities are endless!

Respect and use of the entire animal will be covered in this class. Students will also make, and learn to use an Atl Atl, a fun and effective Aboriginal Spear-Thrower.

Time: Thursday pm. to 5 pm. on Sunday. Materials & meals included. (Adults) 

I created these two programs to introduce people to the beautiful Traditional Native Ceremonies and Crafts of indigenous peoples, whose rich history we all share.

Ceremony has played an important role in all cultures throughout the history of mankind. They are a way that we celebrate and give thanks for all that we have. We use them in sacred rituals, such as Sunday Service, weddings, funerals and rites of passage. Our Ancestors also used them to welcome the changing seasons; to ask for spiritual guidance and healing, and to bless their crops. Ceremonies have enriched our lives for thousands of years and have served to strengthen our connection to our creator and the Earth.

Ceremony I    will focus on the Sacred Pipe of the Americas. Students will make their own pipes using soapstone, and learn an ancient ceremony that my mentor, Tom Brown Jr, taught me many years ago. Students will learn about the use of sacred tobacco and various wild plants that are used in traditional smoking mixtures. Participants will make leather pipe bags and learn to decorate them with beads, feathers, and cordage from natural fibers. The rich and varied history of the Sacred Pipe will be taught and discussed in great detail.

Ceremony II    will focus on the Sweatlodge and its rich global history. Various musical instruments used in ceremonies throughout the world, will also be taught in this program. Participants will make flutes using bamboo, and beautiful rattles from gourds and rawhide. Students will also learn several Native American songs that are used in ceremonies involving healing, celebration and honoring life. Graduates of these programs will be invited to participate in a Traditional Sweatlodge workshop and ceremony to be held at a later date, TBA.

Location: Columbus, NC.

Time: Friday evening - to Sunday 5 pm. No experience necessary. (Adults)

Here's a fun class to heighten your awareness skills. Join us as we explore the woods, fields and riverbanks in search of Animal tracks and sign. Learn how to read the landscape and understand how the Animals' lives ebb and flow as they relate to their natural environment.  

We always find all kinds of neat things in our Tracking classes. In the past we've found the tracks & sign of deer, turkey, fox, coyote, raccoon, opossum, squirrels, various birds & amphibians, but! the highlight of one of our trips, was the discovery of two sets of Riverotter tracks!! How exciting it was to follow & interpret their trails as they played and loped down that stretch of riverbank together...pure magic ! This program is a great opportunity to get your feet wet, (pun intended) and not only learn to be more aware, but to really see & interpret nature at it's best. Join us for this weekend of Exploration & Discovery...

(All ages, under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult)
  

Tracking is the ultimate awareness exercise. This program is designed to take your tracking skill to a higher level. Whether your interests involve search and rescue, law inforcement, security or military applications, this class is for professionals and civilians alike.

Each year thousands of people get lost in the woods...many never return. When someone gets lost, hundreds of good-hearted people volunteer to scour the landscape to help find the missing person. Unfortunately, most of these people have no training whatsoever. As a result, these areas often become so full of tracks it becomes impossible even for a skilled tracker to find sign of the missing individual. Every minute can mean the difference between life and death.

"I believe this program will enhance your awareness and the way you see, regardless of your previous experience. I feel blessed to have been mentored by some excellent trackers. Those experiences have opened new worlds of awareness for me. With that said... I'm forever a student, always humbled and eager to learn more"....Richard

~Private instruction and special classes are available upon request - call for details.

Class location: Columbus, NC.

Time: Thursday evening - to Sunday 4 pm. (Adults)

Have you ever gone Tracking? Most of us have been able to identify a few tracks in the mud, but that's only a small part of "The Story". Tracking, in my opinion, is one of the most powerful Awareness tools today ! Join us as the tracks become alive and we explore and solve the mysteries that revolve around the lives of our beloved wildlife. We will likely see the tracks and sign of deer, fox, coyotes, raccoon, opossum, squirrels, rabbits and even mice. You just never know who's trail we may come across ! It may surprise you to know just how many neighbors you really have !! Come learn " The Art of Seeing ".

Location: Columbus, NC.

Time: 10 am to 1 pm. No experience necessary. (All ages, children need to be accompanied by an adult)

Some of our Tracking Club Members

                     Our Future World Leaders !!