Youth Programs

Grey Fox Girls

Imagine an all-female learning environment where girls ages 9-11 and 12-16 explore their interests and passions of the natural world while deepening their relationships with their peers, older women and women elders in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. These girls gather monthly to hear the stories of women heroines and their journeys, receive age-appropriate challenges in the wilderness, and learn the ancient skills of the earth as lived through the lives of women. In this program these girls are learning what it means to be fully empowered, healthy, strong, and able to express their true voice and develop their full potential. As well, we mentor girls about health, diet, nutrition, boundaries, self-defense and many other valuable life skills. As we carry on this tradition of being guided by our female ancestors, we envision a world where young women today are in touch with themselves, the earth and each other. We will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on the second Saturday of each month

Dates: 2006: Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10-11 (over night)
Price: $250-350 Sliding Scale prorated for late enrollees or $40/ individual progam
Location: Brattleboro, Vermont

Over many years of mentoring boys in the ways of wilderness and nature we have noticed similar passions that run through all boys. These passions include building a relationship with fire, creating shelters, tracking animals, hearing and telling stories of our heroes while sitting around a campfire, stalking up to touch animals and friends, and wandering in the wilderness. When explored with a group of other boys these amazing adventures and challenges take on a richness and depth beyond all measure. The Vermont Wilderness School is now offering that possibility every month with our series of boys programs. The ways of the wilderness will be taught by our most experienced male instructors and a variety of our older experienced students to a group of boys aged eight to sixteen. Your son will remember this rich cultural experience long after he has left boyhood behind. A student's knowledge of the place in which he lives is essential to our programs. Our program will be held in Brattleboro, enabling boys who live nearby to explore a local ecological area together. As our wilderness Grandfather, Ingwe, says "All boys love a challenge." We invite your son(s) to join us in an experience that will offer the challenges that each boy yearns to have, in a comfortable, understanding, and safe environment. Each series will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on the second Saturday of each month beginning in October. The last program of the year will be an overnight experience in June.

Dates: 2006: Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10-11 (overnight)

Price: $250-350 Sliding Scale prorated for late enrollees or $40/ individual progam
Location: Brattleboro, Vermont

Each spring and fall we host a special gathering of teens from communities around the Northeast which practice the art of mentoring and nature awareness. The Rendezvous is a unique opportunity for the teens to challenge themselves in a context of the strong community of elders, aunts and uncles that has formed around the Art of Mentoring Workshops. We offer a young men's experience guided by a staff of men and a young women's experience guided by a staff of women.

Ndaka

Ingwe, one of our elders, was mentored by a 12-year old Akamba young man, Ndaka. Ndaka, in his culture, had a responsibility for looking out for the younger children of his community, being sure that they learned how to survive in the natural world and how to conduct themselves in the community.

The Ndaka Program, our advanced mentoring program for teenagers, aims to provide one-on-one mentoring to deepen the earth living and community skills that students are learning at Oyase. Further, the Ndaka students have the commitment to follow in the footsteps of Ingwe's mentor, sharing the ways of the earth with their peers and younger children.

Each spring, the Ndaka students visit the New Jersey Pine Barrens for a week of adventure, reflection and challenge. On the way home, they visit Ingwe (see photo) to share their story.

Summer Camps

School Programs