2006 Hunter-Gatherer Intensive

Come experience a love of life through indigenous wisdom and foraging. The October Intensive classes help you master the basics of the stone-age life, enough to start you on your own journey towards simpler living. Our ten-day-long course centers around the seasonally available wild food of the Pacific Northwest. In October, we will learn to speak with, understand and fish for the great Chinook Salmon that run up the rivers. We will also learn about the nutritious acorns of Oregon White Oaks and gather and eat many types of berries and mushrooms.

Read our account of the first October Intensive
Photos from the last few Intensive courses

Skills you will learn:
Indigenous Cultural Teachings and Philosophy
Wilderness Shelter
Storytelling
Comfort in the wild
Primitive firemaking
Edible wild plants and mushrooms
Indigenous styles of communication
Fiber arts
Native basketry
Hunting/Trapping/Fishing
Community-building
Stone tools
Northwest ecology
Food preparation

The cost is $300. Scholarships possible on an individual basis (speak to an instructor through email). Acommodations are semi-primitive. All students live on-site. There are no modern facilities, and no electricity. There is clean water, and space available to camp, as well as plenty of firewood to collect sustainably. Town (for groceries) is about 20 minutes away. We'll be close to the Oregon coast and the Columbia River Gorge. You will probably need about $50 for your own food and miscellaneous supplies. Students have gotten by on much less, however.

We spend most of our time hanging out over a fire, carrying water, relaxing and living it up. We get dirty a lot. We get tired. We learn to slow down and look at the stars. It can be cold sometimes, it might be lonely sometimes. It takes a bit of adjustment to get used to living in nature. We often break rules, jump fences, dig for clams at night. It can be hairy sometimes. We really push our boundaries and comfort zones on occasion, but we say here that the best times in life are when you're cold, wet and hungry. It's true. Come find out what it means to have relationships with wild living things, and how to live in peace with ourselves and in community.

Sample October HGI Syllabus from 2005:

Sat Oct 1st
Setup Camp
Thanksgiving address
Ethics/Philosophy

Sun2nd
Storytelling
Wilderness Hazards

M3
Primitive Shelter
Stone Tools

T4
Primitive Firemaking
Understanding Fire
Bow Drill
Northwest Ecology
Plants

W5 Midweek Break

TR6
Moving in the woods
Understanding water
Basic Woodworking
Harpoon Shaft

F7
Cordage
Burn Bowls
Burn Spoons
Student Presentations

S8-S9 Weekend Break

M10
Basic Boneworking
Bone Awl/Knife
Understanding Seasons
Navigation

T11
Salmon Harpoon Head
W12 Midweek Break

TR13
Basic Barkworking
Bark Basket

F14
Traps
Understanding Mammals
Student Presentations

S15-S16 Weekend Break
--
M17-TR20 Trip to the Columbia River Gorge

M17
Gorge/Cascades Ecology
Acorns

T18
Cattails
Acorn Processing

W19
Salmon Fishing

TR20
Salmon Processing
Student Presentations

F21-S23 Weekend Break
--
M24
Primitive trip preparations
--
T25-F28
Primitive trip
--
S29-S30 Weekend Break

M31
Final words
Closing ceremony
Break camp