About Us
Our mission is to educate and inspire youth and adults to live in deeper connection with the land, others, and themselves by weaving ancestral wisdom into a regenerative future.
Our Mission
The Way to Belonging
Our approach bridges the “hard” ancestral skills that prepare us for living with the land and “soft” eco-depth psychology practices that connect us to nature and our bodies. We are called to connect with the land by remembering our human ancestors’ practices of tending fire, crafting tools and art from natural resources, and understanding our earthly animal, plant, and fungal co-inhabitants.
These skills are then woven into our lives hand-in-hand with personal and community ceremony, rites of passage, dream and grief tending, talking circles, music, and movement. By creating a container for a deeper conversation with the Earth and our own innate knowing, we are rewilded and welcomed home to our most natural state of being.
What WE Do HEre
The way back to our belonging on this Earth and the stories in our bones is the way to Soul. Formed by the interconnectedness of the human and more-than-human world, Rainwalk Rewild creates group containers that open the door to a deeper conversation with the land. We combine practical earth skills and soul-centric, land-based practices as offerings to help others rewild themselves, find community, and connect with nature.
Areas of Expertise
With years of experience honing our own primitive skills, we are dedicated to sharing our knowledge and empowering individuals to connect with the natural world. From fire-making techniques to plant identification, tracking, and wilderness navigation, our team of instructors is well-versed in a multitude of earth skills. We believe that understanding and embodying these ancient practices not only fosters self-reliance but also cultivates a deep reverence and appreciation for the environment.
Through hands-on experiential learning, we strive to inspire a sense of wonder and reconnect people with the rhythms and wisdom of the earth. Whether you are a beginner seeking to learn essential wilderness skills or looking to push your limits, our instructors are here to guide and challenge you on your rewilding journey.
-
Students learn the art and science of fire making in the PNW using ancestral and modern methods. They will experiment with natural tinder, craft a bow drill kit, and construct an effective fire structure in any condition.
-
The plant and fungal kingdoms have so much to teach us. Understanding morphological features of trees, plants, and mushrooms allows students to better navigate, survive, and - ultimately - thrive in any outdoor environment.
-
By practicing stealth and archery in the forest, students demonstrate teamwork, expand wilderness awareness, and enhance hand-eye-coordination skills.
-
Our program teaches students how to recognize different animals in the forest by their unique tracks and sign. Wildlife ecology deepens the understanding of a forest ecosystem for students while working on memorization and attention to detail.
-
Practicing bushcraft survival skills just might save your life! Our students build confidence in tricky situations by honing their skills with knots, water purification, navigation, and shelter-building.
-
Eating is the basis of survival - but plants have more to share more than that! Students learn how to cultivate, identify, and use the top edible and medicinal plants of our region by season.
-
Our students learn how to apply the skills they learned throughout our program make custom creations from fiber, wood, stone, and bone.
-
Council is a way of sharing by gathering in a circle of community members. This practice allows students to listen deeply and be heard by peers and mentors.
Our Story
Rainwalk Rewild was born from the simple, powerful belief that everyone belongs to the Earth.
What began as a dream between two outdoor educators has grown into a thriving wilderness school serving families, adults, and youth across Washington State. Our earliest programs were shaped by long days in the forest, muddy hands, sparks of friction fire, and the shared joy of learning through the land. From these humble beginnings, a community began to take root—one woven together by curiosity, courage, and a longing to reconnect.
As our work deepened, so did our vision. Rainwalk Rewild has become more than a school—it’s a gathering place for those called to remember. Here, ancestral knowledge meets modern lives, and students of all ages are invited into immersive experiences that rekindle ecological literacy, self-reliance, and awe.
Though our team and offerings continue to evolve, the heartbeat of Rainwalk Rewild remains the same:
To guide others back to their place in the web of life—with muddy boots, sharp minds, and open hearts.
Meet The Team
-
Co-Founder
Mycologist and feral Washington-native skater turned wilderness survival expert and outdoor educator, Matt prefers to be hunched over tracks in sandy soil under bridges rather than your typical Sunday brunch. Despite his tendency to stealth around in the forest unseen, he’s a really fun-gi.
-
Co-Founder
Plant whisperer and adventure-seeker, Ansley hails from the deserts and pine forests of Arizona. At home with a guitar beside the crackling fire and a rolling river, she is equal parts forest fire and raindrops in the desert sand.
What is Rewilding?
To us, rewilding education goes beyond bringing people outside. Instead, we strive to strengthen a person’s bond to nature by creating safe, immersive experiences that stimulate resiliency, imagination, and curiosity. It’s about acknowledging the role humans and technology play in our ecosystem and actively choosing to play a different part. The truth of the matter is that we cannot simply continue acting as if we are greater nature rather than born from it. Our rewilding will be a love story for the Earth that follows the footsteps of deer and bends to cedar branches.
