Wilderness HomeSkills (Homeschool)
Are you searching for an extracurricular forest homeschool program that will ignite your child's passion for the great outdoors and teach them valuable life skills? Look no further than Rainwalk Rewild's Wilderness HomeSkills homeschool program!
What is Wilderness HomeSkills?
Wilderness HomeSkills is our forest-based homeschool enrichment program located at Tyee Arts & Education Center, an 80-acre private property just 10 minutes south of downtown Mount Vernon and 20 minutes north of Arlington in Northwest Washington. Our program focuses on teaching students resiliency and hands-on skills through challenges, games, and nature study. Students will have the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors and engage in project-based learning throughout the day on the land.
During the program, students will delve into the fascinating world of primitive technology and wilderness living in all weather conditions by learning in the forest for one day a week. From crafting multi-cultural tools and art to learning survival skills, your child will gain invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience. Our curriculum teaches wilderness survival skills such as fire, shelter-building, and navigation, ancestral handcrafts like sewing, basketry, and natural dyes, herbal medicine making, camp cooking, traditional archery, and more.
Winter - Spring Homeskills 2025
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This particular HomeSkills program is designed for school age children and tweens to young teens as of the Fall semester in 2024. If your child is on the cusp (7 or 14) and is a perfect fit for this program, Contact Us.
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Our Youth Programs are located at Tyee Arts & Education Center, an 80-acre private property just outside of Mount Vernon.
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Tuesday Wilderness HomeSkills
Tuesdays, 10 AM - 4 PM
January 7 - March 25
April 15 - May 20NO CLASS / SPRING BREAK
March 28 - April 14Thursday Wilderness HomeSkills
Thursdays, 10 AM - 4PM
April 17 - May 22Each program day includes 4 hours of instruction and guided project time, one hour of constructive breaks, and thirty minutes for interactive pickup and drop off.
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We prioritize safety and true mentorship at Rainwalk Rewild. Therefore, we intentionally keep our class sizes low to maintain a safe learning environment and a deeper level of connection between students.
Classes are currently taught by our founders, Matt and Ansley. Learn more About Us.
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Our top 3 values for all of our programs is safety, respect, and true mentorship. If you would like to learn more about our Values and Expectations, please visit the link.
Tuesdays
Weekly Homeschool Enrichment Sessions for Youth and young teens ages (8-13 Years old)
Program Deposit*: $100-200 to secure your spot
Program Registration Cost**:
$1350 for winter and spring.
*The deposit is deducted from final payment.
**Payment plans are available. If finances are a limitation and you feel called to join us, please Contact Us to discuss Sliding Scale Pricing.
Our Wilderness HomeSkills program is carefully designed to cover various aspects of wilderness living, including archery, primitive hunting techniques, carving, fire-making methods, shelter building, foraging, and navigation skills. Through engaging science-based lessons, epic challenges, and cumulative projects, your child will develop problem-solving abilities, enhance their creativity, and build resilience while learning the basics of primitive skills.
Learning Objectives for Youth
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Our program emphasizes hands-on learning by working on cumulative projects and goals, ensuring that your child actively participates in each lesson and develops practical skills. Some of our projects include carving spoons, crafting atlatls, pit cooking, basket weaving, and more.
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Your child will be guided by experienced mentors who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in outdoor education, natural science, and ancestral skills as well as eco-psychology, rites of passage, and herbal medicine.
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Every project a student works on is based on something made from or by humans in nature. Thus, we provide a unique opportunity for students to establish a deep and meaningful connection with the natural world, fostering environmental stewardship and appreciation.
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Through individual and team-building challenges and projects, your child will develop essential life skills such as resiliency, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability.
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By crafting tools and art spanning the stone age to present times, students will gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and their historical practices.
Enrollment for Winter-Spring 2025 is closed
Fall 2025 Wilderness Homeskills Dates coming soon!
We’re in the planning stages for our Fall 2025 programs. If you are not currently enrolled in our HomeSkills program and you would like to be added to the mailing list for announcements, early enrollment, and to help us plan next fall’s program, please fill out the form or Contact Us directly for more information.
Why Choose Rainwalk Rewild?
We believe that the natural world holds invaluable wisdom and lessons that can shape the lives of young adventurers. Our weekly sessions offer a unique opportunity for parents to empower their children with essential primitive technology and wilderness living skills. Through a hands-on approach, our program encourages children to actively engage with the natural environment, fostering their resilience and problem-solving abilities. With a focus on interactive projects and challenges, we provide an immersive and dynamic learning experience, where kids can discover the beauty and intricacies of nature firsthand.
Meet the Guides
Our co-founders, Matt and Ansley, have each been teaching outdoor education for 10 years. Their leadership experience spans wilderness survival, ecotherapy, outdoor adventure, and nature connection. They are thrilled to bring their expertise and passion to Rainwalk Rewild’s Youth Programs.
Core Curriculum
At Rainwalk Rewild, we believe in the power of immersing students in a nature-based curriculum that fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Our program encompasses a wide array of skills and knowledge, allowing students to explore the wonders of the outdoors. Through these diverse experiences, students gain a profound appreciation for the natural world and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
From fire-making, shelter-building, and archery to botanical studies, wildcraft, and nature connection our curriculum offers a comprehensive education for young minds.
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Students learn how to safely start a campfire in the PNW by ancestral and modern methods. They will explore natural tinders, craft a bow drill kit, and master their fire structure to create warmth in any condition.
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The plant and fungal kingdoms have so much to teach young students. Understanding morphological features of trees, plants, and mushrooms allows students to better navigate, survive, and - ultimately - thrive in any outdoor environment.
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By practicing stealth and archery in the forest, students demonstrate teamwork, expand wilderness awareness, and enhance hand-eye-coordination skills.
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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.
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Practicing bushcraft survival skills just might save your child’s life! Our students build confidence in tricky situations by honing their skills with knots, water purification, navigation, and shelter-building.
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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.
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Your child applies the skills they learned throughout our program make custom creations from wood, stone, and bone.
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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.
Students learn the art of making fire, understanding the intricate workings of plant life, identifying and studying fungi, mastering the art of blending into their surroundings, tracking and interpreting animal movements, constructing sturdy shelters, preparing delicious meals with ingredients sourced from the wild, harnessing the power of herbs, acquiring wilderness survival skills, and engaging in their community of friends and fellow students of the earth.
We prioritize safety, respect, quality education, and true mentorship at Rainwalk Rewild. Learn more by reading our Program Values and Expectations.
Register Now to secure your spot!
Don't let your child miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in wilderness living and primitive technology. Enroll them in Rainwalk Rewild's Wilderness HomeSkills program and watch as they unleash their creativity and gain practical skills that will last a lifetime. By paying the deposit, you are securing a place for your child until the program begins.
Here's how the registration** process works:
Click “Register Now” and fill out the pre-registration form. This will add the deposit to your cart (one is required for each individual child per program). Then you can check out to complete your payment.
After the initial deposit payment, you'll receive additional program registration forms and liability waivers to complete for each child. Complete these forms and return them to us promptly.
A tuition payment link will be sent 14-30 days before the program begins. Tuition must be paid in full before the start of the program. *If you need payment assistance in the form of scholarships or payment plans, please describe your needs during registration or Contact Us.
Enjoy discounts for siblings and for referring friends and family:
Sibling discount: 10% off for the first sibling (2 children enrolled) and 20% off for each additional sibling (3+ children enrolled).
Referral bonuses: You and your referral each receive a $20 discount on your purchase.
If the cost of our programs hinders your ability to join us, we do offer Sliding Scale Pricing for most of our programs. Please Contact Us directly for more information.
**Please visit our Policies page for refund and program policy information.