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Instructor Training Apprenticeship
at Wilderness Awareness School

"I signed up for the course expecting to learn about a unique nature education model and ended up taking away so much more…I learned about leading out a child’s gifts and came to a better understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses as a mentor... I have never in my life had so much fun learning. "
-Stephanie Etley, Apprentice

How do you become an experienced wilderness school instructor?

Through our apprenticeship course, we fulfill our vision by training leaders who have the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective instructors and staff members of Wilderness Awareness School, an affiliate school, or any outdoor education organization.

Format

The Instructor Training Apprenticeship Course lasts from September to June, and consists of three components – Field Practicum , Mentoring Philosophy and Methods class time, and Apprenticeship Group meetings.

In addition, students receive the Art of Mentoring workshop as a part of the apprenticeship, as well as six days of “environmental educator exchange” time with current North Cascades Institute and Islandwood staff and graduate students; and a copy of our Coyote’s Guide mentoring book that we will use in the class throughout the year.

Mentoring Philosophy and Methods

10 class sessions focus on the skills you need to become an effective instructor of an outdoor education course. Topics covered include 8-shields mentoring model, leadership skills, and personal and professional development. Each day begins with a personal debrief of field experience, and includes a Kamana/Sit spot relationship in the apprenticeship course with seasonally appropriate challenges. Classes take place both on our property and other local field locations

Curriculum

Art of Mentoring (August):
This week-long intensive experiential class focuses on our “Art of Mentoring” curriculum and lays a foundation to utilize in your Youth or Residential Program Field Practicum. We cover the "core routines," "flow learning," "36 cultural points," "eight-shields mentoring model," "the medicine wheel," our core activities, the “acorn” course facilitation model, and much more. Community elders participate and provide a connection and opportunity for growth throughout the year in the apprenticeship. Read more

Dates of course: August 17-23, 2008

Fall Quarter:
Laying the Foundation (E, SE, S). This quarter focuses on building competency and internalization of the eight-shields mentoring model introduced at the Art of Mentoring, and on developing your instructor and mentoring skills. Apprentices use skills learned at the Art of Mentoring in their Field Practicum and making solid contributions to the instructional team they are a part of.

Dates of course: (Sundays 9 am - 3 pm). Sept. 21; Oct. 19; Nov. 23; Dec. 7

Winter Quarter:
Internalization (SW, W, NW). Storytelling is essential thread of this quarter as is your own personal growth and development, as we explore the internal blocks to our creativity, and self-expression. We use the model of “Seven symptoms of aliveness” that progresses throughout the year and assists us in reaching our personal goals. Our community elders will take part in leading a conversation about mentoring, leadership, communication, and peacemaker principles.

Dates of course: (Sundays 9 am - 3 pm). Jan. 18; Feb. 22; Mar. 29; (also instructor exchanges in January and February, dates TBA)

Spring Quarter:
Leadership (N, NE). This quarter continues to develop your ability as an instructor while focusing on becoming a leader in your community. Topics include leadership, the Peacemaker Principles, and the Central Fire. We focus on such essential questions as "What is my instructing and leadership style?"; "What are my gifts?"; "What am I passionate about?"; and "What is my vision?”. This quarter culminates with a Rite of Passage that begins your journey anew.

Dates of course: (Sundays 9 am - 3 pm). Apr. 19; May 23

Field Practicum

Your learning from the class sessions comes alive as you actually use these skills with students in our youth or adult courses:

Youth Course Practicum
(33 weeks; Tue, Wed, Thurs, or Fri.). Hands-on mentoring experience for one day per week at:

Roots and Wings (Wed., or Fri. ages 4-6), or
Youth School (Wed. or Thurs. ages 7-12), or
Community School (Tues. or Wed. ages 13-18)

Includes some outside meeting time and field trips (not required).

Residential Program Practicum

(33 weeks; Wed, Thurs, or Fri.) Spaces are limited in this practicum.

Hands-on mentoring experience one day per week at the Wilderness Awareness Residential Program. Includes some outside meeting time and field trips (not required).

Apprenticeship Group Meetings

Part of the power of the Instructor Training Apprenticeship is being part of a group of fellow apprenticeships that directly support and learn from each other's experiences. By popular demand, this aspect of the program will be facilitated more strongly with a new component in 2008-2009--weekly group meetings every Monday afternoon with lead instructor Nate Summers and all apprentices. These meetings will allow for group discussions, shared learning, and support. (NOTE: This is in addition to meetings with the staff of your field practicum program on Mondays).

Additional Details

Cost: $2000 annual tuition price (see payment due dates below); with a discount for those who have participated in the apprenticeship before. The cost includes all training and course materials, Art of Mentoring workshop (with food and camping for that week), and "educator exchange" trips.

Limited scholarship funding is available. NOTE: If you are planning to apply for a scholarship, your scholarship application must be turned in along with your application for the Instructor Training Apprenticeship.

There is also an opportunity for paid work during the program as staff for Wilderness Awareness School's contract programs with Puget Sound area public and private schools.

Payment Due Dates: Total tuition cost includes a $500 non-refundable deposit which secures your place in the program; due June 1st. The remaining tuition is due in quarterly payments of $500 on Sept. 1st, Jan. 15th, and April 1st.

Dates: September 2008 - June 2009. The Art of Mentoring Class is Aug. 17-23, 2008. The Methods and Philosophy class meets on 10 Sundays over the course of the year, which are 6 hour days (9:00 am – 3:00 pm). Weekly field practicum days can happen on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday depending on the course you are working with.

During the year there will also be 6 days of educator exchanges with graduate EE students from North Cascades Institute and Islandwood in January and February. These generally run between Sunday and Wednesday.

Prerequisite: The Apprenticeship is for graduates (from any year) of the Wilderness Awareness Residential Program, or those students with significant training in outdoor education and deep familiarity with Wilderness Awareness School's mentoring philosophy.

Staff: Nate Summers is the lead instructor of the apprenticeship. Guest instructors to the course include: John Chilkotowsky; Warren Moon; Sol Marie Doran; Laura Gunion; and Mike Prince.

Opportunities and Expectations:
New for the 2008-2009 school year, apprentices will be have the opportunity to help as paid staff for contract programs with Puget Sound area schools! This will allow apprentices to spend time working with more diverse audiences in public and private schools, in addition to working with Wilderness Awareness School's intensive youth or adult programs.

All apprentices participate as volunteer assistant instructors at two Wilderness Awareness School weekend adult courses throughout the year – chosen at the beginning of the year. This allows you to get further instruction in a curriculum area, as well as giving an opportunity to experience being part of the teaching team for a public course.

To apply or for more information:

To apply, download the Apprenticeship Program Application in PDF file format, complete it, and turn it in or mail it in to our office. The application deadline is May 11, 2008.

NOTE: If you plan to apply for a scholarship, please submit a scholarship application along with your application for the Program (download a Scholarship Application in PDF file format and turn it in or mail it in to us).

If you have additional questions or would like an application sent to you via postal mail, please contact Nate Summers by email: nates (at) wildernessawareness.org [NOTE: the "(at)" is really the "@" symbol].

Instructor Biographies

Nate Summers: Nate is the core instructor for the Apprenticeship course, and has been teaching people in the outdoors since 1995. In the past he has served as both Youth Programs Director and Adult Programs Director for Wilderness Awareness School, and has worked with such organizations as King County Parks and Recreation, Seattle Parks Department, and Outdoor Connections/WildLore. He is the founder of Pathfinder Outdoor School, an internal martial arts enthusiast, a practitioner of Chinese Medicine, and a new dad.

John Chilkotowsky: John offers his wisdom in youth instruction and course development. He has been an educator since 1995, teaching and designing wilderness courses in public schools, environmental education centers, and at primitive skills camps. John has a Bachelor of Science degree, is a Kamana Naturalist Training Program graduate, and serves as the Program Director at Wilderness Awareness School.

Warren Moon: Warren, our Executive Director, began working with Wilderness Awareness School in 1995 as Youth Programs Director. He has since served as an instructor and administrator for all aspects of Wilderness Awareness School's courses. Warren has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and worked as an environmental engineer before he quickly realized that nature and mentoring were his true passions. His vision is to help restore people's reverence for life so that we can be better stewards of ourselves, our communities and our planet.

Sol Marie Doran: Sol shares her passion and experience with youth mentoring and native plants. She is a Lead Instructor at Youth School and Roots and Wings, at Wilderness Awareness School. Sol came to the School from southern California, where she worked with Wilderness Youth Project, ran an early childhood outdoor course, and earned a B.S. in Ecology. She currently studies herbalist skills at Ravencroft Garden.

Laura Gunion: Laura is Assistant Director of Youth Courses and a lead instructor at Community School. She graduated from the Residential Program in 2002, and her previous experience as an instructor includes the Teton Science School, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, and the Four Corners School of Outdoor Education, among other courses. Laura received her B.A. in Child Studies from Tufts University in 1995, completed the National Outdoor Leadership School's Semester in the Rockies in 1996, and finished a year-long Professional Residency in Environmental Education through Utah State University and Teton Science School in 2001.

Mike Prince: Mike is the coordinator of the Earth Mentor Program. He also serves as a Youth Programs Coordinator at Wilderness Awareness School, Assistant Summer Camp Director, and Facility Manager for the school. Mike graduated from the Wilderness Awareness Residential Program in 2004, and followed that with a second year as a Apprentice Instructor with Community School. Mike's previous experience as an educator includes teaching High School, directing a Boy Scout Camp, and working for the YMCA.

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Scholarship Information