Kamana - Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start? Kamana One or Kamana Two?
Student Services: Why sign up?
Student Services: Logistical questions
Content and logistical questions
Finding other students near you
Where should I start, Kamana One or Two?
Where we feel the best place to start is Kamana One for many students, some feel that they have had enough naturalist training to begin at Kamana Two.
Other less experienced students might be sure that this is what they
want to do and would rather begin at Kamana Two, even though it is a
more involved course.
Kamana Two begins the on-going exercise routines that thread straight through to the end of Kamana Four.
Kamana Two is sold to you without Student Services included. It takes
a minimum of four months to complete. You may decide later if you want
full instructor service, just the certificate of completion, or maybe
you only want the rich experience of the course without certification.
Both
courses are available for purchase at this web site.
Why should I sign up for Kamana Student Services?
Here are the two options for Kamana Two:
1. Student Services Option: This entitles you to the same great service that Kamana students have been receiving from the beginning of Kamana's history. We will personally respond to every Field Pack you send in, answer email questions, and make ourselves available over the phone two nights a week (sometimes one depending on the season) to answer your questions. This option also comes with a year of Wilderness Awareness School's quarterly newsletter, Foxprint. To join, fill out the form given to you with Kamana Two. The current cost of Full Student services is $160.
2. Certification Option: Some may feel they do not need our assistance,
but still want certification. Others may not think they even want certification
at first, but may decide they want it later. For those folks, we've
come up with the Certification option. Just gather all your work form
all four Field Packs when you are finished with the entire course,
fill out the form at the end of this section, and mail it in to Wilderness
Awareness School. We'll send you back one response and a certificate.
You will also receive a Kamana student number, which is needed for admission
into Kamana Three. We will personally review your work, but this option
does not include email or phone support. Continuing education credits
ARE available with this option as well. The current cost for this option
is $75
This
is the packet for the above options. (PDF)
Why choose Student Services?
- Our instructors are trained to recognize patterns in the student's
growth throughout the Kamana Program. We use Art of Mentoring techniques
to help encourage expansion of each student's awareness, beyond that
of what the student would achieve alone. Essentially, we are here
to keep you on the right track.
- We recognize Kamana Two as being a very important level in Kamana
Training, as it is in Kamana Two that you are introduced to core routines
that you will continue to practice throughout the remainder of the
Kamana Program. Knowing this, our instructors review your work in
Kamana Two with the intention of guiding you down the path of least
resistance, so to speak.
- In the Resource Trail, the feedback you receive will usually be
focused on making sure you have a strong grasp on the journaling technique
being introduced to you. Once our instructors recognize that you have
internalized the technique, they will focus more energy on expanding
your awareness through the "Resource Journaling" process.
- In the first half of the Nature Awareness Trail, the instructors
focus much of their energy on helping you to become comfortable with
your secret spot and the routines of awareness introduced to you through
the first two Field Exercises. During the second half of the Nature
Awareness Trail, they will devote more energy on helping you to internalize
the techniques of the "Field Inventory" process on a deep
level.
- It is recognized that YOUR commitment to learning the lessons that
the Kamana Program has to offer is going to be your greatest tool
for learning. Our instructors approach student services with the hope
of helping you to better understand each tool you receive through
your training. They do not focus on what you are doing wrong, but
rather on how you can learn even more from what you experience through
the Kamana Program.
- Every student' s journey is different, and so each student' s experience
with Student Services will be different, as well. One thing that can
be relied upon, however, is that the support you receive from our
instructors will be focused on your passions, your struggles, and
on your goals as a student of the natural world.
We are here to serve you, just as the name implies. Maybe the instructors will share stories from their own experiences; maybe they will ask you a lot of questions. Maybe you will be given suggestions on how to take a lesson to the next level; maybe you will be given an entirely new technique to practice. Whatever you receive, you can be sure that the instructors have done their best to help your journey through Kamana Two take you a little bit further into the wonders of awareness and the natural world.
You are being MENTORED in our system of learning.
Our instructors are SUPPORTING you.
The material itself in combination with you actively using it IS
a mentoring relationship. That' s what makes Kamana so special and
unique. Our instructors are there to simply help you along, remove any
blocks, offer advice, peak your awareness with the art of questioning,
hear your stories, offer encouragement and keep it all incredibly interesting!
Kamana Three and Kamana Four are only available with full servicing.
The exercises and routines have great depth and our experience shows
guidance is necessary. We need to uphold the integrity of our course
and our graduates. When someone meets a Kamana graduate, they know they
have met a dedicated student with an expanded knowledge of their place
and a deep quality of awareness.
Download the Student Services Guide and Kamana Two Student Services Sign Up Form
What a Kamana Graduate has to say about Student Services:
"Regarding support from the staff, I spoke with Jonathan, my
student services representative, about once per month and I found it
quite helpful but primarily as an adjunct. A big part of what you learn
is how to learn and for that you have to do the work. Nobody will spoon-feed
this stuff to you. It wouldn' t work if you tried. The student services
help is primarily in explaining what you don' t understand and helping
out when you get stuck on something.
For example, I began the course in October and hadn't been doing
it for long when the shortening days and my work schedule made it obvious
that I wasn' t going to be able to visit my sit spot in daylight. I
discussed this with Jonathan, perhaps expecting him to let me off the
hook or come up with some magical solution. Instead he encouraged me
to go to my spot in the dark and said that previous students who had
tried it found they got a lot out of it. He was right, as usual. By
the time spring brought longer days I actually had come to miss my early
morning forays in the dark."
Carl Herzog, K248
If I buy Kamana Two, Three or Four, does this mean I am on a time limit with Kamana Services right away?
Not at all. You sign up for services AFTER you receive the K2 binder. You can send this in whenever you are ready to start. With Kamana Three and Four, we send an Activation Form with your binder. Your services does not begin until you send in this form. Then you begin your work on that course level.When do I sign up for Student Services for Kamana Two?
AFTER you receive your binder. You can not sign up earlier than that.It's only really worth it to you if you hand in the registration before you complete the first Field Pack in Kamana Two.
Do I hand in anything for Kamana Two if I do not choose Student Services?
No.Can I buy Kamana Three while I am doing Kamana Two?
SURE. There is an order form at the end of Kamana Two as well as on NatureTalk.net. You do not actually start your student services contract until you send us the enclosed Activation Form. So you can hold onto K3 or K4 as long as you want before actually starting.Can I get an extension if my time limit expires?
Yes. We usually will offer one two month extension per Kamana level.How much time do I need to put in every day for Kamana Two and higher?
The students who complete each Field Pack in the "ideal time" mentioned on the pages describing each level should expect to put in at least an hour every other day on average. This certainly goes for Kamana Two. Students in higher levels may need to put a little more time in.The important thing is that you work at a sustainable pace that you can keep up for a long time. Students who try to do to much too soon or get too detailed in their work typically burn out. We recommend a regular routine rather than random hours here and there. Slow, simple and steady wins the race.
What if I go on vacation?
That's fine. EVERYONE seems to go away for a while at some point. That's why we build in lots of extra time into the time limits.Can I share my course?
Family Discounts & Sharing Materials with Friends
We encourage students share their Kamana materials with family or friends. This works great for people you know who aren't sure if they want to do the course yet. This works with Kamana One and Two.Sharing instructions:
Kamana One:If you want a certificate, just follow the normal instructions and send in the requested work for just $10! If they wrote on the pages, just design your own. Download request form for Kamana One Certificate.
Kamana Two:
Same rules as Kamana One. If you want instruction, download the Kamana Two Student Services Registration Form. If your friend or family member has written on the supplied pages, just design your own. We also have blank journal pages right here. You may also wait until the end and choose the certification option. We recommend people buy their own Kamana Two binders (our studies have shown people are more productive when they have their own), but we understand that some people are short on cash or maybe they want to try it out first.
Kamana Three and Four:
There is no family member discount. At this point, you are a serious student, and require your own materials and access to Student Services.
If everyone in the family wants their own binder, are there discounts on extra binders?
No. However, family member may share materials in K1 & K2 to save money.Can two or more people sign up for Kamana Two student Services using the same binder?
Yes. Follow instructions in the Student Services guide in the beginning of Kamana Two. Everyone must sign up separately for Student Services and have their own account.How does this compare or work with Tom Brown Jr. or other wilderness classes?
That really is the main question we get most often. Live classes are wonderful for inspiration, community building and to learn a few new skills. Kamana is a course that is about long term internal growth, internal awareness and knowledge building of your own ecosystem. Those are things that ANY live class will not give you. Therefore, Kamana is the PERFECT COMPLIMENT to those live experiences.
How does this work if I live outside of North America?
The Nature Awareness Trail works the same no matter where you live. The Resource Trail involves local field guides, so the only difference is that you'll need to get different local guides comparable to the ones we suggest. We have instructions for people living outside of North America in the beginning of Kamana Two. We have Kamana broken up into levels and have long student services contract periods because we assume things may happen to people that cause them to put the course aside for awhile OR they just need a break. If you still need extra time, we give a two month extension (one per Kamana level). We do not have an "on-hold" status for students. If you end up with late fees, they are only $25 per Field Pack.You'll notice that the guide for Kamana One is Readers Digest: North American Wildlife. This guide is built into the course and no other guide can be substituted. The purpose of the guide in Kamana One is for you to use an all encompassing field guide to learn some journaling techniques. For this reason, it works just fine in other parts of the world. You'll find that many of the species are also found in other parts of the world, especially Europe. Therefore, it makes a good cross reference anyway for future Kamana levels.
There is excellent international support, especially for Europe, on NatureTalk.net.
Is it true I have to live at one place for a long time to do Kamana One or Two?
Kamana One is only a 3-6 week course. It is designed so someone could even do it on the road. You do not have to really go outside everyday or change your routines in life to do Kamana One. People have done the Awareness exercises in office buildings. It is designed so you can see what life will be like with some new routines in it. If you like that, then Kamana Two is for you. Kamana Two's routines will take you outdoors to experience it like you never have before.If you want to do Kamana Two, it would be ideal for you to be in one place for the 4 or 5 months it might take, though people have even moved around while doing it. You CAN do it if you move around, but you will not get out of it what someone who stayed in one place would.
If you are planning on going on to higher levels of Kamana, once again, it is ideal to stay in one place, but we all know that "life happens". Sometimes we may have the intention of staying in one place, but are called to move somewhere or our life styles change. So, don't let those "possibilities" stop you from experiencing Kamana.
I live in the city or suburbia. What do I do about my secret spot when I get to Kamana Two? Can I have two spots?
MOST people doing this course live in suburbs or the city. You're main secret spot and be your backyard if you'd like. Sometimes, people know they'll only go if it's right outside their front door. Others might drive to a local park that is on their way to work or maybe is a 10-15 minute drive from their house. You have to know your own personal habits to optimally choose your spot.People often ask if they can have a second spot. One out their back door and one farther away that they visit once a week. Certainly! Just make your main spot the one you do your assignments on. This works great if you really don't have much going on outside your back door or maybe you have a small fenced in yard.
What about fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates?
You WILL journal some invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and insects within the Hazards or Ecological Indicators sections. However, if you desire to learn about fish or more reptiles for example, you will surely possess the tools to do so after doing Kamana. In fact, we hope people further their studies in all areas after they complete the course.How can I find other Kamana Students in my area?
You can join our internet list server and ask the on-line community. We have an online directory right here.Can I get College Credit?
In the past we had this option connected with a collge, but it was so infrequently used, that they dropped our course. Our recommendation is to combine Kamana as independent study in your major.Some colleges, such as Prescott College, have very liberal course structures, which may allow you to make Kamana a major part of your studies. (We have no official affiliation with Prescott.)
Also, you can get credit for Kamana if you go to our Residential Program and get college credit for that program.
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