the pioneer project

Sustainable Living & Farm Visits

Sustainable living skills in the summer will be garden-intensive, as we plant, maintain, and harvest veggies and medicinal herbs.  All of our systems are in full swing during this season, so students will get ample experience in organic veggie gardening skills, medicinal herb processing, shiitake mushroom growing, beekeeping, and much more!  Meals will be overflowing with our own vegetables and berries during this season and we will be canning and freezing any surplus produce for winter use. 

 

We will be visiting various local farms in our region to explore the local food movement and offer a helping hand.  Through doing this, we will get to learn from the wisdom of our local farmers, some of whom have been farming in the area for over 20 years.  This component of the program is always a highlight for students!

 

Traditional Craft

Craft workshops vary between sessions, though each session will feature blacksmithing, herbal medicine, and bookbinding workshops.  Students can work on increasingly advanced skills in these areas if they choose to stay for multiple sessions, while also getting introduced to new skills each session like soapmaking, fiber arts, and primitive skills.

 

Outdoor Leadership

Summer is a wonderful time for exploring our region’s wilderness!  We will embark on 2-3 day expeditions each weekend that will expose students to a wide variety of skills and locations in our outdoor leadership component.  A student that stays for 3 sessions will get to see 9 distinct wilderness trips and will progressively become a student leader among their peers by mentoring new students in the skills they have already begun to develop.

 

Certifications

In between sessions students will have the opportunity to gain certifications in a variety of topics.  Our first offering will be a Wilderness First Aid course that will prepare students to care for injuries in wilderness contexts.  These skills provide an excellent foundation that results in increased confidence and risk management skills in the outdoors.  They are also a great stepping stone towards a career in medicine or outdoor education. 

 

The second session will offer a 2-day leadership certifications by the International Business Training Association.  For students who are interested in becoming leaders in whatever field they enter, this is an excellent course to take and a valuable certification in the eyes of potential employers.  

 

These trainings are free of charge for students who are taking more than one session.  Students enrolled in two sessions will get one free training, while those who enroll in all three sessions will have the opportunity to do both trainings.  Members of the public are also able to take these trainings if space is available.