Wild Wizards
July 13-16 (Monday - Thursday)
9:00 am- 2:30pm
Ages: 6-9
Location: TBA central PDX
Cost: $345
Now you see us. Now you don’t.
Step into the forest and discover your inner wizard! In this magical summer camp, young apprentices will learn the ancient arts of wilderness survival and nature connection.
We'll spend our days outdoors, learning to move with stealth, building structures, making primitive tools, and understand the language of the trees. The forest is our classroom, and every day brings new adventures.
What We’ll Learn
Stealth and Camouflage
Ivy crowns on our heads and ferns in our hair, we creep through the woods, each step placed with care. Through games and crafts we learn the art of stillness and connecting with the rhythms of the natural world.
Structure Building
Tripods, Lean-tos, and bird blinds, oh my!
We learn new knot tying skills and harness our creative building power. Using found materials we create forts and structures of all sorts!
Primitive Tool Making
The search for the perfect stick takes on new meaning as we explore what wood and stone can make. We whittle wooden nails and stakes, make sling shots, and even use basic percussion flaking skills to shape rocks into tools.
Throwing & Projectiles
Slingshot in hand and a pocket full of pinecones, we test our aim at targets and learn proper safety in the use and care of our tools.
Meet Your Instructor
Sara Murphy
Outdoor Educator & Student of the Forest
Sara believes in the magic of the natural world. She is a lifelong educator who is passionate about cultivating meaningful connection to the wild, both outside of us and within. She developed her teaching style through years of outdoor education in public schools and private organizations. Whether teaching a basketry class or leading a group of kids in the forest, she is adamant that each step leads us deeper into a place of gratitude for and reciprocity with the earth.
Sara spends her free time whistling at birds, exclaiming over mushrooms, and brewing up herbal remedies. She can often be found singing over her plants or creating wild magic in the woods.
Our Core Principles
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Wilderness Awareness
Through time and reflection in nature, we learn the language of the wild world. Whether it is the call of a bird or the movement patterns of beaver, we let it settle into our very bones. We talk to the trees and we hum with the bees. We put our feet in the water and breathe in the smell of sunshine on fir needles. Our senses begin to remember what our ancestors once knew.
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Ancestral Skills
From whittling to shelter building, tracking to weather mapping, we re-wild our hearts and minds – gaining critical skills that allow us to grow in connection with the land.
We stand on the ancestral land of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many others. We seek to honor that through the teaching of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and by supporting indigenous teachers, artists, and activists.
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Community & Reciprocity
At Wild & Free our community includes all living things. We nourish relationships through non-violent communication, honest introspection, and the abundant celebration of each beautiful soul.
Through acts of connection and reciprocity, we give back to all of the more than human community in recognition of the gifts freely given to us.
Rhythm of the Day
9:00-9:15am:
Drop off window. Students may choose to play or participate in a table activity
9:30 am:
We meet beneath the arms of Grandmother Cedar to dream about our day and share what is alive in us.
10:00 am:
An hour of free play and exploration.
11:00 am:
Introducing the activity of the day, usually a skill, craft, or game.
12:00 pm:
Lunch, story, & free play
1:00 pm:
We set out to continue our project or hone the skills we have acquired through group games & play
1:45 pm:
Free play & exploration
2:15 pm:
Closing Circle and a moment of gratitude.
2:30 pm:
Pick up from Spring Park/ Elk Rock Island
Frequently Asked Questions
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Each child should have:
A backpack that is comfortable to carry all day.
A 16oz bottle of water
A lunch and a snack item
Sunhat
Sunscreen (please apply sunscreen before arriving for the day. We will help reapply at lunch.)
A change of socks
A pair of good walking shoes
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Depending on parent interest, we may offer aftercare from 2pm-4pm for an additional $100 per week. If you are interested in this option, please let us know and we will make a decision based on the number of interested families.
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Please reach out to reserve your spot by clicking the “reserve your spot” button above. If spots are still available, we will respond to you with the registration paperwork and a request for a $50 deposit that will be applied toward the total cost of the camp.
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We value small class sizes as it allows students and teachers to have a richer, more grounded experience.
Our student to teacher ratio is 1:8 .
Our camp will have an assistant teacher with a maximum group size of 12.