PRIVATE NATURE PROGRAMS
For families, birthday parties, or Scout troops!
Our programs are specially designed by experienced naturalists and ancestral skills instructors to inspire, educate, and connect growing students with the natural world...and one another.
At your home, troop lodge, or at Marsh Sanctuary in Mt. Kisco, our instructors can deliver an amazing adventure specifically tailored to your group's needs.
Read more below for the types of activities we can do at your private nature program with us!
Updated COVID-19 procedures: Mask wearing is required when within 3 feet of another person (even for vaccinated individuals)
Critter Hunt!
Let's go outside for a good old fashioned critter hunt! We might be able to catch frogs, find salamanders, track raccoons, pick up earthworms to watch how they move, and use an insect net to catch grasshoppers and butterflies. There is no end to the discoveries we can make together!
Ages 4-8
Land Navigation
Here in the Northeast we are lucky to have so many wild places to explore. Learn how to use a map and compass, find a trail, take and follow a bearing so you don't get lost and, if you do, how you can find your way back.
Ages 8+
The Art and Science of Wildlife Tracking
Ever wonder what is out there when people aren't around? Get ready to be surprised! Each track leaves a story, one that can be read only through careful observation and exciting discovery.
Ages 12+
Exploring the Land
Survival Skills
The Art of the Campfire
Fire can be your greatest friend, or your worst enemy. Learn how to start and safely keep a campfire made entirely of natural materials going, in even the worst weather. Must be done in an outdoor space.
Ages 6+
Building a Shelter
What kid doesn't want to build forts out in the woods? Learn how an improvised shelter can keep you warm and dry, even in the worst rainstorms. Get a chance to test your own designs, and discover the bounty of building materials that the forest provides.
Ages 6+
Knife Safety
A knife is a fantastic tool out in the woods. It can help you make everything from a spatula to a tent peg, find dry wood in a rainstorm, and even prepare a meal at the end of the day. Learn how to use a knife safely to perform a variety of camp chores. This program is for responsible children.
Ages 8+
Ancestral Crafts
(There may be an extra materials fees for these activities)
Basket Weaving
What crafts did the first people do? Use plants to weave baskets, of course! Come learn how to weave baskets small and large, using invasive and native plants.
Ages 6+
Spoon Carving
Nothing beats turning a block of wild wood into a useful tool, and what more useful item is there than a spoon? Exercise your creativity and resourcefulness in this 3-4 hour workshop. Starting with a round of wild wood, use either steel or primitive techniques to carve a spoon of your own design.
Ages 14+
Leather Work
Leather is a fantastic material to work with. Durable and handy, this material can be used for a variety of survival items. Learn how to use a leather working tools safely to create a variety of pouches and bags. This program is for responsible children.
Ages 8+
Clay Pots
Clay is a wonderful material to find and work with. Used throughout human history, clay be make a variety of bowls and cups, from holding herbal remedies to using for food consumption. Learn how to work with this versatile material.
Ages 6+
Nature Connection mentoring
For kids and adults who cannot get enough of the outside world and would like someone to guide them on their path of nature connection. These weekly outdoor sessions are custom designed for the mentoree and his/her capabilities and interests in mind.
All Ages
Mentorships
Want more?
If you don't see what you are looking for, please head to our contact page and send us a message.
We would be happy to hear from you and build a program from your ideas!