Custom Programs
A Program for Every Situation
Over the years of teaching we have adapted our programming to meet a wide variety of circumstances, from private one on one classes on our campus to week long travel and teach programs for schools or large organizations where we bring the skills to you. Contact us through phone or email to design your custom program and book dates and we will calculate costs and give you a quote of cost.
Class Design
The benefit of designing a class for yourself or a group is that can choose exactly what you would like to learn. Working in conjunction with Roots staff you can custom tailor your education to fit your specific needs.
Pricing, Scheduling, and Location
If you wish to schedule a class we will work with you to plan the class at a time that fits the Roots schedule and your own. The minimum amount of time for a class at our location is one half day. The minimum amount of time for classes away from our location depend on the distance traveled; we prefer to spend at least as much time teaching as driving.
Location can be determined by the students so as to most effectively meet your needs. If you prefer to spend time at our beautiful location class may be held here. If you wish to save time on travel expenses, Roots can bring the class to you. Pricing is determined on an individual basis. The variables that will affect the price of your individual or group class will be:
- Number of Participants
- Travel Cost (if applicable)
- Material Costs specific to the skill(s)
- Instruction time
Custom Programs for Schools and Organizations
Hosting Roots at Your School or Organization
Roots offers custom programs in traditional technologies, wilderness self-reliance, and naturalist studies for schools of all types.
We have seen that working these skills with children in and outside of the school setting can supplement their education in powerful ways. In our experience, hands on and experiential education can have deep and lasting impacts in the way children approach and interact with learning. Helping to grow critical thinking skills, self-esteem, group cooperation, and a strong and dynamic connection to the the student’s land-base are our main goals in working with schools and their students.
ROOTS is committed to fitting your needs by designing workshops, demonstrations, and lectures around the setting in which they are taught. If you wish for us to modify a pre-existing class, or simply run one at your location, that is an option as well.
Please contact Brad Salon, for further information or to begin to design and plan a class for your organization. Contact: Info “at” rootsvt.com or follow the contact information below.
Sample Day Program #1
Wilderness Survival And Self Reliance
Shelter, Water, Fire, Food
This day of study is an immersion into the skills of wilderness survival. Students will learn the important role that attitude plays in survival situations, learn how to make an emergency shelter with only your hands and the materials from the landscape; locate, carry, filter and purify water without modern tools; build fire from friction; and find food on the landscape, both plant and animal.
In workshop station 1, Survival Shelters, students learn the important principals regarding shelter, including: location, materials, hazards, and heat loss from convection, conduction and radiation. The details of constructing a debris hut survival shelter are covered in an experiential manner as the students collectively build one with an instructor.
In workshop station 2, Friction Fire, students will be introduced to the fundamental skills of friction fire-making. The components of the bow drill apparatus are explained through demonstration. Students learn how to manufacture the bow drill kit and are instructed in the form and techniques that are essential in order to produce an ember that will then create fire.
In station 3, Drinking Wild Water, students learn how to locate, carry, filter, and purify water from the landscape without the use of modern tools. A discussion about water-born pathogens and chemical hazards leads into the construction of a “primitive” charcoal water filter, followed by the process of boiling water with fired stones.
In station 4, Food from the Wild, students learn to identify the top 10 wild edible plants, as well as common toxic plants. Primitive hunting skills for survival situations are introduced in the following skill sets: stalking and movement, natural camouflage, primitive weapons and their use, and primitive traps.
Following the workshop rotations there is a closing lecture with a question and answer session.
Sample Day Program #2
Introduction To Traditional Technology And Ancient Living Skills
This day of study gives students an experiential look at ROOTS school’s offerings. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of traditional skills through an interactive gallery of hand-crafted tools and items made by the instructors. In addition, ROOTS staff facilitates three workshop stations throughout the course of the day.
In workshop station 1, students will be introduced to the fundamental skills of friction fire-making. The components of the bow drill apparatus are explained through demonstration. Students learn how to manufacture the bow drill kit and are instructed in the form and techniques that are essential in order to produce an ember that will then create fire.
In station 2, Tracking and Awareness, students learn the basics of several arts of tracking: track and sign positive identification, interpretation, aging, and trailing. Students are lead through the landscape finding tracks and sign of the animals whose lives can be better understood through the stories they leave behind. Through sensory-based exercises and practical field time students quickly learn that the use of awareness and tracking are one and the same.
At station 3, introduction to cordage and the fiber arts, students learn how to identify fiber-producing plants, as well as extract and process their fibers. From these fibers students learn the reverse wrap technique for manufacturing cordage ranging from fishing line to rope. We use cordage of some sort daily; here is a chance to learn how to make it from the landscape.
Following the workshop rotations there is a closing lecture with a question and answer session.
Outline:
1. Orientation and Introduction to the world of Traditional Technology and survival skills.
2. Workshop Stations: Friction Fire; Tracking and Awareness; Fibers and Cordage, student groups rotate through each station for a pre-determined period of time.
3. Closing Lecture and Q&A session.
Sample Day Program #3
Tracking And Awareness
Arguably the oldest human science, tracking takes human cerebral abilities to their ultimate limits. So much more than simply answering questions, tracking is an entirely new way of looking at the world. Tracking asks us to push our awareness, ask penetrating questions, and always keep an open mind. It applies on the city streets and the forests. The class will cover the basics of tracking such as clear print identification, gait studies and interpretation, sign tracking, cluster tracking and much more. As well as tracking we will discuss the importance of awareness and learn ancient techniques of how to open our senses and observe a greater depth in the world around us.
In workshop station 1, Clear Print Identification, students learn how to identify clear prints through the process of elimination. Lessons on food morphology, habitat and habits, sexual dimorphism, diet and more will empower the students in this process.
In station 2, Trail Interpretation, students learn to read the stories left by the animals through gait analysis and pattern recognition. This is where a series of marks on the ground begin to add up to a narrative that gives the tracker a unique glimpse into the lives of animals.
In workshop station 3, Track & Sign Aging, students learn to distinguish fresh sign from less recent activity. Once the basics are grasped, we will look at ways to more accurately pinpoint the time in which the track was made. This workshop station also covers the identification of sigh left on plants, trees, and other non-foot print tracks on the ground.
In station 4, Trailing, students learn to follow a series of tracks over a variety of substrates. We will learn to see compression tracks in the leaf litter, as well as in the short and tall grass, dirt, and even on stones.
Following the workshop rotations there is a closing lecture with a question and answer session.
Outline:
1. Orientation to ROOTS School and Introduction to Tracking and Awareness.
2. Workshop Stations:
Clear Print ID; Trail Interpretation; Track & Sign Aging; and Trailing
Student groups rotate through each station for a pre-determined period of time.
3. Closing Lecture and Q&A session.