Yes, I look forward to each new season, there is always something wonderful coming around the corner.

In late summer and early fall its wild berries, yum! The mushrooms will be here soon, the time for harvesting our cordage plants, the Dogbane, Milkweed, and Stinging Nettle is fast approaching, the autumn run of Chinook salmon are waiting for the rains to fill the rivers.

But now the berries are coming on strong, and I relish this sweet summer treat!

The Salal (Gaultheria shallon) and the evergreen Huckleberry are ripening and ready for harvest.

The Salal for some folks have gone out of style. Its not as sweet as the Huckleberry, Blueberry,or the Blackberry. But I love them for there meaty, bland, and spicy taste. On occasion they can be sweet.

The name Salal is derived from the Nootka name for the fruit, which translates as “bland berry” There a working mans Berrie staining your hands and tongue wonderfully with purple juice as you pick and eat them.

“Salal and Huckleberries are both incredibly high in flavonoids, and can be used as a free, nutritional therapy for strengthening capillaries in chronic skin and mucus membrane fragility.” Taken from Michael Moore’s book, Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West.”

You can collect the berries, crush them flat in a box and dry in the sun for use in the winter, or freeze them. Don’t be afraid to mix the berries together. The Huckleberries will give sweetness to your dried Salal mix.

Its not only people that enjoy these wonderful treats. Its telling by the size and the color and the amount of seeds in the scat that the little Grey foxes are leaving here on our driveway, that they are very much enjoying the Salal as well.

These berries have been and are a major food for birds and mammals including us. Its amazing to see nothing else but berries in the Fox scat this time of year. The Bears too, leave huge piles of purple poo along the trails.

Celeste makes a killer Salal pie.

The blue Elderberries are ripening at high camp. Anyone for Elderberry cream pie?

Have a berry berry good time!

There are many parts to making fire. Each part of the process helps to support the whole. Leave one part out and you will not have success.

Fire, the importance of, can not be stressed enough. It provides so much for our primitive camp. The obvious for warming and heating our bodies, cooking and sanitizing our food. boiling and purifying our water, hardening our spears, and digging sticks.

Fire can be an enemy and killer if not treated with respect and consideration. Do not leave fire unattended, or build a fire in a place that has deep duff, pine needles, or other flammable debris.

Choose a safe fire site. Make a ring around your fire at least one foot in diameter free of any debris, pine needles, down to mineral soil.

When you are finished with your fire make sure it is dead out! This means when you run your hand through the ashes it is cold to the touch! Use lots of water for this while stirring with a stick.

If you have no water to put out your fire, take the smoldering wood and set it aside using wooden tongs (Use like chopsticks.) not your hands. Take a hefty rock and crush the smoldering wood, and put it back into the fire pit. Take dirt free of debris, and stir it into the fire using one of the tongs. Keep adding dirt and stirring until all fire and coals are all out. Cap fire with clean dirt 6-8 inches deep to smother completely cutting off any oxygen to the fire.

These woods, pine, fir, an spruce, and hemlock, contain sap or pitch. These woods burn quickly and throw hot sparks with black smoke when ignited. If your sleeping around a fire that throws sparks, you must be aware and keep an watchful eye, keep 5 gallons of water nearby to douse these sparks, and to keep them from burning through clothing.

Remember fire is not a toy, it is a tool to be used with respect.

We have returned to the coast from our June First Circle adult survival camp in northern California just north of Mt. Shasta,
where we offer and teach wilderness survival and nature awareness skills.

A small group of folks from Indiana, California, and Oregon.

The camp was great with loads of sun, rain, thunder showers, and an awesome sweat lodge on the summer solstice.

On the solstice we feasted on game hens and potatoes hot and delicious from our underground oven, and enjoyed a powerful lightning show on the first evening of summer.

An unusual lighting storm because of the long duration. Lasting over 24 hours and starting over 800 wild fires in California,
a solstice to remember for sure.

Lots of wildlife sighting during the week at camp.

Grey Fox
Black Bear & two cubs
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Cougar
Gopher snake
Turkey
Peregrine Falcon
Heard a pair of screech owls several nights
Pileated Woodpecker
Lewis Woodpecker

…well the list goes on. (Read again what showed itself during the week, we’re definitely not one of your typical outdoor schools.)
Lots of reptiles, insects, and blooming plants.

We begin our move to our high summer camp as the long wet spring and cold temperatures kept us at low camp about 3 weeks longer than average.
Looking forward to the rugged high valleys and the pristine creeks and lakes that will be there to join us.

I haven’t had time to write much this spring and early summer as we have been so busy with camp.
Visit the Dune Dog Dispatch Celeste does her best to add new pictures and up dates every couple of weeks.

Oregonians who live here on the coast are a tough lot. They like their countryside green, banana slugs, and enjoy flossing their teeth with moss, and wear rubber boots instead of tennis shoes.

Rain slickers for a day at the beach are seen more often than naught. And after a long winter of fog and drizzle, when some sun starved Oregonian can’t stand it anymore and decides to bare their white legs while wading in the surf, the glare is enough to drive a California transplant crazy.

But even the toughest Beavers and Ducks are grinding their teeth over this prolonged wet we have been experiencing here this spring.

The mumblings of the staunchest Oregonian can be heard rippling through every coffee shop from Gold beach to Astoria. “Man, enough of this weather already!”

Watch out, LA, San Diego and Twenty Nine Palms, a hoard of dripping wet, boot sloshing Ducks and Beavers may soon be heading your way.

Some interesting weather history and information here on the Weather Underground website.

“Did you know that…

Early in the history of the United States, Salem, Mass. recorded a high temperature of 92 degrees on this date in 1816. A day later, the temperature would register at 49 degrees to mark the start of “The Year Without a Summer.”

Read more here at NPR.

If your flying this season to a Lifesong Wilderness Adventures camp or anywhere else, check out Kayak.com

Many of you who are looking for super deals in travel must check out this discount site. A friend of mine saved over 30% on a flight to Prauge this May. Its definitely worth checking out.

If you have used this service or will this summer let us know how your experience with Kayak.com worked out for you.

Thanks.

weekend, survival, course, northern, ca, california, wilderness, camp, adult, school, reputable

Anyone know of a weekend-long reputable wilderness survival course offered in Northern California?

Lifesong adventures, a reputable survival school, offers weekend, survival skills courses at our our camp located in northern California just a few miles from the community of Mt. Shasta California.

Our adult survival weekend courses are an excellent place to begin your training. We’re a reputable survival school, full of information and hands on experience. Our weekend courses are packed with the type of training and information that you need if your interested in learning how to take care of yourself in the outdoors.

Our survival school weekend courses are called mini camps, you can read about them here - weekend mini survival camp

As a professional survival school, we offer our circle camp training for adults who are interested in learning wilderness survival skills through a program that starts with the basics, and through each proceeding camp, advance to the next level of training. Culminating with a “rites of passage” graduation with our fourth circle camp. First, second, and third circles are prerequisites for the fourth circle -”rites of passage” training.

Visit our first circle camp page here to learn more - First Circle

In 2008 we we’re very excited to be able to offer our first ever wilderness survival apprenticeship education program.

It was a huge success!

So for 2009 we once again are happy to offer this unique outdoor wilderness program for folks who want to study and learn wilderness survival skills and nature awareness in a long term primitive living environment.

Our 6 week wilderness survival instructor-apprenticeship program instructs each participant in the fundamentals and advanced concepts of wilderness survival.

You must be 18 years of age to attend. Prior camping or experience in the outdoors not required to attend.

Curriculum: You will study and practise the curriculum of Lifesong Adventure First Circle, Second, and third Circle Camps. To learn more about our adult survival camps please visit our home page here!
Apprentices will be introduced to orienteering, map reading, route finding, compass, and GPS during their time with us.

The apprenticeship program is one-on-one with Mark, with an occasional guest instructor. Each day is filled with study, camp chores, (Yes we have chores.) and dirt time.

Todd, our 2008 summer wilderness survival apprentice had this to say about his experience in our apprenticeship program:

“This has been an phenomenal adventure, and every thing you have taught me and I have learned this summer, about myself, and others, and life, will for sure will prove invaluable in my journey’s that lie ahead. THANKYOU!” Todd M.

For 2009 we offer winter, spring, summer, and fall apprenticeship curriculum’s. Winter, Jan.18-Feb 28. Spring, April 19-May 30. Summer, June14-July 25. Fall, August 09-September 13.
Course instruction is 4 days a week allowing each apprentice two days of alone time for practise, introspection, and study, with one day off a week.

You may sign up for one seasonal curriculum or all four.

This 2009 season we will begin our winter apprenticeship January 04, 2009. These adventure’s will be held at our wilderness camp locations in northern California, just a few miles north of Mt. Shasta Ca.

Housing:
Apprentices will be provided with a camping, cooking, and dish washing area. (Winter apprentice’s will have a wood heated shelter to share for study, crafts, and social activity’s.)

All Apprentices are required to bring a sleeping pad, bag, and tent. (An items list for camp and other information will be forwarded to you once you have been accepted and registered for the program.)

Food: Apprentice’s will be provided with bulk grains, seeds, nuts, fruit & vegetables for 12 meals a week, (Based on two meals a day.)
Apprentices will be responsible for and provide for any additional food, meals, and special dietary needs.

Why attend? Like all of our camps, we specialize in adventure, experience, and connection.
Primitive skills are a large part of what you learn at Lifesong Adventures, but we also offer you the opportunity to live in and experience semi-remote and very remote camp locations the duration of your time with us.

As a Lifesong Adventure’s apprentice, you don’t go home to a dorm or apartment, a hot shower, or TV at days end.
Your days and nights are immersed in the rhythms and flow of nature.

A once in a lifetime experience!

Tuition: $3,900 per session.

Lifesong Wilderness Adventures brings you a whole new challenge, create your own Custom Camp.

For those of you who want an exclusive experience to share with a close group of friends or your own personal camp. No matter what the combination, Lifesong Adventures is available to you.

Over the years our Custom Camp clients have been individuals, groups, and families.

Interested in a weekend challenge course for your corporate clients? We do that.

How about a four day three night wilderness survival intensive for one, two, or more. We do that to.

Want us to travel to your location? Give us a call will be happy to discus your needs.

A few examples of some of our custom camps that we have helped our clients create.

Rites of passage for Waldorf Schools.
Learning the art of Animal tracking.
Awareness and movement training.
One-on-one wilderness survival training.

What ever your needs, give us a call and will be happy design the perfect experience for you.

Have you always wanted to go backpacking in the wilderness but didn’t quite know where to start?
We can help you with that as well.

We can even help you design your trip and come along as your personal guide.

We love what we do, and do our best to help our clients have a great outdoor experience.

Contact us today!

We have added a new course this 2008 season, we call it our mini survival camp. The camp runs three days and two nights. We begin at noon on the first day to officially noon on the third day of camp.

We designed this course to fit the needs of our clients who are unable to make our week long First Circle survival camp, or for those who want to get their feet wet in wilderness survival and are looking for an opportunity to get away from it all if even for a few days.

All of our California mini survival camps are held near Mt. Shasta in northern California, a four to 5 hour drive from the San Jose and San Francisco Bay area.

Do we camp out? This is an outdoor camping experience and we urge you attend with this in mind. If you wish not to camp, but would still like to attend, we can help you with other overnight arrangements.

Are meals provided with the mini camp? We do not provide meals for you at our mini camps. We will have potable drinking water available for you, a self-cleaning kitchen and dish-washing area, and of course a camp area to set up your tent or tarp. Once you register we will include a recommended food list for you.

What should I bring to camp? Speaking of things to bring to camp, a tent, tarp, sleeping pad and bag are highly recommended. You will want all your gear to fit in a duffel bag, back pack, or some other containment luggage. This protects your gear and makes it easier to keep track of.

You will also want to have a small day pack for camp. When you register we will mail you an items list of the gear you will need to bring with you.

Will I need to bring a survival knife to camp? Bring the knife you own, or if you don’t have a knife we have good carving knives available for you to purchase for around $25. You will also get to try out other survival knives we make available for you at camp. Interested in survival knives and what to look for in a good knife? Read Marks article on survival knives.

What will I learn? As this is a survival camp we will cover the most important basics of wilderness survival. What to do and not do if you lose your way, get lost, find yourself in a natural disaster, or are stranded away from camp. We take a very proactive approach to teaching you the skills of survival. This translates into lots of hands on learning and loads of fun.

Do you have scheduled dates for the Mini camps? Yes we do. Visit our calendar to view our coming camp dates.

How do I register? Please go to our Mini Camp page, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can register by check or credit card. Please read our FAQ’s page for more information about our camps.

Do you have camps for individuals, groups, and corporate groups? Yes we do. Please visit our Custom Camp page to learn more then give us a call.
530-859-0539

ABC News January 22, 2008

The headlines read: “Survival Show Helps Save Boys Lives.”
here is the link to the article from ABC.

This has to make Bear Grylls and the crew of Man Vs Wild extremely happy.

These kinds of events happen every winter; children falling through the ice into the frigid waters of a lake. Some make it some do not.

But the cool thing about this, besides the chilly water, is the boys remembered a positive action from the TV show to follow when they found themselves in a survival situation. They didn’t panic, acted quickly, and are alive to talk about it.

I’m sure those boys have had it drilled into their heads from their parents from the time they were able to walk to stay off the ice.
And taking off your clothes after falling into a freezing lake may not always save your life.
But their alive, and that’s the most important part, and we’re all very thank full for that.